The New Sudoku Players' Forum

[dcj1978]

I'm trying to use the "Reducing Candidates" on Simes site but, not sure i'm getting it. Here's the row of candidates.

everything in [] are already set.

(2,4,6)(4,6)[8](2,6,7)[3][9][1](4,5,7)(2,4,5)

Now..4 and 6 show up in the first and second group. But 2 and 4 show up in the first and last group. And then there's 2 and 6 in the first and 3rd group! Argh!! Re-reading the page now but, if someone would'nt mind hinting at what i'm doing wrong..

I'll post the entire thing if it helps but, i'm trying to figure out the method used on that site so.. any tipe here would be great.

[Animator]

Based on that information you can not remove any of the candidates.

[dcj1978]

Ok, so the fact that I can't find anything that fits what i'm reading on the site doesn't mean I'm really missing something... because there's nothing there.

Reading too much into it I guess

Thanks

[Cec]

Based on that information you can not remove any of the candidates.

I have a similar problem as author dcj1978 in relation to "hidden pairs"and this is an example. When candidates (2,4,6) occupy the first cell in a row and (4,6) occupy the second cell in the same row, why can't candidate 2 be removed from the first cell which then leaves a pair (4,6) in these two cells? I hope I'm replying in the proper way this time.
Regards Bonsai Cec

[Animator]

(That sure is a better way to reply :) )

In order to have a hidden pair, you need to find two cells that are the only candidates for two numbers.

If you want a hidden 4-6 pair then the numbers 4 and 6 should occur only in two cells.

In this example the number 2 occurs 3 times, the numbers 4 occurs 3 times and the number 6 also occurs 3 times. This makes a hidden pair of 4 and 6 impossible.

(Ofcourse you could start looking for a hidden triplet (since that requires 3 cells) but that one does not exists either, and you shouldn't be looking for it until you understand hidden pairs and normal/naked pairs)

[Cec]

Thanks Animator for your explanation of "hidden pairs". Also relieved that I replied the correct way.
Regards, Bonsai Cec

[Karyobin]

What's the wrong way? Italics? Deutsch?

(After further browsing) Aaahh, I see.