dailysudoku.com Forum Index dailysudoku.com
Discussion of Daily Sudoku puzzles
 
 FAQFAQ   SearchSearch   MemberlistMemberlist   UsergroupsUsergroups   RegisterRegister 
 ProfileProfile   Log in to check your private messagesLog in to check your private messages   Log inLog in 

Is this puzzle solvable? Free Press May 8, 2009

 
Post new topic   Reply to topic    dailysudoku.com Forum Index -> Other puzzles
View previous topic :: View next topic  
Author Message
agv



Joined: 29 Apr 2009
Posts: 3

PostPosted: Fri May 08, 2009 5:10 pm    Post subject: Is this puzzle solvable? Free Press May 8, 2009 Reply with quote

This is the puzzle published in today's Baltimore Sun (print version).

Sun rates it a 4/4. I typed it into Draw/Play and asked for a grade, and it came up "too hard" (which I gather means unsolvable, ie, there's a mistake in it). I've checked my transcription a bunch-o-times--seems accurate--and tried solving it twice--seems pretty easy--but when I get down to the last few cells, it's a no-go. I got completely different solutions each time, so I'd assume it's me if it weren't for the D/P rating.

Anybody feel like confirming for me whether this is a playable puzzle?

Code:

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

Play this puzzle online at the Daily Sudoku site
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
nataraj



Joined: 03 Aug 2007
Posts: 1048
Location: near Vienna, Austria

PostPosted: Fri May 08, 2009 6:14 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

absolutely playable.

I needed some transported wings, though.
First step beyond basics: kite ( 8 )

Here, some "useless" wings, also 2 URs with strong links, might lead to BUG+ but I did not explore that venue

Code:

+--------------------------+--------------------------+--------------------------+
| 125     25      3        | 27      78      9        | 6       18      4        |
| 7       8       4        | 6       1       5        | 3       9       2        |
| 12      9       6        | 24      3       48       | 15      7       158      |
+--------------------------+--------------------------+--------------------------+
| 3       25      1        | 8       9       6        | 4       25      7        |
| 258     4       28       | 3       25      7        | 19      6       19       |
| 9       6       7        | 14      25      14       | 8       25      3        |
+--------------------------+--------------------------+--------------------------+
| 28      7       289      | 15      4       18       | 59      3       6        |
| 4       3       5        | 9       6       2        | 7       18      18       |
| 6       1       89       | 57      78      3        | 2       4       59       |
+--------------------------+--------------------------+--------------------------+
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website
Marty R.



Joined: 12 Feb 2006
Posts: 5770
Location: Rochester, NY, USA

PostPosted: Fri May 08, 2009 6:25 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Basics got me here. I notice an XY-Wing with pincer transport which will eliminate the 1 from r7c1, but I didn't have time to try and take it further.

Code:

+---------------+-----------+-----------+
| 125  125 3    | 27  78 9  | 6  18 4   |
| 7    8   4    | 6   1  5  | 3  9  2   |
| 12   9   6    | 24  3  48 | 15 7  158 |
+---------------+-----------+-----------+
| 3    25  1    | 8   9  6  | 4  25 7   |
| 258  4   258  | 3   25 7  | 19 6  19  |
| 9    6   7    | 14  25 14 | 8  25 3   |
+---------------+-----------+-----------+
| 1258 7   2589 | 15  4  18 | 59 3  6   |
| 4    3   58   | 9   6  2  | 7  18 158 |
| 6    15  589  | 157 78 3  | 2  4  589 |
+---------------+-----------+-----------+

Play this puzzle online at the Daily Sudoku site
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
storm_norm



Joined: 18 Oct 2007
Posts: 1741

PostPosted: Fri May 08, 2009 6:34 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

agv,
nice puzzle.
the puzzles which break down so nicely then stop without x,xy,xyz-wings is definitely a change of pace from the daily puzzles.
as said above by Marty and nataraj, this puzzle has many useless wings. after nataraj and Marty's moves its more like a hunt for your favorite xy-chain.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
keith



Joined: 19 Sep 2005
Posts: 3355
Location: near Detroit, Michigan, USA

PostPosted: Fri May 08, 2009 6:58 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

agv,

This is the same puzzle as published in the Free Press. The Friday puzzle is typically like this, and is posted and discussed regularly on this forum. To see more of these, look for the Free Press (or Freep) postings.

In Marty's grid there is a skyscraper that takes out <8> in R9C9, leading to here:
Code:
+-------------+-------------+-------------+
| 125 25  3   | 27  78  9   | 6   18  4   |
| 7   8   4   | 6   1   5   | 3   9   2   |
| 12  9   6   | 24  3   48  | 15  7   158 |
+-------------+-------------+-------------+
| 3   25  1   | 8   9   6   | 4   25  7   |
| 258 4   28  | 3   25  7   | 19  6   19  |
| 9   6   7   | 14  25  14  | 8   25  3   |
+-------------+-------------+-------------+
| 28  7   289 | 15  4   18  | 59  3   6   |
| 4   3   5   | 9   6   2   | 7   18  18  |
| 6   1   89  | 57  78  3   | 2   4   59  |
+-------------+-------------+-------------+

There is a (hidden?) UR <28> in R57C13, R7C3 cannot be <8>.

This reveals an extended XY-wing 12 15 59 29 that takes out <2> in R7C1.

Keith
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
daj95376



Joined: 23 Aug 2008
Posts: 3854

PostPosted: Fri May 08, 2009 10:06 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

After basics, pick your favorite for [r9c9]<>8, more basics:

Code:
 +-----------------------------------------------------+
 |  125  25   3    |  27   78   9    |  6    18   4    |
 |  7    8    4    |  6    1    5    |  3    9    2    |
 |  12   9    6    |  24   3    48   |  15   7    158  |
 |-----------------+-----------------+-----------------|
 |  3    25   1    |  8    9    6    |  4    25   7    |
 |  258  4    28   |  3    25   7    |  19   6    19   |
 |  9    6    7    |  14   25   14   |  8    25   3    |
 |-----------------+-----------------+-----------------|
 |  28   7    289  |  15   4    18   |  59   3    6    |
 |  4    3    5    |  9    6    2    |  7    18   18   |
 |  6    1    89   |  57   78   3    |  2    4    59   |
 +-----------------------------------------------------+
 # 36 eliminations remain

 <28> UR [r57c13] => [r5c1]<>2, [r7c3]<>8

 BUG+2 => [r1c1]=2           => [r8c1]<>2   and/or
       => [r3c9]=1, [r3c1]=2 => [r8c1]<>2
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Display posts from previous:   
Post new topic   Reply to topic    dailysudoku.com Forum Index -> Other puzzles All times are GMT
Page 1 of 1

 
Jump to:  
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum


Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2005 phpBB Group