The New Sudoku Players' Forum

[limoridr]

Recently discovered this Sudoku craze and I love it, can't get enough! I'm running about a7 out of 10 completion ratio on the hard puzzles. Until now, I would just give up, defeated, or guess. I have read a great deal of tips and instructions, but I don't seem to get some of the techniques. Can anyone give me a tip on which method I should use to complete this following puzzle? Please?
*7* 58* 34*
6*3 *74 **8
4*8 39* 27*

384 915 627
*** 867 4*3
7*6 423 *81

847 *39 ***
96* 75* 834
*3* *48 7**

Thanks so much in advance, LimoRidr

[Shazbot]

Code: Select all

 *-----------------------------------------------------------*
 | 12    7     129   | 5     8     126   | 3     4     69    |
 | 6     1259  3     | 12    7     4     | 159   159   8     |
 | 4     15    8     | 3     9     16    | 2     7     56    |
 |-------------------+-------------------+-------------------|
 | 3     8     4     | 9     1     5     | 6     2     7     |
 | 125   1259  1259  | 8     6     7     | 4     59    3     |
 | 7     59    6     | 4     2     3     | 59    8     1     |
 |-------------------+-------------------+-------------------|
 | 8     4     7     | 126   3     9     | 15    156   256   |
 | 9     6     12    | 7     5     12    | 8     3     4     |
 | 125   3     125   | 126   4     8     | 7     1569  2569  |
 *-----------------------------------------------------------*


In box 3 (a box is a group of 3x3 cells), 1 only occurs in the second row (locked candidates), so you can eliminate 1 from r2c2 and r2c4. That also gives you a hidden single in box 8. Candidate 5's are locked in box 1 so you can eliminate some from box 4. You should find it easy from there.

Locked candidates was one of my first struggles when I was very new as well, but you'll soon pick them up.

[CathyW]

I'd suggest you look for 'locked candidates' or 'hidden subsets' as they are also known. Try this site for explanation: http://www.simes.clara.co.uk/programs/sudokutechnique9.htm

Don't know how much more of a hint you want but once you've found them the rest is straightforward.

Edit: Never mind, Shaz beat me to it while I was typing my message and looking up the url!

[limoridr]

Wow! It has taken you less than 10 minutes to help me with this paper I have been staring at all weekend. I must admit, I am going back to study some more. I think I almost understand the locked candidates thing, though I am sure it'll take me a few more than 10 minutes. LOL. Cathy, Shaz, thanks so much. Rest assured, I'll be back.

[Cec]

"..I am going back to study some more..."

Hi limoridr,

You may find the following link useful additional homework - this forum has also helped me a lot including what 'LOL' means!
http://angusj.com/sudoku/hints.php

Cec

[limoridr]

cecbevwr, Thank you so much. This seems to be the most clear explanations I have read so far. Thanks again, LimoRidr

[Cec]

Thanks LimoRidr for replying - glad you found it helpful. Yes, these above links are certainly informative and it's simes and angusj who we, and I'm sure many others, owe our appreciation.

Cec