The New Sudoku Players' Forum

[Bernard Stay]

Despite operating two X-wings to eliminate some 9s & 4s I could not complete this without a bit of trial and error. My Sudoku programme ('Sudoku Susser'), after finding one X-wing ('Fishy cycle') had to proceed by two 'Nishio cycles', which as I see it are small scale trial and error excursions. Taking a hint from this I tried eliminating a couple of 7s and then the puzzle came out. But I'm not happy about this. Has anyone managed to solve this using logical process alone?

Thanks.

[Anette]

Can you post the grid? I don't find it on Timesonline.

[PaulIQ164]

I think it'll be on the website by tomorrow, with any luck.

[kellstart]

Hi,

I didn't get very far with this one - it's been driving me crazy all day!

I would be really interested to know if there is a logical way to crack this one - PLEASE!!

Anette, here is the grid in case you can't wait until tomorrow!

**6 8*3 7**
52* *4* *93
*** *** ***

*4* 9*6 *5*
9** *** **1
*3* 1*7 *4*

*** *** ***
85* *1* *69
**2 3*8 5**

Good Luck!!

Kellstart

[SteveF]

I've just managed to solve it (as posted by kelstart) with nothing more complex than pairs, triples, etc.

I will re-check to make sure I didn't make a guess somewhere.

[SteveF]

I've just put it through angusj's Simple Sudoku, and it confirmed that once you find a naked triple the rest pretty much falls into place.

[Sabreman64]

I didn't spot the naked triple. As the previous two Sunday Times sudokus required X-wings, I looked for X-wings straight off, and solved the puzzle after applying three X-wings.

[Anette]

Thanks kellstart. I also managed to solve it with 2 X-wings and a triple.

[Bernard Stay]

Thanks everybody. I'll have to hone my triple-spotting skills!

[Dinarius]

This puzzle clearly indicates to me that I have a lot to learn. ;-)

With this one I got 2 (yes, two!) numbers and that was it! I got the 1 in row 2, column 6 and the 9 in row 6, column 7. The 1 gave me a 9,5 double and a 4,2 double in that same sixth column. But, I couldn't make use of them. After that I was stumped.

I have never needed triples to solve a grid in the past. Better book up on them.

In my opinion, this Sunday Times grid is far and away the most difficult of the UK broadsheets. Anyone else agree?

D.

[kellstart]

Thankyou so much - I've finally done it! My triplet spotting skills have been a bit lousy so that was good practise.

Dinarius - dont worry, I hadn't heard of X-wings up until recently! I agree that The Times ones seem the hardest but in my opinion they are the ones worth doing because you will learn all the techniques alot quicker - albeit more painfully!!

Thanks again everyone

Kellstart

[Dinarius]

Have to confess, I am still stumped on this one.

I think I know what a triplet is and, based on this knowledge, I have added one(!) extra number to the grid. I now have three. Assuming they are correct, they are r2c6(1), r4c3(1) and r6c7(9). That, I am afraid, is it.

Thus, the grid looks something like this.......

xx68x37xx
52xx41x93
xxxxxxxxx
x419x6x5x
9xxxxxxx1
x3x1x794x
xxxxxxxxx
85xx1xx69
xx23x85xx

Could someone give me a hint as to my next move?

Thanks.

D.

[Anette]

There's a triple, look in column 3.

Then there are also 2 X-wings.

[blaise]

Not sure I see the triple in c3. However, there is a naked quad in c3 (1,5,7,8)

[Anette]

The triple is 78 in R2C3, 578 in R5C3 and 58 in R6C3.