The New Sudoku Players' Forum

[aburnce]

Here's the starting puzzle (sorry for the format but I don't know how to do the nice, neat "code" thing I keep seeing):

. . .|4 . .|. 6 .
6 . .|. . 5|7 . .
9 2 .|. . .|. 8 5

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

8 7 .|. . .|. 4 6
. . 4|8 . .|. . 7
. 1 .|. . 3|. . .


Here's what I have reduced it to:

135 8 1357|4 13 1279|23 6 19
6 4 13|1239 8 5|7 23 19
9 2 137|16 136 167|4 8 5

135 35 2|13 9 8|6 7 4
7 6 8|5 2 4|9 1 3
4 39 139|136 7 16|8 5 2

8 7 359|129 15 129|1235 4 6
235 359 4|8 156 1269|1235 23 7
25 1 6|7 4 3|25 9 8

I'm a relative beginner and have solved puzzles up to Tricky with some work, and one other Fiendish puzzle. This is my second. I've made some attempts with the various techniques I've found online, but these don't seem to yield anything I haven't already arrived at. HELP! This is driving me crazy.

I'm not looking for a solution; I want to know how to get there. I need some help understanding a technique that would allow me to crack this thing.

Thanks!!

[tarek]

hi aburnce,

The next logical step from your pencilmarks is to look at the 3s in column 5 then in box 2, you can achieve a box-line elimination.....

following that hurdle it becomes more interesting.........

HIDDEN DOUBLES...........

Look for in Box 2, Also in Column 4

Enjoy

Tarek

[tso]

Code: Select all

 *-----------------------------------------------------------*
 | 135   8     1357  | 4     13    1279  | 23    6     19    |
 | 6     4     13    | 1239  8     5     | 7     23    19    |
 | 9     2     137   | 16    136   167   | 4     8     5     |
 |-------------------+-------------------+-------------------|
 | 135   35    2     | 13    9     8     | 6     7     4     |
 | 7     6     8     | 5     2     4     | 9     1     3     |
 | 4     39    139   | 136   7     16    | 8     5     2     |
 |-------------------+-------------------+-------------------|
 | 8     7     359   | 129   15    129   | 1235  4     6     |
 | 235   359   4     | 8     156   1269  | 1235  23    7     |
 | 25    1     6     | 7     4     3     | 25    9     8     |
 *-----------------------------------------------------------*

There is a naked triple in box 2. Just singles after that.

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