The New Sudoku Players' Forum

[tdbinnie]

I'm fairly new to Sudoku and thought that each puzzle had a unique solution. For the first time I have an entirely different solution to the puzzle than the one given. Is this common ?

[george-no1]

There is *never* more than one solution to any *Times* sudoku puzzle. The Times Sudokus are supplied by Pappocom, and each Pappocom Sudoku has only 1 solution. Perhaps if you post your alternative 'solution' someone might be able to tell you why it's wrong.

G

[PaulIQ164]

I had a look at the particular puzzle (it's still up at Times Online here (Aug 12)) and certainly the solution I got is the one printed. Like george-no. n says, Pappocom's puzzles are infallible, really. Anyhow, since you're fairly new to the puzzle, best check the basics:

• You have to put the numbers 1 to 9 in every row, every column and every 3x3 box marked out by the bold lines.
• The numbers already in the grid can't be moved.
• You should never have to guess a number to solve a (Times) puzzle.

If you already knew all that, I'm afraid there must be a mistake in your solution somewhere (or else, if you made a copy of the grid, you copied it down wrong). Check every row, column and 3x3 box again. One of them must have a number repeated somewhere. Of course, if you post the answer here, we can check what's happened if you want.[/list][/url]

[tdbinnie]

Thanks for the replies, my alternative to Times Sudoku 292 is:

352 871 496
764 935 812
918 264 573

596 342 781
187 659 324
423 718 659

295 483 167
631 527 948
847 196 235

The Times Solution is given:
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,18209-1731008,00.html

[PaulIQ164]

You've got two 9s in the second column.

[tdbinnie]

Drat, I'm a dumbo - thanks guys.