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Level 1 guide: Portugal (hard)

Sardines, tiles and a tram up the hill. A 9×9 board. Colors are named in the steps below, and rows and columns are counted from the top left starting at 1. This guide spoils the solution, so try the level first.

Play level 1 About Portugal

The board

Step by step

12 deductions lead to the 9 stamps. Each placed stamp also rules out its row, column, touching cells and the rest of its region.

1. The peach region has only one cell left: row 7, column 2. Place the stamp there.
2. The green region, the periwinkle region and the mint region must all put their stamps in columns 1, 3 and 4, so every other cell in columns 1, 3 and 4 cannot hold a stamp (7 cells ruled out).
3. Rows 1, 2 and 3 must all put their stamps in the rose region, the amber region and the green region, so the other cells of the rose region, the amber region and the green region cannot hold a stamp (7 cells ruled out).
4. Row 4 has only one cell left: column 8. Place the stamp there.
5. The green region can only hold its stamp in column 1, so every other cell in column 1 cannot hold a stamp (2 cells ruled out).
6. Row 5 has only one cell left: column 3. Place the stamp there.
7. Row 6 has only one cell left: column 6. Place the stamp there.
8. The amber region has only one cell left: row 2, column 5. Place the stamp there.
9. The stone region has only one cell left: row 9, column 7. Place the stamp there.
10. The rose region has only one cell left: row 1, column 9. Place the stamp there.
11. The green region has only one cell left: row 3, column 1. Place the stamp there.
12. The mint region has only one cell left: row 8, column 4. Place the stamp there.

Final solution