The New Sudoku Players' Forum

[Addlan]

The minimum clues for the below sudoku must be more than 18 since it is constructed by 9 independent mini-puzzles, each of which needs at least 2 clues. However, 18 clues might not be enough. What is the minimum clues then?

The sudoku:
*-----------*
|123|456|789|
|456|789|123|
|789|123|456|
|---+---+---|
|231|564|897|
|564|897|231|
|897|231|564|
|---+---+---|
|312|645|978|
|645|978|312|
|978|312|645|
*-----------*

One of the mini-puzzles is:
*-----------*
|...|456|789|
|456|789|123|
|789|123|456|
|---+---+---|
|...|564|897|
|564|897|231|
|897|231|564|
|---+---+---|
|...|645|978|
|645|978|312|
|978|312|645|
*-----------*
which needs at least two hints to solve. There are 9 such independent mini-puzzles, needing at least 2*9 hints.

Another kind of mini-puzzles is in another orientation:
*-----------*
|.23|.56|.89|
|.56|.89|.23|
|.89|.23|.56|
|---+---+---|
|231|564|897|
|564|897|231|
|897|231|564|
|---+---+---|
|312|645|978|
|645|978|312|
|978|312|645|
*-----------*

One possibility will be to create hints shared by these mini-puzzles:
*-----------*
|1..|...|7..|
|.5.|.8.|...|
|...|..3|..6|
|---+---+---|
|...|5..|8..|
|.6.|...|.3.|
|..7|..1|...|
|---+---+---|
|3..|6..|...|
|...|.7.|.1.|
|..8|...|..5|
*-----------*

However, the above configure leads to many solutions. How to reduce this sudoku to its minimum hints B.W.

[wintder]

I used sudoku cue to reduce it to this,

Code: Select all

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

It is an easy puzzle with 36 clues, at this point.

Here is another, easy with 26.

Code: Select all

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

[udosuk]

This is known as the MC (Most Canonical) grid. The minimum number of clues for this grid is known to be 20. Can't find the original source though. I'm sure Pat can dig it out for you in a flash.

[JPF]

Here are 2 minimal puzzles with double symmetry (diagonal and antidiagonal) :

22 clues

Code: Select all

 1 . . | . . . | . . .
 . . 6 | 7 . . | . 2 .
 . 8 . | . 2 3 | . . .
-------+-------+-------
 . 3 . | 5 . . | 8 . .
 . . 4 | . . . | 2 . .
 . . 7 | . . 1 | . 6 .
-------+-------+-------
 . . . | 6 4 . | . 7 .
 . 4 . | . . 8 | 3 . .
 . . . | . . . | . . 5       ER=7.2



26 clues

Code: Select all

 1 2 3 | . 5 . | . . .
 4 . . | 7 . . | . 2 .
 7 . 9 | . . 3 | . . .
-------+-------+-------
 . 3 . | . . . | 8 . .
 5 . . | . . . | . . 1
 . . 7 | . . . | . 6 .
-------+-------+-------
 . . . | 6 . . | 9 . 8
 . 4 . | . . 8 | . . 2
 . . . | . 1 . | 6 4 5       ER=10.4



JPF

[Glyn]

Addlan This grid is discussed in and around here:
http://forum.enjoysudoku.com/viewtopic.php?t=605&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=330

[Addlan]

OK, thanks.

[RW]

See also this thread where it is confirmed that the grid has no 19 clue puzzles, but it can be solved with 20 clues:

Code: Select all

 *-----------*
 |1..|4..|.8.|
 |.5.|7..|..3|
 |..9|...|...|
 |---+---+---|
 |.3.|.6.|...|
 |5.4|...|...|
 |...|2.1|.6.|
 |---+---+---|
 |...|...|9..|
 |...|..8|.1.|
 |.7.|3..|..5|
 *-----------*

RW