Naked Triple
Naked Triple extends the Naked Pair concept to three cells. When three cells in the same row, column, or block have candidates composed of only three numbers total, you can eliminate those three numbers from other cells in the same area.
How to Use Naked Triple
Note the candidate numbers for each cell.
Focus on cells with two or three candidates in the same area.
If three cells’ combined candidates use only three distinct numbers, it’s a Naked Triple.
Remove those three numbers from the candidates of other cells in the same area.
Example
Suppose three empty cells in a block have candidates ‘2, 5,’ ‘2, 8,’ and ‘5, 8.’ The numbers used are just ‘2, 5, 8’ — three numbers. These must go in these three cells, so you can remove ‘2, 5, 8’ from the candidates of other empty cells in the block. For example, a cell whose candidates were ‘3, 8’ would have ‘8’ eliminated.
Tips for Finding Naked Triples
Naked Triples are harder to spot than Naked Pairs, but if you find multiple cells with two candidates, check whether they fit into three numbers. Remember that the pattern isn’t limited to three cells each having three candidates — combinations of cells with two and three candidates also count.