- Code: Select all
6 . . . . 1 9 . .
. 8 . . 3 . . . .
. . 1 7 . . . . 2
. . 2 . . . . . 7
. 5 . . . . . 1 .
4 . . . . . 3 . .
3 . . . . 9 6 . .
. . . . 4 . . 8 .
. . 8 2 . . . . 5 Fluid Drive (tarek)
I've been swopping messages with tarek re above, so what follows is mostly just copying out stuff for you. I don't need to recompose it, it's good as it is. Here's an edited version of our messages.
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g to t, 19 Oct:
Tarek, it's now a thrilling moment for me, I have just solved the hardest puzzle in my life, your magnificent flagship Tarek's #1 (9.9).
A wonderful opportunity to learn skills in the sublimely fascinating method of Forcing Nets.
I don't know if you are interested to see my efforts, or if there is a thread for solutions to this puzzle. My policy in posting solutions is not to give my final, pruned version, but rather the full manuscript of all my false and true tries. The full history of my journey to the solution.
At the end, SS commented:"FINISHED. 410 hints required & 265 invalid moves."
In this first effort with #1, I ended up with 12 steps, having to throw out 8 tries along the way, of which 3 were repeated attempts to eliminate 2a2. only on the 4th attempt had enough wood been removed to allow successful elimination. Inside my nets, which sometimes contained sub-nets but not sub-sub-nets, I used no techniques outside SSTS. I used GMET once, to create a naked pair.
I've thought of a nice name for it, Fluid Drive. Do you know what a fluid drive is?
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The Manuscript (Tarek's #1):
(1) SSTS
(2) [?3h4 tried and rejected][?3a9 rejected] ?4c2...??, -4c2.
(3) [?9c2 rejected] ?4g3...??, -4g3.
(4) [?4g9 rejected] ?2f6...(?3a8...??, -3a8), (?-3c2... ??, 3c2), ...??, -2f6.
(5) [?2a2 rejected (failed)] ?-27b1...(?6k6...??), 3k6,...(?7k1...??), 1k1...??, 27b1, -59b1. (Note GMET used here, resulting in elimination of 2 candidates).
(6) ?2h2...??, -2h2.
(7) [?2a2 still failing][?-159h1 failed].
(8) ?7h7...(?3a3...??), -3a3, 4a3...??, -7h7.
(9) ?2a2...(?1d1...??), -1d1...??, -2a2, SSTS placing first cells...
(10) ?1d1...??, -1d1.
(11) ?-7e1...??, 7e1, SSTS (several placements).
(12) ?8f4...??, 5f4, SSTS to end.
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t to g, 19 Oct:
Thanx gurth,
I would be certainly interested to see the full solution.....
Fluid Drive....hmmmmmmm, it has a nice Flow to it. I probably need to look that up ... but it sounds like a hallucinogen to me.......
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g to t, 20 Oct:
Thanks tarek!
The Fluid Drive was in the transmission on Chrysler stable of cars round about 1947 ... two whirling cups on spindles, facing each other, threw the fluid outwards by centrifugal force, impinging on radial fins in the cups. Your #1 looked a lot like it. Rather more prosaic than you imagined, I suppose, but most people won't know what it means anyway.
My "Manuscript" was actually my complete solution! Where you see "..." it simply means steps carried out under SSTS. Just as people solving difficult puzzles just say "singles" instead of listing those singles, so I just say "SSTS" instead of listing the steps under SSTS, as I figure anyone interested in those steps just has to use the SS program to verify those steps. And now I've just gone one further and replaced the repetitive "SSTS" with "..."
I hope you approve of this way of saving effort and space. The essential thing about nets is the order of the candidates chosen for examination. Any steps above SSTS level I would explain - sometimes I do distinguish between "singles", "locked candidates", "naked pairs", "Swordfish" and the like, but usually only to show that a Ruby or Garnet is present, and its size.
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t to g, 20 Oct:
Interesting gurth.... I need to brush up on my mechanics...but a very accurate description it is.
I do agree that SSTS techniques in these ultra hard are sort of trivial but the general public used to do that up to subset level only..... but probably SSTS is another option to save space.....
The main thing is to show us the implication nets.
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g to t, 25 Oct:
Funny your message of 20th only showed up today.
I do expect to raise some eyebrows with my style of presentation, but I couldn't care TOO much about that "general public" to whom I don't owe this puzzle of yours at all. The thing is this, I want to satisfy YOU in the first place with my solution. But you seem happy with these essentials...
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t to g, 26 Oct:
Gurth, I am happy with any solution that has logic behind it. I am satisfied because it is another proof that the puzzle IS difficult.
I must say that, I myself wouldn't use your method to solve.....
The reason is that I think some players (& myself) would have more techniques to use before contradiction elimination. (which I do use).
The reason why people try to avoid contradiction elimination, is the issue of GUESSING & BRUTE FORCE. (you probably know about this as much as I do)....... Too much talk & too many controversies.
The good thing is that everybody can follow the solution if they have SS ......So go ahead......
tarek
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In a final exchange of messages, tarek indicated he was happy with the name "Fluid Drive" for this puzzle and also commented:
"I'm sure there will be others who wll post their solutions (sometime) & it would be interesting to make comparisons."
Let's hope that "sometime" is sooner rather than later.
