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Immaculate Grid is a daily browser trivia game (created in 2023 by Brian Minter) that challenges sports fans to fill a 3×3 grid with professional athletes who meet specified criteria. Each puzzle gives nine clues that define rows and columns (for example: team, season, position, stat thresholds, awards, or era). Players must enter player names that satisfy both the row and column intersection conditions for each cell. The goal is to complete the grid with a limited number of guesses.

Key features and variants

Grid mechanics: 3×3 intersections mean each cell requires a player who meets one row condition and one column condition simultaneously.

Sports and scopes: Initially focused on MLB, the game has expanded to other leagues (NFL, NBA, NHL) and to specialized grids (team-specific, season-specific, stat-based, award-focused).

Formats: Daily standard puzzles, team/season modes, and custom grids. Some versions limit guesses; others allow freer exploration.

Platforms: Official site and Sports Reference–powered versions, as well as third-party hosts and clones. MLB  .com hosts an official Immaculate Grid for baseball; other independent sites offer similar experiences.

Why it’s popular

Intellectual challenge: Combines statistical knowledge, roster familiarity, and deductive reasoning.

Replay value: Daily puzzles plus many themed grids keep content fresh.

Community: Players share strategies and streaks on social media; Sports Reference integration adds credibility and statistical depth.

Strategies and tips

Start with intersection constraints: Fill cells where row and column narrow the candidate pool most (e.g., specific team + rare award).

Use process of elimination: Early correct entries provide strong restrictions on remaining cells.

Know eras and roster turnover: For season/team grids, focus on rosters and common transactions in that timeframe.

Leverage stats/awards: If a column is an award (e.g., MVP) and a row is a position or era, limit candidate players accordingly.

Limitations and criticisms

Ambiguity and edge cases: Some clues can allow multiple valid interpretations (name variations, players who satisfy criteria via short stints).

Data-dependence: Accuracy depends on the underlying database; different hosts may apply slightly different inclusion rules.

Accessibility: Casual fans may find the puzzles too niche or stats-heavy.

Variants and related offerings

Sports Reference / MLB versions: Official or semi-official versions backed by large statistical databases.

Third-party clones: Community sites that add custom themes, alternative rules, or different guess limits.

Team/season mini-games: Narrow-focus grids that are easier to verify but can be deeper for dedicated fans.

Conclusion Immaculate Grid is a compact, addictive puzzle that blends trivia, roster knowledge, and statistics into a logical grid format. It appeals to sports statheads and casual fans who enjoy daily mental challenges and social sharing of results.