Difficulty
Hard
Sudoku technique guide
XYZ-Wing
Sometimes the obvious moves disappear, but the grid is still giving you a useful clue. XYZ-Wing is a calm way to follow it.
By the end, you will know what to notice, how the idea works and when it is worth using.
At a glance
Technique family
Wings
Purpose
Removes candidates
Typical puzzle stage
Middle to late
Frequency
Uncommon
Prerequisites
XY-Wing and candidate marks
Why this technique matters
XYZ-Wing is a useful refinement of XY-Wing. The three-candidate pivot gives you a more precise target rule.
The idea in plain English
An XYZ-Wing has a pivot {X,Y,Z} that sees two pincers {X,Z} and {Y,Z}. The shared Z can be removed from any cell that sees the pivot and both pincers.
How to recognise it
Look for a three-candidate pivot near two bivalue neighbours with a shared candidate.
Pause when you see this shape. You do not have to force it; just check whether the pattern is complete.
How the logic unfolds
Think of this as a short conversation with the grid. Take one check at a time, and let each answer tell you what to inspect next.
Start by. Find a three-candidate pivot.
Then. Find two bivalue pincers that each see the pivot and share one candidate Z.
Next. Confirm the other candidates are X and Y, matching the pivot.
Finally. Remove Z only from cells that see all three pattern cells.
When it usually appears
Use it when an XY-Wing almost appears but the pivot also contains the shared candidate.
Common traps
These are easy places to get turned around. They are useful checks, not signs that you are doing badly.
- Removing Z from a cell that cannot see the pivot. The target must see all three cells.
- Using pincers that do not both see the pivot.
Frequently asked questions
Why does the target need to see all three?
That is what makes Z impossible regardless of how the pivot and pincers resolve.
Is XYZ-Wing more common than XY-Wing?
No. It is generally less common.
Quick takeaway
- A XYZ-Wing belongs to the wings family.
- Its purpose is to remove candidates.
- Look for a complete pattern, not one that only nearly fits.
- It is most useful middle to late.
- Once you make the deduction, return to the simpler scans.