How it works
Naked triples extend the naked pair idea. Three cells in a unit, whose candidate sets together cover exactly three digits, force those three digits into those three cells.
Crucially, the cells do not need identical candidate sets. A naked triple can look like {1,2}, {2,3} and {1,3} or {1,2,3}, {1,3} and {2,3}. As long as the union is exactly three digits and only those cells contribute to them, the triple is real.
Once spotted, every other cell in the unit can have those three digits eliminated. The eliminations almost always create new singles within a move or two.
When to look for it
After pairs are exhausted. The three cells do not all need to have all three candidates, just no extras between them.
Tips for spotting the pattern
- Look for three cells in a unit where each has 2 or 3 candidates and the union is 3 digits exactly.
- Bivalue + bivalue + bivalue patterns are the easiest to spot. They look like {1,2}, {1,3}, {2,3}.
- Mark the three cells lightly when you spot the pattern so you do not lose track during elimination.
Common mistakes
- Including cells that have a fourth candidate the others do not. That breaks the triple.
- Stopping at the find. The elimination is the point, not the spotting.
- Missing when one cell has only two candidates. Triples often hide as 2-2-2 patterns.