how is it possible to get started on this? does anyone have any tips? I am capable of doing the puzzles from easy to fendish in the Times but for some reason I do not know where to start on the samurai?
thanks!
samurai su doku
9 posts
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by scrose » Fri Jun 24, 2005 1:34 pm
A good place to start are in the four 3x3 subgrids where the five puzzles interconnect. In each of those intersections you are able to use clues from two puzzles simultaneously.
With the samurais I have found that candidates of a single digit are often restricted to a single column or row in the central puzzle. This sometimes helps to eliminate candidates in the corner puzzles.
Otherwise, just go slowly. It's can be very frustrating to make a mistake in a samurai and have to start over. Work towards filling those four intersecting subgrids. Once those are complete, each puzzle can be solved independently of the others.
With the samurais I have found that candidates of a single digit are often restricted to a single column or row in the central puzzle. This sometimes helps to eliminate candidates in the corner puzzles.
Otherwise, just go slowly. It's can be very frustrating to make a mistake in a samurai and have to start over. Work towards filling those four intersecting subgrids. Once those are complete, each puzzle can be solved independently of the others.
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by Hammerite » Sat Jun 25, 2005 1:42 am
I actually just finished doing it :) It took a long time...
IIRC at the beginning I had to use logic relating to the intersection between the middle grid and the other four grids quite a lot. After I had completed the middle grid (which was fairly easy), it became a lot more difficult, or so it seemed to me, because of the way the other four grids were filled in at that point - very well filled in near the intersection, sparsely filled in further from it (and of course those four blank boxes were a pain).
IIRC at the beginning I had to use logic relating to the intersection between the middle grid and the other four grids quite a lot. After I had completed the middle grid (which was fairly easy), it became a lot more difficult, or so it seemed to me, because of the way the other four grids were filled in at that point - very well filled in near the intersection, sparsely filled in further from it (and of course those four blank boxes were a pain).
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by jonallen1966 » Sat Jun 25, 2005 2:19 pm
Interesting. I found I had finished all the outer grids
before I could complete the middle one to the get the 4 letters.
It took me about 3 hours to solve today.
I should have scanned in the copy before I wrote all over it.
Here's todays : sorry it's not easier to read.
Shames the prizes are only more sudoku books!
before I could complete the middle one to the get the 4 letters.
It took me about 3 hours to solve today.
I should have scanned in the copy before I wrote all over it.
Here's todays : sorry it's not easier to read.
Shames the prizes are only more sudoku books!
- Code: Select all
***|6**|**4| |6**|**4|***|
**5|3**|1**| |**9|**5|2**|
*4*|**1|8**| |**2|7**|*9*|
81*|*6*|***| |***|*4*|*81|
***|59*|*7*| |*5*|*96|***|
**6|***|39*| |*14|***|3**|
*28|**5|***|***|***|8**|71*|
***|*72|***|3*1|***|53*|***|
4**|***|***|7*5|***|***|**5|
|*57|***|34*|
|***|***|***|
|*32|***|17*|
7**|***|***|1*7|***|***|**6|
***|*82|***|9*2|***|93*|***|
*63|**4|***|***|***|6**|42*|
**4|***|19*| |*78|***|9**|
***|56*|*8*| |*5*|*26|***|
37*|*9*|***| |***|*4*|*81|
*9*|**8|6**| |**9|4**|*5*|
**1|9**|8**| |**5|**3|7**|
***|1**|**7| |2**|**1|***|
- jonallen1966
- Posts: 24
- Joined: 29 May 2005
by demdempster » Sat Jun 25, 2005 4:29 pm
Today's puzzle took me 58 minutes, easily the quickest I've ever managed one of the Samurai. The target time implied it was easier, and practice has certainly helped.
Generally I find that the five individual puzzles are relatively straightforward (I would say mild-difficult on The Times scale) but there is a temptation to flit around too much so you lose your train of thought or miss obvious conclusions. Some moving around is inevitable because of the inter-dependancy of the puzzles, so the 'skill' seems to be judging how much is necessary and how much is mere temptation.
My approach is to start with the corners in turn and take them as far as is 'easy', then try to make progress on the middle section. There's obviously more evidence available at this stage than is there at the start, so it's sometimes possible to solve the middle completely at this point.
Admittedly there haven't been very many Samurai so far, but the most satisfying ones are those when you almost solve the five sections simultaneously, emphasising the links between them.
Anyway, it's got me buying The Times instead of The Guardian on a Saturday, so the circulation manager will be pleased.
Generally I find that the five individual puzzles are relatively straightforward (I would say mild-difficult on The Times scale) but there is a temptation to flit around too much so you lose your train of thought or miss obvious conclusions. Some moving around is inevitable because of the inter-dependancy of the puzzles, so the 'skill' seems to be judging how much is necessary and how much is mere temptation.
My approach is to start with the corners in turn and take them as far as is 'easy', then try to make progress on the middle section. There's obviously more evidence available at this stage than is there at the start, so it's sometimes possible to solve the middle completely at this point.
Admittedly there haven't been very many Samurai so far, but the most satisfying ones are those when you almost solve the five sections simultaneously, emphasising the links between them.
Anyway, it's got me buying The Times instead of The Guardian on a Saturday, so the circulation manager will be pleased.
- demdempster
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by scrose » Sun Jun 26, 2005 5:47 pm
I can't verify the accuracy of the grid that jonallen1966 posted, but I was able to solve it. Below, I have posted part of my solution for the central grid. Highlight the text (or select all) to view it.
716 000 435
945 301 827
283 705 961
057 000 340
000 000 000
032 000 170
468 107 592
371 902 684
529 000 713
716 000 435
945 301 827
283 705 961
057 000 340
000 000 000
032 000 170
468 107 592
371 902 684
529 000 713
- scrose
- Posts: 322
- Joined: 31 May 2005
by Animator » Sun Jun 26, 2005 6:21 pm
Indeed, it can be solved...
I wonder where I went wrong this morning though... Right after your reply (without the solution that is) I tried to solve it which was no problem...
Yet, this morning I reached three times an impossible situation...
I wonder where I went wrong this morning though... Right after your reply (without the solution that is) I tried to solve it which was no problem...
Yet, this morning I reached three times an impossible situation...
- Animator
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- Joined: 08 April 2005
by mukkathew » Mon Jun 27, 2005 8:56 pm
well thanks for the help i actually managed the samurai this time but felt cheated as it was only projected to take 45 mins ( i took twice as long 1hour 30 mins) and a couple of weeks ago it was projected to take 85 mins to complete. so im not sure if it was easy to complete or i applied a lot of logic!
- mukkathew
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9 posts
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