The New Sudoku Players' Forum

[healyrt]

This one's tough, eek!! What I have so far...:
6*2 *** 9**
*** 2** *** (first 3 grids, left to right) * = blank
**9 3** *42

*** 7** 61*
576 418 239 (middle 3 grids)
*91 **3 ***

*1* **7 5**
*** 1*4 *** (bottom 3 grids)
**3 *** 1*7

Any assistance would be welcome, though I hope for just a hint -- one to two numbers and how they were proved, as I think when I get a few more I can get the whole puzzle. Thanks in advance! =p.

[markj]

If you look in the bottom right box, there is only one place for the 4, which in turn shows where the 4 goes in the middle right box.

[markj]

Once you have put the 4s in and subsequently done a sweep and found where the 7 goes in the middle right box, take a look at c3r7 - there is only one possible number that can go there.

[healyrt]

I'm blind ... my god ... how did I miss that! Thank you so much!! I had been staring at that very square for upwards of 30 minutes with no success. A fresh eye, I suppose ^^.

[healyrt]

And so I find myself stuck again... hopefully this time I'll make something of it:
6*2 *7* 9**
*** 2** ***
**9 3** *42

**4 7** 61*
576 418 239
*91 **3 47*

*18 *37 5*4
*** 1*4 ***
**3 *** 1*7

I recognize that c9r4 and c9r6 have a secret pair (8 and 5) that allows me to eliminate those numbers vertically, and I also realize that c3r2 and c3r8 have a similar pair, but I'm still just... stuck!! Any chance of further hints? Normally I'd like to get it all done myself, but being unable to continue is driving me absolutely off the wall. Perhaps you could just lead me in the right direction...?

Many thanks!

[markj]

Focus on the 4s - you can work out where the 4 goes in the top middle box, which tells you where the 4 goes in the top left... then the bottom left.

Than take a look at row 1. you can see where the 3 goes.. which tells you where the 1 goes.. etc.

it is all a process of elimination now..