The Blade has joined the world of Sudoku and will feature a puzzle on the comics pages - today it's on page 6 - with the answers to the previous day's puzzle next to it.

Here's how Sudoku works: Each puzzle comprises a simple grid that is nine by nine, with nine three-by-three boxes. A few numbers already are in some of the 81 squares. The challenge comes in filling in all the squares so that each row, column, and box has each of the numbers 1 through 9 only once.

When you get started, some of the "clues" or patterns seem perplexing, but once one falls into place, others start to make sense and the next thing you know the application of deduction and logic leads to either a solution or a mystery to figure out.

First Published February 18, 2006, 10:44 a.m.