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solver: http://www.stolaf.edu/people/hansonr/sudoku
data source: http://magictour.free.fr/top1465
synopsis:
All told, in the solutions of the 1465 puzzles in this
collection, 2115 marks were eliminated using almost-
locked set analysis.
The 40 puzzles listed showed improved solution when basic
almost-locked set analysis was included. In each case, the
first line is without almost-locked set analysis; the
second line is with.
(This basic analysis includes checking to see if there are
marks that are common to two almost-locked sets that are
already weakly linked, allowing for the elimination of
those marks.)
For 14 of these puzzles, adding almost-locked set
analysis allowed solution without resort to basic
"trial and error" (P). These cases probably have something
like an XYZ-Wing that the almost-locked set analysis found.
3D Medusa cannot find that sort of configuration. In all other
cases, one type of weak-link analysis (3D Medusa) has been
replaced by another (almost-locked set analysis).
To load a puzzle into Sudoku Assistant:
1. go to http://www.stolaf.edu/people/hansonr/sudoku
2. click on "Number Block Input"
3. click on "load all 1465"
4. select the puzzle from the selection box that appears
Methods used (in order of necessity):
cross-hatch scanning (looking for singles; required)
range checking (locked candidates)
row/cell/block subset elimination
A: almost-locked sets analysis (basic only)
W: grid (weak cycle) analysis (X-wings, Swordfish, etc.)
M: 3D Medusa chain analysis -- strong+weak
P: hypothesis and disproof (trial and error)
- Code: Select all
puzzle #clues #tidbits methods #W #M #P #steps
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12 18 423 MP 3 3 53
12 18 423 A M 3 48
16 18 422 MP 4 2 51
16 18 422 A M 2 45
44 18 417 M 1 52
44 18 417 A 52
47 18 420 M 2 53
47 18 420 A 52
64 18 421 M 3 45
64 18 421 A 47
73 18 420 M 1 48
73 18 420 A 48
75 18 420 M 3 50
75 18 420 A 51
83 18 419 M 2 50
83 18 419 A 49
86 18 420 M 1 45
86 18 420 A 44
94 22 468 M 1 32
94 22 468 A 33
97 18 419 M 3 55
97 18 419 A 52
129 18 422 W MP 2 6 1 46
129 18 422 A W M 2 5 47
150 18 422 M 1 51
150 18 422 A 51
155 18 420 M 3 50
155 18 420 A 49
163 18 416 M 2 52
163 18 416 A 51
206 18 415 M 1 50
206 18 415 A 50
226 18 424 M 1 45
226 18 424 A 44
300 19 449 M 2 46
300 19 449 A 42
307 19 449 M 1 42
307 19 449 A 42
405 17 405 W MP 2 5 1 47
405 17 405 A W M 1 1 46
512 21 460 MP 8 2 48
512 21 460 A M 11 52
533 22 463 W M 1 1 32
533 22 463 A W 1 37
598 24 480 W P 2 1 34
598 24 480 A W 2 33
613 24 487 W MP 1 4 1 38
613 24 487 A W M 1 6 41
701 23 473 M 2 32
701 23 473 A 32
848 23 476 W MP 1 2 1 42
848 23 476 A W M 2 2 51
906 23 474 W MP 1 2 1 45
906 23 474 A W M 2 2 48
1080 21 462 M 1 32
1080 21 462 A 37
1136 23 479 MP 15 1 42
1136 23 479 A M 20 47
1245 24 480 MP 14 2 44
1245 24 480 A M 3 32
1249 23 471 MP 2 2 31
1249 23 471 A M 2 32
1257 24 491 W M 1 3 32
1257 24 491 A W 1 31
1306 21 456 M 1 42
1306 21 456 A 41
1321 23 472 W M 2 1 28
1321 23 472 A W 2 30
1358 22 472 W M 1 1 29
1358 22 472 A 31
1365 24 480 P 2 30
1365 24 480 A 28
1386 23 468 W MP 1 3 1 31
1386 23 468 A W M 1 3 31
1407 17 408 M 1 42
1407 17 408 A 42
1454 24 472 M 1 22
1454 24 472 A 24
1464 24 475 M 1 30
1464 24 475 A 29
