The New Sudoku Players' Forum

[simleung]

x1x x4x 3x2
xx4 93x x8x
xx3 x1x 9x4

56x 39x 478
xxx 654 x3x
43x x78 6x5

3x6 42x 81x
x4x x83 xx6
7x8 x6x x43

any takers? i'm looking for a gentle nudge in the right direction...

[Shazbot]

Start looking around for Locked Candidates - there are at least 4 sets that might get you going. There are some naked pairs and hidden triples as well. (was that nudge gentle enough for you? I didn't want to "tell" you too much if you want to work it through yourself)

[simleung]

hmmm

i read up those naked pairs and hidden triples you were referring to. I'm not sure if i had any left. I've actually solved the puzzle using trial and error and eliminating the conflicts, but I hate that, it's so un-elegant.

Here's the pencilmarks at which I am stuck:

689 1 579 578 4 567 3 56 2
26 25 4 9 3 256 17 8 17
268 2578 3 2578 1 2567 9 56 4

5 6 12 3 9 12 4 7 8
289 2789 279 6 5 4 12 3 19
4 3 129 12 7 8 6 29 5

3 59 6 4 2 579 8 1 79
129 4 1259 57 8 3 257 29 6
7 259 8 15 6 159 25 4 3

Does this have any of those naked pairs or hidden triples you were referring to?

[emm]

Hidden single - column 1
Naked triple - column 2

[Shazbot]

After you get past that stage, look for an XWing (see the same reference for explanation) on 9s in columns 2 and 6. From there it's just naked and hidden singles.

[Cec]

i read up those naked pairs and hidden triples you were referring to. I'm not sure if i had any left.....
Here's the pencilmarks at which I am stuck:

See above (editored cecbevwr)

Does this have any of those naked pairs or hidden triples you were referring to?

Hi again simleung,
This puzzle seems a good example for you to apply the solving techniques as previously explained in this thread.

To spot a 'naked pair' (two identical candidates in only two cells) look at column8. When identified, it enables these same candidates to be excluded from other cells in the same row, column or Box. After this elimination look for another naked pair in row2 - again this will enable further elimination of candidates in this same row.
The additional naked pair in column8 won't help because all other cells in this column are accounted for.

Cec

[simleung]

Those tips are great! I followed each one to make sure they make sense to me, and they do. In this particular case, it was the x-wing thing that gave the big breakthrough. Thanks for the tips guys. Solving a puzzle through trial and error is akin to a jedi using a blaster - unelegant!!!

[Shazbot]

I believe Obiwan's term was "clumsy"

[angusj]

unelegant!!!

Like your neologism .

[Guest]

[Edited by Pappocom]

[Shazbot]

that's pretty, cb888, but not what I'd call a "gentle nudge in the right direction", which is what simleung asked for. To be honest, when people post a question, they usually want to know what's the next step, or what are they failing to see. They usually DON'T want someone to complete the puzzle for them and not bother to explain how they did it.