dailysudoku.com

BobbieTheWiz · Guest

I spent a couple of hours with the May 9th puzzle. I had to crack 3 (three) X-wings (a.k.a unique rectangles) to solve it.

My question is: did I go about it the wrong way? Started with the wrong one, perhaps? Or was it in fact necessary to find those three different X-wings to crack this puzzle? Would be nice to hear other opinions about this.

Marty R.

Angel · Joined: 26 Mar 2006 Posts: 31

Bobbie, I needed one X-wing to complete the puzzle.

keith · Posted: Tue May 09, 2006 5:42 pm Post subject: Not yet complete ...

I have not finished the puzzle, but there is a Unique Rectangle that has two types of eliminations.

Keith

BobbieTheWiz · Guest

Thanks, Marty, for clearing that up. I meant I needed to crack three different X-wings. And thanks Angel, for your reply. I think I know what that singular X-wing was. Involving 2:s, right? Smile

Marty R. · Posted: Tue May 09, 2006 6:27 pm Post subject:

I have since done the puzzle and the standard techniques of pairs, triples, hidden singles and locked candidates were enough to complete it.

Angel · Joined: 26 Mar 2006 Posts: 31

Bobbie - Yes!

Marty - I'll need to try again, the way I did it definitely needed the X-wing!

Keith - I'm not really into URs, so didn't notice anything!

Korky · Joined: 29 Mar 2006 Posts: 13 Location: Sheffield, UK

I'm a little bemused by the theme of this thread. The puzzle is solved without the use of any of the techniques mentioned.
After you have entered all of the "obvious " numbers, you deduce, by elimination, that the numbers in R1C1 and R2C1 must be 2 and 6. You then observe where in column 9 where 2,5 and 7 can't be, therefore where they must be, and what numbers must be where the aforesaid 2,5 and 7 aren't.

Are you with me so far?

keith · Posted: Thu May 11, 2006 12:13 am Post subject:

Korky,

What is happening here is that the previous two "very difficult" puzzles on this site required X-wings, and also had Unique Rectangles. Before that, no puzzle needed these techniques.

So, everyone was looking for the X-wings and rectangles in this puzzle! Which I think is OK. Why ignore the obvious rectangle, even though there may yet be a difficult hidden single or pair?

Keith

BobbieTheWiz · Guest

Korky may be "bemused", but there are actually many ways to crack a puzzle. I was looking for X-wings (for the exact reason Keith just brought up) and found them... and, sure, this may very well be somewhat like... eh... eating food with sticks when there are knives, forks and spoons avaiable... but that's fine with me! Happy sudoking, everyone! Cool

Glassman · Joined: 21 Oct 2005 Posts: 50 Location: England