The Degree Heuristic

When MRV ties, the degree heuristic chooses the cell constraining the largest number of still-unassigned peers.

r1c15	r1c23	r1c3	r1c4	r1c57	r1c6	r1c7	r1c8	r1c9
r2c16	r2c2	r2c3	r2c41	r2c59	r2c65	r2c7	r2c8	r2c9
r3c1	r3c29	r3c38	r3c4	r3c5	r3c6	r3c7	r3c86	r3c9
r4c18	r4c2	r4c3	r4c4	r4c56	r4c6	r4c7	r4c8	r4c93
r5c14	r5c2	r5c3	r5c48	r5c5	r5c63	r5c7	r5c8	r5c91
r6c17	r6c2	r6c3	r6c4	r6c52	r6c6	r6c7	r6c8	r6c96
r7c1	r7c26	r7c3	r7c4	r7c5	r7c6	r7c72	r7c88	r7c9
r8c1	r8c2	r8c3	r8c44	r8c51	r8c69	r8c7	r8c8	r8c95
r9c1	r9c2	r9c3	r9c4	r9c58	r9c6	r9c7	r9c87	r9c99

Counting degree

A Sudoku cell has up to 20 distinct peers, but assigned peers no longer count when choosing among unassigned variables. Count the unassigned cells sharing its row, column, or box.

Purpose

A high-degree cell has more opportunity to reduce other domains. Choosing it can make propagation more effective and expose failure sooner.

Combined rule: First minimize domain size with MRV. Among tied cells, maximize the number of unassigned peers.

Exercise: Select two empty cells with equal domain size. Count their distinct unassigned peers and apply the degree tie-breaker.