The New Sudoku Players' Forum

[stinger]

Hi everyone,

Has anyone successfully completed the Sudoku puzzle #239 (Xmas Eve, taken from NZ Herald's web site). I have tried twice, but get stuck after 36 completed numbers. This is the first time I have got stuck on a puzzle. I could guess the remaining values, but that is not what Sudoku is about

[nj3h]

Please post the puzzle so we can try it. Thanks

[Crazy Girl]

Found the puzzle on the nzhereld site, so here it is for all to solve

Code: Select all

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

[stinger]

Here is where I got to

Code: Select all

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

The big question is what is the next move? I can't believe that I have not been able to complete a sudoku puzzle by myself.

Merry Christmas everyone.

[Lardarse]

The only places that the 6 could go in box 2 (top middle) is in r1c4 or r1c5. These are both in row 1, so no other cell in row 1 can be a 6. This means that the only cell left in box 1 that can be a 6 is r3c1. Knowing this then lets you finsh column 8.

I hope that this helps.

LA