The New Sudoku Players' Forum

[tarek]

I tried to analyse the selected puzzles with no x-wings & triples...but I couldn't see it...

A half way solution is to remove all puzzles (with no x-wings & triple) that have less than 3 doubles.....

This keeps the difficulty high & add a some suspense to the solver...

The puzzles currently numbered:2,12,23,24,27 will be removed reducing the total number to 37 superiors... I'll post the deleted puzzles shortly


Tarek

[Ruud]

Any deleted puzzle can be rescued in the "Almost Lost" thread.

Ruud.

[tarek]

Sure, here is the unupdated Almost superiors

Code: Select all

Puzzle #002 (ab)
 . . . | 5 . . | . . . 
 . . 2 | . 7 3 | . . . 
 . . 8 | . . . | 4 9 . 
-------+-------+------
 . 1 . | . . . | . . 5 
 . 3 . | . 2 . | . 6 . 
 6 . . | . . . | . 8 . 
-------+-------+------
 . 6 5 | . . . | 1 . . 
 . . . | 3 9 . | 2 . . 
 . . . | . . 4 | . . . 

Puzzle #012 (gsf)
 . . . | . . . | . 9 . 
 . 6 7 | 2 . . | 8 . . 
 . . . | . . 1 | 3 . 4 
-------+-------+------
 . . . | . 5 . | . 8 9 
 4 . 6 | . 8 . | 2 . 3 
 7 8 . | . 6 . | . . . 
-------+-------+------
 6 . 4 | 5 . . | . . . 
 . . 2 | . . 6 | 5 3 . 
 . 3 . | . . . | . . . 

Puzzle #023 (vidar)
 5 . 1 | 8 . 6 | 4 . 2 
 . . 7 | 1 . 4 | 6 . . 
 . . . | . 2 . | . . . 
-------+-------+------
 4 . . | . . . | . . 3 
 . 7 6 | . . . | 5 1 . 
 1 . . | . . . | . . 4 
-------+-------+------
 . . . | . 8 . | . . . 
 . . 9 | 7 . 3 | 8 . . 
 7 . 8 | 5 . 2 | 9 . 6 

Puzzle #024 (Red Ed)
 . . . | . . . | . 8 . 
 9 8 . | . . 7 | 3 6 . 
 . 7 . | . . 9 | . . . 
-------+-------+------
 . 5 1 | . 6 . | . . . 
 . . . | 8 . 1 | . . . 
 . . . | . 9 . | 8 3 . 
-------+-------+------
 . . . | 6 . . | . 2 . 
 . 9 5 | 2 . . | . 1 6 
 . 1 . | . . . | . . . 

Puzzle #027 (Ruud)
 . . . | . 7 . | 4 . . 
 9 6 . | . . . | . . 1 
 . . . | 5 . 8 | . . . 
-------+-------+------
 1 9 . | . . . | 2 . . 
 . . 5 | . 3 . | 8 . . 
 . . 7 | . . . | . 1 6 
-------+-------+------
 . . . | 7 . 6 | . . . 
 4 . . | . . . | . 3 5 
 . . 9 | . 2 . | . . .

tarek

[ab]

I don't understand why this puzzle doesn't make the cut:

Code: Select all

Puzzle (ab/tarek)
 . . 2 | . . 8 | . . 4 
 . . 5 | . . . | . 1 . 
 8 7 . | . . 2 | 3 . . 
-------+-------+------
 . . . | . . 7 | 8 . . 
 7 4 3 | . . . | 1 9 6 
 . . 8 | 9 . . | . . . 
-------+-------+------
 . . 6 | 7 . . | . 2 3 
 . 5 . | . . . | 4 . . 
 1 . . | 4 . . | 6 . . 


I agree it's easier that the puzzle that was altered, but it still needs locked candidates and triples to solve. At least put it on the alsmost lost list if nothing else.

[tarek]

ab,
I've added it to the Almost thread, I think it was not on the list because it was a modification that was easier than the original, The other 2 modifications however are on the list

tarek

[ab]

ok

do these qualify as superior??

Code: Select all

...|...|.9.
.98|...|3.6
6..|4..|.2.
-----------
1..|5..|...
.25|...|14.
...|..3|..5
-----------
.5.|..9|..1
3.1|...|76.
.7.|...|...


...|...|...
.97|2.1|38.
.4.|9.8|.2.
-----------
.3.|1.2|54.
...|...|...
.19|3.6|.7.
-----------
.8.|7.9|.3.
.76|8.3|15.
...|...|...



I think the top one needs 2 x wings.

[tarek]

do these qualify as superior??

The first one unfortunately isn't, 1 double only.......
The second is fantastic, a fantastic x-wing (or 2)..... a superior

The updated puzzle list at the start of this thread now has 38 superior puzzles.

Tarek

[Ruud]

This is my Alan Parsons Sudoku: Eye in the Sky

Code: Select all

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

It has 3 X-Wings, 2 hidden pairs and a naked triple, so I think it will qualify...

This one is not competing. Maybe one of the other forum members will like it:

Code: Select all

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

Ruud.

[Ocean]

Not sure if this one qualifies. It's a rather easy one. Can be solved by 'triples' - but there is only one such step, and I don't know if there are simpler alternatives.

Code: Select all

Puzzle B02 (Ocean)
 6 7 5 | . . . | . 3 4
 . 3 . | . . . | 5 7 .
 2 . . | . . . | . . 8
 ------+-------+-------
 . . . | . 9 3 | . . .
 . . . | 7 . 5 | . . .
 . . . | 6 2 . | . . .
 ------+-------+-------
 7 . . | . . . | . . 3
 . 9 2 | . . . | . 5 .
 8 1 . | . . . | 2 9 6

[tarek]

It has 3 X-Wings, 2 hidden pairs and a naked triple, so I think it will qualify...

Nice one, you can solve it with x-wings & doubles alone though, depends what techniques you employ & what do you spot first...

Ocean,
The naked triple elimination can be done with a hidden double, now I'm not sure if that means That it is a superior or not (probably does), however I think that if the triple was without a double counterpart then it would be superior, the ultimate would be a hidden triple that has a quad counterpart, I'm sure you can fiddle with numbers to give it the required nudge........(As you know the rules have changed a bit)

Ab brought to my attention that manual puzzle compilers were not addressed in the first thread, so this is to confirm that puzzle compilers are invited to participate....

The updated List now stands at 39 superiors

Tarek

[ab]

Code: Select all

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

I'm flattered.

Two can play at that game:

Code: Select all

418|..6|.3.
3..|8.7|.6.
276|..3|15.
-----------
5.9|...|...
8..|4..|.2.
...|...|.7.
-----------
.6.|5.1|49.
.8.|7.2|.1.
.52|6.4|78.


But this puzzle most definately does not belong in the superior puzzles thread.

[ab]

here's a puzzle that does belong in this thread. It's pretty too:

Code: Select all

...|...|..5
.7.|6..|...
6.9|.7.|...
-----------
8..|.2.|7..
.1.|8.4|.9.
..4|.9.|..3
-----------
...|.4.|8.6
...|..2|.3.
2..|...|...


Needs at least one triple and a pair and locked candidate. If you decide not to use pairs, it needs 2 triples and locked candidates.

[vidarino]

Assuming I haven't exceeded my quota yet, here are a few more from me.

The first one isn't the hardest, but I included it since it has a whole bunch of pairs and triples. The rest is a varied mix, I think, with the last one being the toughest (two triples (one hidden) and three X-Wings).

Code: Select all

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

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

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

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

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

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

Edit: And one more, since it's pretty as heck.

Code: Select all

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

Vidar

[Ocean]

Ocean,
The naked triple elimination can be done with a hidden double, now I'm not sure if that means That it is a superior or not (probably does), however I think that if the triple was without a double counterpart then it would be superior, the ultimate would be a hidden triple that has a quad counterpart, I'm sure you can fiddle with numbers to give it the required nudge........(As you know the rules have changed a bit)
Tarek

Thanks for the evaluation. My logical solver is not sophisticated enough to catch all possible paths. Three new: The first one should have elimination by 'hidden triples', number two has two eliminations by 'naked triples', and there is also one 'triple' in the third. If I'm lucky, maybe one of these passes your tests - or else they can be scrapped (or apply for a place in the 'almost lost' thread).

Code: Select all

Puzzle X01 (Ocean)
 . . . | . 8 . | . . .
 . . 4 | . . . | 3 . .
 . 5 . | 2 . 6 | . 9 .
 ------+-------+------
 . . 3 | . 6 . | . . .
 8 . . | 7 . 1 | . . 9
 . . . | . 5 . | 4 . .
 ------+-------+-------
 . 2 . | 1 . 9 | . 7 .
 . . 5 | . . . | 6 . .
 . . . | . 7 . | . . .


Puzzle B03(Ocean)
 . . 8 | . . . | 4 . 6
 . 9 4 | . . . | 3 1 .
 7 . 3 | . . . | . . 5
 ------+-------+-------
 . . . | 9 8 4 | . . .
 . . . | . 2 . | . . .
 . . . | 1 6 5 | . . .
 ------+-------+-------
 3 . . | . . . | 6 . 4
 . 6 7 | . . . | 2 8 .
 8 . 1 | . . . | 7 . .


Puzzle B04 (Ocean)
 . 6 . | . . . | . 1 .
 1 3 . | . . . | 8 7 9
 8 2 7 | . . . | . 3 .
 ------+-------+-------
 . . . | 8 1 . | . . .
 . . . | 7 . 5 | . . .
 . . . | . 9 4 | . . .
 ------+-------+-------
 . 8 . | . . . | 1 9 6
 3 1 6 | . . . | . 2 7
 . 7 . | . . . | . 5 .


[ab]

Hi Ocean
Your last three puzzles can be solved with pairs. The first one is just one hidden pair. The second one is more complicated, so might qualify. They don't need triples though.