The New Sudoku Players' Forum

[m_b_metcalf]

The first one has 6 initial HS's and the second one 4. I only allow one initial hidden single.

Sorry, I took that to mean 'only one initial hidden single step' rather than 'only one possible initial hidden single'.

As already stated, it's hard to compete with gsf, but in the file was

Code: Select all

 6 . . . . . . . 9
 . . . 2 . . . . .
 . 2 . . 1 . . . 3
 7 . 1 . 6 . . . .
 . . . 1 . 9 . . .
 . . 3 8 4 . 1 . .
 8 . . . . . . . .
 . . 7 3 . 1 6 5 .
 . . . 4 5 . 8 . 2    25 clues (r5c4 redundant)

Regards,

Mike Metcalf

[Jean-Christophe]

The first one has 6 initial HS's and the second one 4. I only allow one initial hidden single.

Sorry, I took that to mean 'only one initial hidden single step' rather than 'only one possible initial hidden single'.

As already stated, it's hard to compete with gsf, but in the file was

Code: Select all

 6 . . . . . . . 9
 . . . 2 . . . . .
 . 2 . . 1 . . . 3
 7 . 1 . 6 . . . .
 . . . 1 . 9 . . .
 . . 3 8 4 . 1 . .
 8 . . . . . . . .
 . . 7 3 . 1 6 5 .
 . . . 4 5 . 8 . 2    25 clues (r5c4 redundant)

Regards,

Mike Metcalf

2. No naked single to start with.

This one has 2 naked single to start with...

I found 2 others:
Givens: 24
.9.1..6.........2...7.8.9.........5.5.3..1..2..2...7...6...8..44.....1....5.74.36
Givens: 25
..5.967..2.......37...3.6........9..6...8...1..49..5...3..7.1.61..........8.4.3.7

[ab]

This not what you're after, but this is the the longest solution path for a singles puzzle:

Code: Select all

 . . 5 | 7 . . | . . . 
 . 1 . | 9 3 . | 7 . . 
 . . 6 | . . . | . . 4 
-------+-------+------
 . . 8 | . . . | . 5 . 
 . . . | . 9 . | . . . 
 . 5 . | . 7 . | . . 2 
-------+-------+------
 . 3 . | . . . | . 4 . 
 . 8 7 | . . . | . . . 
 . 4 . | . 6 8 | 3 1 .
39 Steps: 030101010101010201010101010201020101010102010101010101010101010101020203030504

WOW That's amazing Tarek.

[udosuk]

Thanks gsf & JC, your puzzles are the ones I'm looking for. So gsf's 21-clue puzzles are the record for now. Thanks for the efforts!

Also a big thanks to all others who spent time working on it: tarek, Pat and Mike. You guys rock!

[Jean-Christophe]

Some more:

Givens: 23
5.8..2.43.........2.1.8...5........4..2.7....1.3.....9..6.5.8..9..........5..36.1
Givens: 23
...8.71.2...........1...5.8.6.2.....5...498....3.....7.4..7.9.6.........6..3...85
Givens: 25
5.96...78....3.6..4.6.8..........5.16.5..1..9......2....1.29..7.........2..4.7.5.
Givens: 25
..41.3.7.9.....1.4..8.9.3..3.7..5.....2...6.......6..58.6.4...3..........2.7.1..8
Givens: 24
6.5..4.71.........2.7.....3.5...2.....1.5.4.84...6.........95..3.2........8.1.7.6
Givens: 25
5.3...9....2.5....4.8.....6.....1..49.4..........6.3.73.95..4.8....1....2.7..8..9
Givens: 25
9.75.1.3..........1.8.2.6.7........43.24..5......7....2.3..9..1.........7.4.6.2.9
Givens: 25
2.5.6.9.4.........1.94.27.8.........6.1...2.55...9......7.....6....8.4....23.4.7.
Givens: 25
...7.3.45.........6.1.5.8......6...13.8...9.7......4..7.6..9..2..5......9...75.14
Givens: 25
12.8.4.53......4......7...86.....2..2.3..9..1.........9.83..5.4.........4.5.1.6.9
Givens: 25
3.4.591.6...........76.4.39....8......1...6.4..3......1.5.43.2..........2...915..