The New Sudoku Players' Forum

[JFistere]

I am pretty new to Sudoko, but I am working the puzzles in the back of the book. I am stumped on this one:

2..|...|581
...|51.|.92
.15|2..|..6
---+---+---
359|..2|817
628|173|954
147|895|623
---+---+---
.72|356|14.
5.1|..4|.6.
.6.|..1|..5

There seems to be no way to place a number without guessing. (Of course I have the solution, and the numbers already there match the solution.)

Could someone tell me a rule that applies?

Thanks,
John

[emm]

Where can the 6 go in row 2?

It's called a hidden single - have you looked at Simple Sudoku for techniques for solving?

[JFistere]

Arg. So simple. Thanks! I thought I had made that check many times by now. My little notes spell it right out!

Thanks,
John

[JFistere]

OK, I have studied Simple Soduko and other resources, done a bunch of puzzles, used every rule I have heard of, filled in the possible numbers for each square, looked for combinations that exclude numbers, etc., and yet the next move on this puzzle eludes me:

.45|6.7|.8.
381|724|.9.
.6.|..8|.41
---+---+---
618|2.9|.73
45.|.1.|96.
.3.|...|.1.
---+---+---
824|1..|.5.
5.3|...|12.
1.6|..2|.3.

I know you are going to point out something really obvious, but I can't come up with it myself. Arg in advance. BTW, does it ever happen that a puzzle in a book requires a trial and error approach?

Thanks,
John Fistere

[Shazbot]

You may have mistyped some of the clues - you have two 7s in box 2, so it's an invalid puzzle. Or you've got one of the numbers wrong in your solution to this point.

Code: Select all

.45|6.7|.8.
381|724|.9.
.6.|..8|.41
---+---+---
618|2.9|.73
45.|.1.|96.
.3.|...|.1.
---+---+---
824|1..|.5.
5.3|...|12.
1.6|..2|.3.


[JFistere]

That was a typo in my entering the data. What I have in my puzzle book is:

.45|6.1|.8.
381|724|.9.
.6.|..8|.41
---+---+---
618|2.9|.73
45.|.1.|96.
.3.|...|.1.
---+---+---
824|1..|.5.
5.3|...|12.
1.6|..2|.3.

Sorry about that.

John

[MCC]

JFistere there is only one place for a 5 in column 6.

[Cec]

JFistere there is only one place for a 5 in column 6.

Damm it! You just beat me to it MCC - I was going to trade this hint with John in exchange for what "Arg" and "BTW" means? This jargon continues to mystify me - any help appreciated.
Cec

[MCC]

BTW=By the way.

Arg is probably = to Doh ( the moment you do something realising a split second later how stupid it was to do it).

mcc

[Cec]

Thanks MCC for explaining 'BTW' and 'Arg'. Is there a de- facto dictionary or something similar which explains all these expressions?
Cec

[MCC]

cec, I believe there are several site out there, you try a web search for abbreviations or emoticons, some sites have both.

BBFN

[JFistere]

Thanks MCC. Another "hidden single", although it is really not that hidden, IMHO.

CEC,
Here's a link with lots of chat abbreviations:
http://searchwebservices.techtarget.com/sDefinition/0,,sid26_gci211776,00.html.

Google search for "chat abbreviations" will give you more lists.

However, I could not find Arg or Doh on the few sites I checked. MCC got it right, though.

Cheers,
John

[Cec]

HT and THX 'MCC' - Just starting to get this "Lingo" but I think Sudoku is easier.
BFN Cec

THX also John - Your above link and other suggestions most appreciated.
TT4N Cec