The New Sudoku Players' Forum

[Frazzle]

Sorry to sound like a helpless female, but I get stuck on anything over an Easy [idiot icon].

I have tried making notes of which numbers could go in each cell, but I don't know where to go from there, get frustrated and go back to Easy or V. Easy.

I really want to be able to do Medium and Hard puzzles and would really appreciate some help from anyone with enough patience and no more than two syllable words in their vocabulary.

Hopefully yours
Frazzle(d)

[george-no1]

Try looking at

http://www.simes.clara.co.uk/programs/sudokutechniques.htm

(Sorry Simes, I know that's your line but I got there first!!! )

I'm sure that will help but if it doesn't then just stick to easy puzzles for a while, then try a mild, and if that goes OK then try a medium or a difficult, and you'll soon improve through practice.

George

[scrose]

Here are some more sites that offer help with solving techniques.

http://www.sudoku.com/howtosolve.htm
http://www.simetric.co.uk/sudoku/index.htm
http://www.puzzle.jp/keys/sudoku_keys-e.html

[Frazzle]

Thanks george.

Unfortunately my thickness is greater than you thought!

I've been looking at simes' site, and I understand the whole 'two values the same for each cell then one will go in one cell and the other in the other' thing, but its when you get more than 2 options for each cell, as described in his 'disjoint subsets' explanation, that's when I lose the will to live.

[Roz]

Hi Frazzle,

Try to move up slowly. Start a medium next and if/when you get stuck post the puzzle to the boards for help. In my opinion, It's easier to understand, when working and talking about an actual puzzle in progress.

Roz

[george-no1]

OK well I'll have a go at explain disjoint subsets if you like.

I've taken a look at Simes's explanation of it and it's good but a bit long-winded so I'll condense it a bit. If you've got a row that looks like this:

16 124569 25 l 1269 8 16 l 25 7 3

then you can delete the 1 and 6 from every cell except the two in red, and you can delete the 2 and 5 from every cell except the two in blue, because in both cases the two numbers must go in those two cells. This leaves:

16 49 25 l 9 8 16 l 25 7 3

and obviously you can then delete the 9 from the cell in green, leaving:

16 4 25 l 9 8 16 l 25 7 3

Do you understand now?

George

[simes]

...a bit long-winded...

I'm usually accused of being too terse!

[george-no1]

No offence meant, Simes!!!

George

[simes]

...and none taken.