The New Sudoku Players' Forum

[KateKintail]

I'm new to this site/forum as of a few minutes ago, but I've been doing Sudoku puzzles for many months. I know tons (probably all) the tricks but not the actual names of the tricks (xwing??).

This is the first puzzle I've ever been stumped on (The Washington Post, Sunday 10/9/05) and I've been at the level of doing them all in pen without writing in little numbers and all that for weeks now. But for some reason I've narrowed it down a lot here but just can't get any more. So I would LOVE some help figuring out what my next move should be! I'm really stuck.

Original:

Code: Select all

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


What I have so far: (I feel very stupid)

Code: Select all

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


I hope those posted all right. Like I said, this is my first post and first time being here. I would appreciate any and all help!

Thank you!
Kate of Kintail

[Lummox JR]

You should be able to find a hidden pair in column 7. That will lead you to the corresponding naked triple, with which you can make some eliminations in box 3. After finding the first hidden pair, another hidden pair will appear in box 6. From there a box-line intersection for box 4, row 5 will make more eliminations, and that should give you a hidden single in row 4.

Hopefully I've left that vague enough not to spoil the fun of solving it, while giving you something to go on.

[KateKintail]

Hopefully I've left that vague enough not to spoil the fun of solving it, while giving you something to go on.

Thank you so much! I technically don't understand the majority of what you said, so there's really no danger of spoiling my fun ;-)

Like I said, I don't know any of the terms... though I am guessing a hidden pair is what the 4&8 are doing in the column (which I did have down in my head), and a naked triple is... um... what the 2, 3, & 6 are doing in that column? Allowing me to clear all other 2s, 3s, and 6s from box 3 (which I didn't even see! Doh!).

But I've just got to ask, what exactly is a 'box-line intersection'? *does search for term in forum and is overwhelmed with equally confusing posts* Is that where a box and a column or row share a pair (like in column 6 and box 8) allowing one to see patterns/solutions in the line and box?

Thanks again. I definitely see where you're going with the solution, even if I don't know the terms. I've had it for the night, but I think your help will allow me a much more enjoyable breakfast tomorrow morning than my late night tonight was.

Thanks!!
Kate

[KateKintail]

Just wanted to thank you again. After finding that second hidden pair, the whole thing practically solved itself in a matter of minutes. *sighs with relief* Thank you!!

[addicted2]

Anyone have the original code for Saturday's Wash Post (Oct. 8) puzzle?

[KateKintail]

Anyone have the original code for Saturday's Wash Post (Oct. 8) puzzle?

I'm at work just now, but I should still have it at home. I'll post it later this evening for you.

[addicted2]

Thanks.... I want to pass this one on to a friend who is on travel. It should keep him busy in the evening for a while.

[KateKintail]

Here's the puzzle that was in The Washington Post Saturday 10/8/05

Code: Select all

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


Enjoy!

[Pappocom]

Just passing by, and in a huge hurry ... but there seems to be something wrong with the puzzle, as posted: it's not symmetrical.

- Wayne

[PaulIQ164]

I have a bit more time on my hands, so I stuck it in the Solutions bit on the website; there should be a 6 in r6c5.

[KateKintail]

Thanks for catching that, Paul and Wayne. I'd written the numbers in on the original and completely missed that when typing it up.

[addicted2]

Thanks everyone. I really appreciate it.

[Pat]

there should be a 6 in r6c5.

thanks but it's still not symmetrical, what's missing in box 6 ??

- Pat

[KateKintail]

Here's the correct version:

Code: Select all

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


Sorry about that. I'm pretty sure that's it this time.