To solve a normal Sudoku puzzle, you fill in a 9 x 9 grid of digits, each square containing a digit, 1 - 9 with none of the digits repeated. 

In Stars & Stripes Sudoku we still have 1 - 9 and we’ve added three stars. Each row and column now contains twelve spaces instead of nine and the boxes are 3 x 4. Nine of the spaces in each row, box and column will have one of the nine digits; the other three spaces will contain stars.

Remember that unlike digits, stars are all the “same”. Having one star in a row, column or box doesn’t prevent it from having others. In fact, there are always three of them.

Although the puzzle is shaded for appearance, the shading doesn't affect how the puzzle is solved.

In

In this example, you can see that the filled in row, column and the box each have 1 - 9 and three stars. 

Remember that unlike digits, stars are all the “same”. Having one star in a row, column or box doesn’t prevent it from having others. In fact, there are always three of them.