RSW wrote:The simplest solution would be a 2 stepper with two x-wings.
Yes, and it's worth writing them explicitly:
- Code: Select all
Resolution state after Singles and whips[1]:
+----------------------+----------------------+----------------------+
! 569 2456 7 ! 24589 12459 2589 ! 3 14569 169 !
! 1 8 34569 ! 459 3459 59 ! 4569 7 2 !
! 59 2345 3459 ! 7 123459 6 ! 4589 1459 189 !
+----------------------+----------------------+----------------------+
! 2 456 1 ! 4589 459 589 ! 7 569 3 !
! 578 457 458 ! 6 2459 3 ! 259 1259 19 !
! 3 9 56 ! 125 7 125 ! 256 8 4 !
+----------------------+----------------------+----------------------+
! 5789 1357 3589 ! 1259 6 12579 ! 2489 2349 789 !
! 4 1367 369 ! 129 8 1279 ! 269 2369 5 !
! 56789 567 2 ! 3 59 4 ! 1 69 6789 !
+----------------------+----------------------+----------------------+
192 candidates.
x-wing-in-rows: n6{r2 r6}{c3 c7} ==> r8c7≠6, r8c3≠6
x-wing-in-rows: n6{r4 r8}{c2 c8} ==> r9c8≠6, r9c2≠6, r1c8≠6, r1c2≠6
stte
What this shows is, the second x-wing is totally dependent on the first. A good illustration of the fundamental sequentiality of sudoku solving. Trying to bring this to a 1-step solution produces totally unnatural solutions.