Kakuro
Kakuro Sum 6 — All 3-Cell Combinations
Updated June 10, 2026 · 2 min read
A 3-cell Kakuro run with a clue of 6 has 1 valid combination. Each cell must contain a unique digit from 1 to 9, no repeats.
Forced combination. A 3-cell run summing to 6 can only use digits 1, 2, 3. Both values are fixed — only their order within the run remains.
Valid combinations
| Digits (any order) | Sum |
|---|
| 1 + 2 + 3 | = 6 |
What you know immediately
The digits 1, 2, 3 appear in every valid combination — certain in this run regardless of which combination applies.
Digits 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 never appear in any valid combination — eliminate them immediately from all intersecting clues.
Why this clue is special
Six over three cells is the lowest possible 3-cell clue, which is why it's forced: 1+2+3 is the minimum three distinct digits can sum to. The practical consequence is aggressive elimination — every crossing run through these cells must accommodate a 1, 2 or 3 in the shared cell. Crossing clues with high minimums (like 23-in-three or 17-in-two) often can't, and the contradiction pins digits immediately.
Solving with this clue
- Cross out combinations made impossible by digits already placed in the run
- Find digits present in all remaining combinations — those are certain placements
- Find digits absent from all remaining combinations — remove from intersecting clues
- When one combination remains, all digits in the run are determined
Use intersections: A shared cell must satisfy both its row clue and column clue. Digits that don't appear in valid combinations for either clue are eliminated. This cross-elimination often reduces options to one quickly.
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