dailysudoku.com

[Bigdad]

Hi all,
I'm stuck on today's puzzle. I've got as far as
5?69?7??4
?9?5?467?
74????195
46??59??1
359???426
8??64??59
9?4???5?8
*8549???7
6??8?594?

The hint gives * as 2. I can't figure out why. Can anyone help?

Eric
[/code]

[Steve R]

Hi Eric

Note that the 1 in row 3 causes the 1 in box 2 to occupy column 5. Now row 9 shows that the 1 in box 7 lies in column 2 or 3, not column 1.

Steve

[Sarah]

Steve-
That doesn't make any sense! The 1 in box 2 can be in either row 1 or 2...
Help!

[TKiel]

Sarah,

Perhaps another way of explaining it. In box 2, all the cells with candidate 1's are in column 5, so all other candidate 1's in c5 can be excluded (r5c5, r7c5 & r9c5). That leaves all the cells with candidate 1's for row 9 in box 7 (r9c2&3). Since box 7 & row 9 must contain a 1, all other candidate 1's in box 7 can be excluded, leaving r8c1 with a single possibility.

[alanr555]

[jabejochke]

First time responding so not fully in tune with the terminology and unsure how the words will translate (I am planning to create in Word, then paste into response field and then look at what shows up).

I had difficulty with this puzzle also. The way the solution came to me was when ‘4’ fell into r2c6 then:

Ø The ‘1’s’ in box 2 at r1c5 and r2c5 were paired (hence no other ‘1’s’ in c5)
Ø Hence, ‘1’ in r9c5 was eliminated creating paired set of ‘1’s’ in row 9 in cells r9c2 and r9c3
Ø Hence, eliminating the ‘1’ in the ‘12’ pair in box 7 at r8c1. This ‘2’ in r8c1..
Ø Eliminated all ‘2’s’ in row 8 leaving the only remaining ‘2’ in box 9 sitting at r9c9

That ‘2’ in r9c9 broke it open for me.

Hope this helps.