The New Sudoku Players' Forum

[Sebastian]

Hello All, I've recently purchased my first book of Sudoko-- a Wayne Gould collection. The book is prefaced with a short intro on solving techniques and goes as far as Doubletons. Is this all I need to solve these puzzles?
I've found some of the puzzles completely impenetrable and I wonder if I'm expected to understand the 'Advanced Solving Techniques' or not.

I've watched the Thomas Snyder videos on Youtube and they don't mention the use of any of the advanced techniques. Does TS use them? Are they really necessary?

Your replies are appreciated.

Regards,
Sebastian.

[Pat]

I've found some of the puzzles completely impenetrable

hi Sebastian

could you please post just one "impenetrable" puzzle

then we can tell you what it does or doesn't need

[ab]

I've inherited one Wayne Gould book. It's a collection published by the Times. None of the puzzles require more than singles, locked candidates and pairs.

The Sunday Times used to publish Superior puzzles, which also required x-wings and/or triples. So some of his puzzle books may have puzzles needing those techniques too. I doubt any of his puzzles require other techniques. I believe that versions of his software rate puzzles requiring harder techniques as 'unfair' or something like that. I haven't actually got the shftware though so that's second hand info.

[Pat]

as far as i know,
Wayne Gould's puzzles may need --

• "singles"
  
• box-line interactions
  
• duos
• trios
• quartets
  
• X-wings
• simple Swordfish (3r\3c or 3c\3r)

but not

• larger fish (Jellyfish etc)
  
• complex fish (Franken/Mutant)
  
• finned fish
  
• etc