The New Sudoku Players' Forum

[iRob]

Ok, I'm learning the locked candidates thing and have found as many as I can in this puzzle, Menneske.no Hard #734624:

Code: Select all

+-------+-------+-------+
| . . . | . 3 . | . 9 6 |
| 5 . 9 | . 1 . | . . 4 |
| . . . | . 9 2 | 1 . . |
+-------+-------+-------+
| . . 2 | 1 8 5 | . . . |
| 8 6 . | 9 7 4 | . 2 1 |
| . . . | 2 6 3 | 9 . 8 |
+-------+-------+-------+
| . . 4 | 3 5 1 | . 8 . |
| 1 . . | . 2 . | . . . |
| 3 8 . | . 4 9 | . 1 2 |
+-------+-------+-------+

This is my progress thus far, after eliminating all candidates I can find.

[CathyW]

There are locked candidates (6s) in block 1, row 3 - so you can remove 6 as a candidate from r3,c4.
Then there is a (4,5) pair in column 4, so you can remove 4 and 5 from other cells in that column which should lead you to be able to place r3,c3.

Does that help you progress?

[iRob]

Thanks for the quick reply, Cathy! I wish I knew how better to use Sudoku Susser. That's the tool I'm using, and I can't figure out how to export just my candidates.

But as it turns out, I already have those eliminations you mentioned. For me though, that hidden 45 pair in box 2 already removed the 6 from r3c4.

r3c3... ah yes, the 8. Eureka! Thanks. ;-)

I swear, it's like my brain gets swirling on one train of thought and I can't see it any other way!

[Lummox JR]

I wish I knew how better to use Sudoku Susser. That's the tool I'm using, and I can't figure out how to export just my candidates.

In the new version, shift-click the grid icon in the upper left corner, and drag to a text box somewhere else like on a Web page or in Notepad. I love this new feature.

[iRob]

Code: Select all

Puzzle: Menneske.no Hard #734624
+-------+-------+-------+
| . . . | . 3 . | . 9 6 |
| 5 . 9 | . 1 . | . . 4 |
| . . . | . 9 2 | 1 . . |
+-------+-------+-------+
| . . 2 | 1 8 5 | . . . |
| 8 6 . | 9 7 4 | . 2 1 |
| . . . | 2 6 3 | 9 . 8 |
+-------+-------+-------+
| . . 4 | 3 5 1 | . 8 . |
| 1 . . | . 2 . | . . . |
| 3 8 . | . 4 9 | . 1 2 |
+-------+-------+-------+

+-------------------+-------------------+-------------------+
| 247   1247  178   | 45    3     78    | 28    9     6     |
| 5     237   9     | 678   1     678   | 28    37    4     |
| 467   347   3678  | 45    9     2     | 1     357   357   |
+-------------------+-------------------+-------------------+
| 479   3479  2     | 1     8     5     | 3467  3467  37    |
| 8     6     35    | 9     7     4     | 35    2     1     |
| 47    1457  157   | 2     6     3     | 9     457   8     |
+-------------------+-------------------+-------------------+
| 2679  279   4     | 3     5     1     | 67    8     79    |
| 1     579   567   | 678   2     678   | 34567 34567 3579  |
| 3     8     567   | 67    4     9     | 567   1     2     |
+-------------------+-------------------+-------------------+


Holy crap, that's just awesome! Well worth my tip to the guy. :-D