The New Sudoku Players' Forum

[cheemo]

I'm usually excellent at this game; I've solved over 95 percent of the puzzles that have appeared in the local paper. But this one is a nightmare:

The original puzzle:

Code: Select all

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


And here's where I am stuck:

Code: Select all

2569 467  4679 | 48  1    248  | 245  3458 23689
2569 46   8    | 7   245  3    | 1    45   269
125  3    14   | 9   2458 6    | 245  7    28
------------------------------------------------
4    5    126  | 68  238  289  | 38   19   7
8    9    3    | 5   7    1    | 6    2    4   
7    16   126  | 468 2348 2489 | 38   19   5
------------------------------------------------
19   2    1479 | 3   48   5    | 47   6    18   
13   148  5    | 2   6    7    | 9    348  138 
36   4678 467  | 1   9    48   | 2457 3458 238


Where do I go from here?

[TKiel]

Cheemo,

There is a naked triple in box 3 (top right). Once you make those exclusions it's just singles.

Tracy

[cheemo]

Thanks much! That helped me solve it.

[TKiel]

Frustrating how some times those things just jump out at you and others they hide within themselves.

Tracy

[Pat]

The original puzzle [ 28 clues ] —

Code: Select all

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

here's where I am stuck —

Code: Select all

2569 467  4679 | 48  1    248  | 245  3458 23689
2569 46   8    | 7   245  3    | 1    45   269
125  3    14   | 9   2458 6    | 245  7    28
------------------------------------------------
4    5    126  | 68  238  289  | 38   19   7
8    9    3    | 5   7    1    | 6    2    4   
7    16   126  | 468 2348 2489 | 38   19   5
------------------------------------------------
19   2    1479 | 3   48   5    | 47   6    18   
13   148  5    | 2   6    7    | 9    348  138 
36   4678 467  | 1   9    48   | 2457 3458 238

for me,
it is usually easier to find a duo
(rather than a trio)

in this case:
the 6,9 for c9

this gives the 3 for r1,
then the 8 for box 3

~ Pat

[Cec]

for me,
it is usually easier to find a duo
(rather than a trio)

in this case:
the 6,9 for c9

this gives the 3 for r1,
then the 8 for box 3

Hi Pat,
I can see the hidden pair [69] in c9 but, without considering the [245] triple in this box3, I can't see how this [69] pair immediately places the [3] in r1? Would appreciate an explanation.
Cec

[MCC]

Cec

If you eliminate everything else besides the 69's in r12c9 you'll find that there is only one 3 in box 3, also only one 3 in r1.

MCC