End in n digit pattern

Everything about Sudoku that doesn't fit in one of the other sections

End in n digit pattern

Postby champagne » Fri Mar 06, 2026 7:57 am

In this thread
http://forum.enjoysudoku.com/challenging-puzzle-2602-2-t46664.html
appeared a puzzle with a possible end with all digits solved except 4

    .2.45..894...8923..89.3...42..34..98.9..1842..48.9.3...3.8..9.28.29.3.4.97..2.8.3
    2889161802 QEUMCpopAAjLJ5 42 111
Once solved these digits, the puzzle rating is still very high skfr 9.5

    .2345..894...8923..89.32..42..34..9839..1842..4829.3...348..9.28.29.3.4.97..248.3 ED=9.5/9.5/2.8
Solution grid

    123456789457189236689732154261347598395618427748295361534861972812973645976524813

In this thread, the challenge is to understand such patterns and to see how frequent they can be and how we can find them.
Here, we have four digits, a five digit pattern can be seen

This puzzle
.2..5.7...56.....37....3...2...3...63...7...5.4.9.....5...2.6.7..2....1......8...; 324629003;InWX8YHK1HbGW0;23;118;0;0;1489
has a five digit pattern 13489 that could end with not more than 1 given for 4 of the five digits.

I'll study first these 2 grids

==============================================================
I’ll first analyze the pattern with 4 digits , one digit with no given

Code: Select all
1...567..
.571....6
6..7..15.
.61..75..
..561...7
7....5.61
5...61.7.
.1..7.6.5
.765...1.


It is a min lexical solution grid. In other grids of the catalog, the pattern will be

Code: Select all
123456789
457189..6
6..7..15.

261..75..
..561...7
7....5.61

5...61.7.
.1..7.6.5
.765...1.

If we look at the list of min lexical bands 1, the first band can only one of four

“12345678945” +

57 "7189236689723154",
62 "7189236689732154",
86 "7189236698723154",
90 "7189236698732154",


Our band is the band 62.
The four bands have r3c9=4, so the common ED pattern in the solution grids is


Code: Select all
123456789
457189236
6..7..154

261..75..
..561...7
7....5.61

5...61.7.
.1..7.6.5
.765...1.


This pattern can appear in a closed number of grids corresponding to all min lexical valid fills.


The number of possible 4 digits pattern with this property is likely relatively big, although not each pattern can be solved with 3 given. (next post for comments)
Also, not all 3 given have a high residual rating (third post for comments), but with this pattern, we have more than 50 triplets with a high potential for ratings 11.x


Having puzzles with 48 clues (5x9 + 3) rating in the range skfr ER 9.x – 10.x, we can expect plenty of minimal with ratings >=10.5.
Note : each triplet has a different set of minimal.

In my database of potential hardest, such puzzles have a TH analysis with no TH, but a 4 digits with the TH potential.

The current re rating is close to the end, I'll extract such puzzles as soon as the up to date base is available, likely next week.
Last edited by champagne on Wed Mar 11, 2026 5:07 am, edited 2 times in total.
champagne
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valid pattern for n-1 digits

Postby champagne » Fri Mar 06, 2026 7:58 am

in this post, we will see some conditions to have a possible 4 digits pattern solved with n-1 clues.

The first constraint is to have all pairs of digits with only one unavoidable set of 18 cells.
But we can have other unavoidable sets of the four digits with more than 2 digits.

In our first example, my UA collector produced only the 6 expected UAs
Code: Select all
123456789457189236689732154261347598395618427748295361534861972812973645976524813
1...1.....1.1...........11...1...1....1.1.........1..11....1....1......1...1...1.
1....1......1....11.....1...11.........11...........11....11....1....1....1....1.
1.....1....11........1..1....1..1.......1...11.......1.....1.1..1..1.....1.....1.
....11....1......11......1..1....1....11..........1.1.1...1..........1.1..11.....
....1.1...11.........1...1......11....1.....11....1...1......1.....1...1.1.1.....
.....11....1.....11..1......1...1......1....11......1.....1..1.....1.1...11......


and all 48 clues puzzles were valid except this one
.234...894...8923..89.32..42..34..9839...842..4829.3...348..9.28.29.3.4.9...248.3

more to come later
Last edited by champagne on Fri Mar 06, 2026 8:36 am, edited 1 time in total.
champagne
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Posts: 7889
Joined: 02 August 2007
Location: France Brittany

triplets of high potential in the first pattern

Postby champagne » Fri Mar 06, 2026 7:59 am

here as start the list of 48 clues puzzles with 3 given and high ratings in the pattern 1567 of our first puzzle
the posted puzzle is the 8th rated 9.5/9.5/2.8

to come the minimal puzzles ratings later

Hidden Text: Show
.2345..894...8923..89.32..426.34..9839...842..4829.3...348..9.28.29.3.4.97..248.3 ED=9.2/9.2/9.2
.2345..894...8923..89.32..426.34..9839...842..4829.3...348..9.28.29.3.4.9...24813 ED=9.1/9.1/9.1
.2345..894...8923..89732..42.134..9839...842..4829.3...348..9.28.29.3.4.9...248.3 ED=10.1/10.1/7.8
.2345..894...8923..89.32..42.134..9839...842..4829.3...3486.9.28.29.3.4.9...248.3 ED=9.2/9.2/7.9
.2345..894...8923..89.32..42.134..9839...842..4829.3...348..9728.29.3.4.9...248.3 ED=9.1/7.8/7.8
.2345..894...8923..89.32..42..34..9839..1842..4829.3...3486.9.28.29.3.4.9...248.3 ED=10.1/1.0/1.0
.2345..894...8923..89.32..42..34..9839..1842..4829.3...348..9.28.2973.4.9...248.3 ED=10.1/1.0/1.0
.2345..894...8923..89.32..42..34..9839..1842..4829.3...348..9.28.29.3.4.97..248.3 ED=9.5/9.5/2.8
.2345..894...8923..89732..42..34..9839...842..4829.3.1.348..9.28.29.3.4.9...248.3 ED=9.1/9.1/7.8
.2345..894...8923..89.32..42..34..9839...842..4829.3.1.3486.9.28.29.3.4.9...248.3 ED=9.2/9.2/7.8
.2345..894...8923..89732..42..34..9839...842..4829.3...3486.9.28.29.3.4.9...248.3 ED=9.1/9.1/7.8
.2345..894...8923..89.32..42..34..9839...842..4829.3...3486.9728.29.3.4.9...248.3 ED=9.3/9.3/7.1
.2345..894...8923..89.32..42..34..9839...842..4829.3...3486.9.28.2973.4.9...248.3 ED=10.1/1.0/1.0
.2345..894...8923..89.32..42..34..9839...842..4829.3...3486.9.28.29.3.4.97..248.3 ED=9.3/9.3/9.2
.2345..894...8923..89.32..42..34..9839...842..4829.3...348..9.28.29.3.4.9.6.24813 ED=9.1/9.0/9.0
.2345..894...8923..89.32..42..34..9839...842..4829.3...348..9.28.29.3.4.97..24813 ED=10.0/10.0/7.6
.234...8945..8923.689.321.42..34..9839...842..4829.3...348..9.28.29.3.4.9...248.3 ED=9.1/9.1/7.7
.234...8945..8923.689.32..42..34..9839...842..4829.3...348..9.28.29.3.4.97..248.3 ED=9.1/9.1/9.0
.234...8945..8923..89.321.42..34..9839...842..4829.3...348..9.28.29.3.4.97..248.3 ED=9.1/9.1/7.7
.234...8945..8923..89.32..42..34..9839..1842..4829.3...3486.9.28.29.3.4.9...248.3 ED=9.1/9.0/7.9
.234...8945..8923..89.32..42..34..9839..1842..4829.3...348..9728.29.3.4.9...248.3 ED=9.1/9.0/7.8
.234...8945..8923..89.32..42..34..9839...842..4829.3.1.348..9.28.29.3.4.97..248.3 ED=9.1/9.1/7.8
.234...8945..8923..89.32..42..34..9839...842..4829.3...3486.9728.29.3.4.9...248.3 ED=9.3/9.0/7.6
.234...8945..8923..89.32..42..34..9839...842..4829.3...3486.9.28.29.3.4.97..248.3 ED=9.1/9.1/7.8
.234...894.7.8923.689.321.42..34..9839...842..4829.3...348..9.28.29.3.4.9...248.3 ED=9.1/9.1/7.7
.234...894...8923.689.321.42..34..9839...842..4829.3...348..9.28.29.3.4.97..248.3 ED=9.1/9.1/9.1
.234...894...8923..89.321.426.34.59839...842..4829.3...348..9.28.29.3.4.9...248.3 ED=9.1/9.1/7.8
.234...894...8923..89.321.42..34.59839...842..4829.3...348..9.28.29.3.4.9.6.248.3 ED=9.1/9.1/7.9
.234...894...8923..89.321.42..34..9839...842..482953...3486.9.28.29.3.4.9...248.3 ED=9.1/9.1/9.0
.234...894...8923..89.321.42..34..9839...842..482953...348..9.28.29.364.9...248.3 ED=9.1/9.1/7.6
.234...894...8923..89.321.42..34..9839...842..482953...348..9.28.29.3.4.97..248.3 ED=9.1/9.1/9.0
.234...894...8923..897321.42..34..9839...842..4829.3...3486.9.28.29.3.4.9...248.3 ED=9.1/9.1/7.8
.234...894...8923..89.321.42..34..9839...842..4829.3...348..9.28.29.364.97..248.3 ED=9.1/9.1/7.9
.234...894...8923..89.321.42..34..9839...842..4829.3...348..9.28.29.3.4.976.248.3 ED=9.1/9.1/7.8
.234...894.7.8923..89.32..42.134..9839...842..4829.3...3486.9.28.29.3.4.9...248.3 ED=9.2/9.2/9.1
.234...894...8923..89732..42.134..9839...842..4829.3...3486.9.28.29.3.4.9...248.3 ED=9.2/9.2/7.8
.234...894...8923..89.32..42.134..9839...842..4829.3...3486.9728.29.3.4.9...248.3 ED=9.3/9.3/7.8
.234...894...8923..89.32..42.134..9839...842..4829.3...3486.9.28.29.3.459...248.3 ED=9.2/9.2/7.8
.234...894...8923..89732..42.134..9839...842..4829.3...348..9.28.29.3.459...248.3 ED=9.1/9.1/9.1
.234...894...8923..89.32..42.1347.9839...842..4829.3...348..9.28.29.3.459...248.3 ED=9.1/9.1/7.6
.234...894...8923..89.32..42.1347.9839...842..4829.3...348..9.28.29.3.4.9.6.248.3 ED=9.2/9.2/9.0
.234...894.7.8923..89.32..42..34..9839..1842..482953...348..9.28.29.3.4.9...248.3 ED=9.1/9.1/7.1
.234...894...8923..89.32..42..34..9839..1842..4829.3...3486.9728.29.3.4.9...248.3 ED=9.1/9.1/6.6
.234...894...8923..89.32..42..34..9839..1842..4829.3...3486.9.28.2973.4.9...248.3 ED=10.1/1.0/1.0
.234...894...8923..89.32..42..34..9839...842..482953.1.3486.9.28.29.3.4.9...248.3 ED=9.1/9.1/8.0
.234...894...8923..89.32..42..34..9839...842..482953.1.348..9.28.29.3.4.97..248.3 ED=9.1/9.1/9.1
.234...894...8923..89.32..42..34..9839...842..482953.1.348..9.28.29.3.4.9.6.248.3 ED=9.1/9.1/8.2
.234...894.7.8923..89.32..42..34..9839...842..4829.3.1.3486.9.28.29.3.4.9...248.3 ED=9.2/9.2/9.1
.234...894...8923..89.32..42..34..9839...842..4829.3.1.3486.9.28.29.3.459...248.3 ED=9.1/9.1/7.8
.234...894...8923..89.32..42..34..9839...842..4829.3.1.3486.9.28.29.3.4.97..248.3 ED=9.3/9.3/7.9
.234...894...8923..89.32..42..34..9839...842..4829.3.1.348..9.28.29.3.4597..248.3 ED=9.1/9.1/7.8
.234...894...8923..89.32..42..34..9839...842..4829.3.1.348..9.28.29.3.4.976.248.3 ED=9.5/9.5/7.8
.234...894...8923..89.32..426.34..9839...842..4829.3...348..9.28.29.3.459...24813 ED=9.1/9.1/7.8
.234...894...8923..89.32..42..34..9839...842..4829.3...3486.9728.29.3.459...248.3 ED=9.2/9.2/7.8
.234...894...8923..89.32..42..34..9839...842..4829.3...348..9.28.29.3.459.6.24813 ED=9.1/9.1/7.6
.234...894...8923..89.32..42..34..9839...842..4829.3...348..9.28.29.3.4597..24813 ED=9.1/9.1/7.8
.234...894...8923..89.32..42..347.9839...842..4829.3...348..9.28.29.3.4.9.6.24813 ED=9.1/9.1/7.8
Last edited by champagne on Sat Mar 07, 2026 10:33 am, edited 1 time in total.
champagne
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Posts: 7889
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Location: France Brittany

Re: End in n digit pattern with n-1 clues

Postby champagne » Fri Mar 06, 2026 2:16 pm

Assuming that we have only one ED pattern per "four digits", we would have a maximum of 126 families.
For a player, it would not be too hard to detect a suspicion of such a pattern (4 digits have only 3 givens ) , but recognizing which of the 126 it is is another story.

I made a quick check on part of my data base of potential hardest, I found 122 of the 126 patterns.
checking how many pattern per "4 digits" we can have will take more time.

my best ratings in this partial file are

Code: Select all
 
.2....7..4....91.2..9....4...86......7...4.2.94...1.7..9...2.1.5............1...3; 513293951;29i4Y1YQKYA0G4;23;117;0;0;3568
.2..5.7...56.....37....3...2...3...63...7...5.4.9.....5...2.6.7..2....1......8...; 324629003;InWX8YHK1HbGW0;23;118;0;0;1489
champagne
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Posts: 7889
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Location: France Brittany

Re: End in n digit pattern with n-1 clues

Postby marek stefanik » Sun Mar 08, 2026 10:31 am

I love the 11.8! It's been a few years since I've last seen a cross-line GE.
Hidden Text: Show
Code: Select all
  1489                         1489                           1489
,--------------------,----------------------,-----------------------,
| 1489  2      3     | 1468    5      1469  | 7      y489–6  x1489  |
| 1489  5      6     |x1478–2 y489–1 x1479–2| 12489   2489    3     |
| 7    B189   B1489  | 12468   14689  3     | 124589  245689  12489 |
:--------------------+----------------------+-----------------------:
| 2     1789   15789 | 1458    3      145   |G1489    4789    6     |
| 3     1689   189   | 12468   7      1246  |G1489–2  2489    5     |
| 168   4      1578  | 9       168    1256  | 1238    2378    128   |  \18
:--------------------+----------------------+-----------------------:
| 5     1389   1489  | 134     2      149   | 6       3489    7     |
| 4689  36789  2     | 34567   469    45679 | 34589   1       489   |  \489
| 1469  13679  1479  | 134567  1469   8     | 23459   23459   249   |  \149
'--------------------'----------------------'-----------------------'
JE (1489) base r3c23, cross-lines c159, cover-houses r689, targets r1c9, r2c5
mirror nodes: the digit in r1c9 must appear with 7 in r2c46 => –2r2c46,
the digit in r2c5 must appear in r1c8 => –6r1c8, –1r2c5; 11.8 skfr -> 10.5

GE (1489) base r3c23, targets r45c7 => –2r5c7; 10.5 -> 10.3
GE explanation: the JE base digits in c7 have only r45c7 left, since:
r17c7 are given as non-base,
r2c7 sees both JE targets,
r689c7 clash with the JE cover-houses.

Code: Select all
,--------------------,--------------------,-------------------,
| 1489  2      3     | 1468   5     1469  | 7    ay489  x1489 |
| 1489  5      6     | 1478  y489   1479  | 12489  2489  3    |
| 7    B189   B1489  | 2      1489  3     | 5      6     1489 |
:--------------------+--------------------+-------------------:
| 2     1789   15789 | 1458   3     145   |G1489   4789  6    |
| 3     1689   189   | 1468   7     1246  |G1489   2489  5    |
| 168   4     d578–1 | 9      168   256–1 | 1238  c2378  128  |
:--------------------+--------------------+-------------------:
| 5     1389   1489  | 134    2     149   | 6    ab3489  7    |
| 4689  36789  2     | 34567  469   45679 | 3489  a1     489  |
| 1469  3679–1e1479  | 3467–1 1469  8     | 2349   5     249  |
'--------------------'--------------------'-------------------'
The GE restricts the false base digits of the JE. Each of them can have at most one cover-house clash, and one clash is already forced in r689c7.
Also, the base digits are in c8 left with r178c8.

We can take advantage of these properties with an AIC:
1 base = r17c8 base – 3r7c8 = (3–7)r6c8 = 7r6c3 – (7=1|4|9)r9c3 second cover-house clash
If 1 is base, it can be eliminated in the cover-houses, otherwise the cover-house clashes are in r9c3 and r689c7, so all other clashing candidates can be eliminated.
Either way, –1r6c36, –1r9c24; 10.3 -> 10.2.

Code: Select all
,--------------------,--------------------,-------------------,
| 1489  2      3     | 1468   5     1469  | 7      489  x1489 |
| 1489  5      6     | 1478  y489   1479  | 12489  2489  3    |
| 7   lB189  lB1489  | 2      1489  3     | 5      6     1489 |
:--------------------+--------------------+-------------------:
| 2     1789   15789 | 1458   3     145   |G1489   4789  6    |
| 3     1689   189   | 1468   7     1246  |G1489   2489  5    |
|e6+18  4     f5+78  | 9      168  g2+56  | 1238  b7+238 128  |
:--------------------+--------------------+-------------------:
| 5     1389   1489  | 134    2     149   | 6     c3+489 7    |
|ik489+6 d36+789 2   | 34567  469   45679 |i489+3  1    i489  |
| 1469 d36+79 a7+149 | 3467   1469  8     |j49+23  5    h2+49 |
'--------------------'--------------------'-------------------'
We can locate the second clashing candidate. Assume there is no clash in c23, i.e. –1489r689c23.
r9c3=7, 7r6∈c8, 3c8∈r7, r89c2=36, 6c1∈r6, r6c3=5, r6c6=2, 2c9∈r9, r8c179=489
The 4|9 in r9c7 is forced into r8c1 and b1p89, making it a true base digit, but it cannot appear in the GE targets, contradiction.

Therefore, one of these candidates must be true, causing a second cover-house clash.
The remaining candidates that would cause clashes can be eliminated (1489r689c468).
Also, now we can only have one clash in c7, so one of the false base digits must hide in r2c7. –2r2c7; 10.2 -> 9.5

At this point, it's difficult to find meaningful progress. I ended up eliminating 3r7c8.
Assume 3r7c8. Per the reasoning on c8 just before the AIC, 1 is base. After basics:
Code: Select all
,-------------------,-----------------,----------------,
|*489   2     3     |a46–8  5    b469 | 7     489  1   |
|*489   5     6     | 17    489   17  | 489   2    3   |
| 7    *189  *1489  | 2    *489   3   | 5     6    489 |
:-------------------+-----------------+----------------:
| 2     1789  15789 |f1458  3     145 | 1489  489  6   |
| 3     1689  189   |f1468  7     2   | 1489  489  5   |
| 168   4    d58    | 9    e18   c56  | 3     7    2   |
:-------------------+-----------------+----------------:
| 5     189   1489  | 14    2     149 | 6     3    7   |
|*49–6  37    2     | 357  *469   57  | 489   1    489 |
| 1469  3679  479   | 37    1469  8   | 2     5   #49  |
'-------------------'-----------------'----------------'
The 4|9 in r9c9 is restricted in r8, r3 and c1, so it must take r8c1.
6r1c4 = 6r1c6 – (6=5)r6c6 – (5=8)r6c3 – 8r6c5 = 8r45c4 => –8r1c4
contradiction with basics

So –3r7c8; 9.5 -> 9.4. After singles:
Code: Select all
,-------------------,------------------,-----------------,
|z149–8 2      3    | 1468  5     1469 | 7    y489 x1489 |
| 1489  5      6    | 1478 y489   1479 |z149–8 2    3    |
| 7    B189   B1489 | 2    z149–8 3    | 5     6    1489 |
:-------------------+------------------+-----------------:
| 2     189    5    | 148   3     14   |G1489  7    6    |
| 3     1689   189  | 1468  7     2    |G1489  489  5    |
| 168   4      7    | 9     168   5    | 128   3    128  |
:-------------------+------------------+-----------------:
| 5     1389   1489 | 134   2     149  | 6     489  7    |
| 4689  367–89 2    | 5     469   67   | 3489  1    489  |
| 1469  367–9 z149  | 367   1469  8    | 2349  5    249  |
'-------------------'------------------'-----------------'
The cover-house clash in c23 is located in r9c3. => –89r89c2
It's a false base digit and it cannot also clash in c7, so it hides in r2c7, r3c5, r1c1, eliminating 8s.

The digit z in r7c8 is a true base digit:
If it's 4|9, it is in b6 forced into the GE targets,
if it's 8, it is forced into b7p47 and b1p89.

Therefore, in c8, the true base digits take r17c8, so 1 is a false base digit. 9.4 -> 8.3

Code: Select all
,------------------,------------------,-----------------,
|z149   2     3    | 1468  5     1469 | 7     489 x49–8 |
| 1489  5     6    |ax47–8y489 bx479  |z149   2    3    |
| 7    B89   B489  | 2    z149   3    | 5     6    1489 |
:------------------+------------------+-----------------:
| 2     189   5    |f148   3     14   | 489   7    6    |
| 3     1689  189  |f1468  7     2    | 489   489  5    |
| 68    4     7    | 9    e68    5    | 12    3    12   |
:------------------+------------------+-----------------:
| 5     1389  1489 | 134   2     149  | 6     489  7    |
| 4689  367   2    | 5    d469  c67   | 3489  1    489  |
| 469   367  z1–49 | 367  d1469  8    | 2349  5    249  |
'------------------'------------------'-----------------'
7r2c4 = 7r2c6 – (7=6)r8c6 – 6r89c5 = (6–8)r6c5 = 8r45c4 => –8r2c4, –8r1c9
Suppose (4|9)z. zc9∈r8, 8c9∈r3. Not enough digits for the base, contradiction. z=1; 8.3 -> 7.1

After basics:
Code: Select all
,----------------,---------------,----------------,
| 1     2    3   |#48–6 5   a46–9| 7    #489  49  |
|*489   5    6   | 47  *489  479 | 1     2    3   |
| 7    B89  B489 | 2    1    3   | 5     6    489 |
:----------------+---------------+----------------:
| 2     189  5   |#148  3   b14  |G9–8   7    6   |
| 3     16   89  |c16   7    2   |G489  #489  5   |
|*68    4    7   | 9   *68   5   | 2     3    1   |
:----------------+---------------+----------------:
| 5    *389 *489 | 134  2    149 | 6     49–8 7   |
| 469–8 367  2   | 5    469  67  | 3489  1    489 |
| 469   367  1   | 367  469  8   | 349   5    2   |
'----------------'---------------'----------------'
8r26\c15 => –8r8c1
8b7\r8 => –8r7c8
8c48\r14b6 => –8r4c7, 9r4c7, 9 base => –9r1c6
(6=4)r1c6 – (4=1)r4c6 – (1=6)r5c4 => –6r1c4

Code: Select all
,-------------,---------------,---------------,
| 1    2   3  | 48   5    6   | 7    489 x9–4 |
|*48   5   6  | 7   y489 x9–4 | 1    2    3   |
| 7   B9 *B48 | 2    1    3   | 5    6   *48  |
:-------------+---------------+---------------:
| 2    18  5  | 148  3   d14  |G9    7    6   |
| 3    16  9  |c16   7    2   |G48   48   5   |
| 68   4   7  | 9    68   5   | 2    3    1   |
:-------------+---------------+---------------:
| 5    38  48 | 134  2    149 | 6    9–4  7   |
| 6–49#36  2  | 5   @49–6 7   | 348  1   *489 |
|@49–6 7   1  |b#36  469  8   |a34   5    2   |
'-------------'---------------'---------------'
(4G –) (4=3)r9c7 – (3=6)r9c4 – (6=1)r5c4 – (1=4)r4c6 => –4r2c6, 9r1c9, 9c8∈r7
4c9b1\r38c1 => –4r8c1
w-wing 36r8c2, r9c4 connected by 3b9 => –6r8c5, –6r9c1
w-wing 49r8c5, r9c1 connected by 4b9 => –9r8c1, stte

The 11.7 is way easier, after the JE and basics it's already down to 7.7:
Hidden Text: Show
Code: Select all
,-----------------,---------------------,--------------------,
| 168  2     1356 |y3458  y34568  x356  | 7      35689  5689 |
| 4   y3568 x356  | 3578   35678   9    | 1      3568   2    |
| 7   z68–35 9    | 1      2       3568 |B3568   4     B568  |
:-----------------+---------------------+--------------------:
| 2    35    8    | 6      3579    357  | 4      359    1    |
| 16   7     1356 | 3589   3589    4    | 35689  2      5689 |
| 9    4     356  | 2      358     1    | 3568   7      568  |
:-----------------+---------------------+--------------------:
| 3    9     47   | 58     568     2    | 568    1      47   |
| 5    1     247  | 34789  346789 z68–37| 2689   689    47   |
|z68   68    247  | 4579   1       57   | 259    59     3    |
'-----------------'---------------------'--------------------'
The digit z in r9c1 is clashing with its cover-house, so it's non-base.
zc2∈r3, zc6∈r8, btte
marek stefanik
 
Posts: 395
Joined: 05 May 2021

Re: End in n digit pattern with n-1 clues

Postby champagne » Tue Mar 10, 2026 8:56 am

I had a first look at "marek stefanik" 'path for the 11.8 puzzle.

the exocet patterns push the puzzle closer to the hard step, but I think that

Code: Select all
1..4...89
4...891..
.98.1...4
.1.8.49..
..91..84.
84.9....1
.84..1.9.
....9.418
9.1.48...


is one of the 4 digits pattern with only one solution after the 3 given.

I'll check the solution grid
champagne
2017 Supporter
 
Posts: 7889
Joined: 02 August 2007
Location: France Brittany

Re: End in n digit pattern

Postby champagne » Fri Mar 13, 2026 7:01 pm

I think that I am ready to do more on these n digits patterns.

I hoped to have some interest from "blue" on such a topic, but this did not come.
I'll keep this thread for general remarks, but I''ll open two separate threads for the analysis of 2 solution grids

the first one 2889161802 with a four digit pattern
the second one 324629003 with the 11.8 rating analysed by "marek stefanik".
champagne
2017 Supporter
 
Posts: 7889
Joined: 02 August 2007
Location: France Brittany


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