Intermediate technique
Naked Pairs
Use two matching candidates to remove possibilities from nearby cells.
What it means
A Naked Pair appears when two cells in the same row, column, or box contain the same two candidates and no others. Those two numbers must occupy those two cells, so they can be removed from the rest of that unit.
How to use it
- Find two cells in one unit with the exact same two candidates.
- Lock those two candidates into the pair.
- Remove those candidates from other cells in the same unit.