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Solving KenKen puzzles requires a mixture of logic and simple arithmetic.

The logical process makes use of the information you have as to what numbers are, or could be, in which squares of the grid. Arithmetic enables you to narrow down the possibilities.

Here is a fairly simple example ‹ a beginner level puzzle. Remember, all the digits 1, 2, 3 and 4 must appear in every row and every column, and in this puzzle we are told that the number in square M is 4.

A good way to start is to look for a shape in which you can already deduce exactly which numbers go in one or more of the squares, as in the first step below.

FIRST STEP

The total of squares C, D and H is 4. The only way to make this total with three numbers, using addition, is 1+1+2, but the two number 1s must be in different rows and different columns. So C and H must be 1, and D is 2.

SECOND STEP

R is 3 because that is now the only ³unused² number in the rightmost column.

THIRD STEP

Q must be 2 because QxR is 6 and we now know that R is 3.

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