Um Al Quwain
Storage
1-2 years
Used only few times
No noticeable problem
Owner
I used to think Sudoku was just a numbers game for bored people with nothing better to do. That all changed one rainy afternoon when I was stuck at home with a cup of tea and a free newspaper. On one of the pages was a tiny 9x9 grid. I flipped it over and thought, “Why not give it a try?” One hour later, I realized I had completely lost track of time, my pencil was smudged, and I was oddly proud of completing the puzzle. That’s when I knew Sudoku wasn’t just a pastime—it was a full-on mental adventure.
At first, I underestimated Sudoku. “How hard can it be?” I asked myself. But as soon as I started filling in numbers, I realized how tricky it could get. Every time I thought I had a row solved, a tiny misstep would throw off the entire puzzle. There’s something addictive about that tension—balancing logic, intuition, and patience. And the beauty is, even when it frustrates you, it also teaches you resilience and careful thinking.
Sudoku is captivating because it’s simple to understand but almost endless in complexity. You don’t need special skills, just focus and strategy. I love the little “aha” moments when you finally see the solution to a tricky cell or a pattern emerges that suddenly makes everything click. Those tiny wins feel disproportionately satisfying.
For me, Sudoku is also a meditative exercise. When I sit down to play, the world slows down. My phone is off, the TV is silent, and the only thing that matters is the grid in front of me. It’s amazing how a small puzzle can clear your head, almost like doing yoga for your brain. And the funny thing is, I often catch myself chuckling at my mistakes—especially when a simple oversight ruins an almost-complete puzzle.
One weekend, I decided to tackle a “hard” Sudoku from a popular puzzle book. I was confident at first, but two hours in, I was sweating over a tiny 3x3 box. I had written several possibilities in pencil and still couldn’t see the solution. At one point, I realized I had accidentally duplicated a number in a column. That small error meant I had to erase half of my work.
But here’s the thing: that struggle is what makes completing the puzzle so rewarding. After correcting my mistakes and carefully scanning the rows and boxes, I finally solved it. That moment—the mix of relief, pride, and sheer joy—is what keeps me hooked. It’s the same kind of satisfaction you get from finishing a long book or nailing a tricky recipe. Only this time, it’s purely mental.
Over time, I’ve picked up some tricks that make my Sudoku sessions more productive and fun:
Start with what’s obvious: Filling in numbers you are sure about first gives the rest of the puzzle a framework.
Use pencil marks: Small numbers in empty cells help visualize possibilities without committing too early.
Scan rows and columns systematically: This prevents simple mistakes and helps spot patterns faster.
Take breaks: When I get stuck, a five-minute walk or a coffee break often reveals the solution that my tired brain couldn’t see.
These strategies don’t just improve my Sudoku—they also teach patience, methodical thinking, and the importance of step-by-step problem solving in real life.
Some of my favorite Sudoku memories are the funny mistakes. Once, I had been so absorbed in a puzzle that I miswrote multiple 6s as 9s. By the time I noticed, the whole grid was off, and I had to start over. Another time, I tried solving Sudoku on a bumpy train ride, and every jolt caused me to erase and rewrite numbers. I laughed at myself the whole way.
And sometimes, the puzzle itself tricks you. A “medium” difficulty puzzle can suddenly feel impossible, while a “hard” puzzle clicks almost effortlessly. That unpredictability is part of the charm—it keeps me on my toes and makes every completed grid feel like a personal achievement.
Sudoku isn’t just a game—it’s a mental workout. It improves focus, pattern recognition, and logical thinking. It also teaches resilience. You learn to embrace small failures, re-evaluate your approach, and keep going until you succeed.
I’ve noticed that my Sudoku habit even influences other parts of my life. I’m more patient when solving problems at work or planning projects. I notice small details more quickly, and my ability to focus for longer stretches has improved. And of course, the little rush of completing a difficult puzzle gives a tiny confidence boost that carries into other areas of life.
While Sudoku is often a solo hobby, I sometimes share puzzles with friends. We compare solutions, laugh at each other’s mistakes, and celebrate tricky completions. There’s a surprisingly social side to a game that’s usually solitary. Watching someone else finally crack a difficult puzzle is almost as satisfying as solving it yourself.
Sudoku may look simple, but it’s deceptively deep. It challenges your mind, rewards patience, and creates small but meaningful victories. For me, it’s not just a pastime—it’s a daily ritual, a mental warm-up, and a source of joy. The frustration, the humor in mistakes, and the thrill of solving hard puzzles make it a game that never gets old.
1. Only meet in public place.
2. Never pay and transfer money in advance.
3. Inspect the product before you buy.
