Friday 10 October 2014

Locked twice

Friday's Sudoku puzzle from Toronto Star gets locked twice. Here is the original puzzle on 10 October 2014 by Pappocom:

After only 7 steps it gets locked like this:

The key to this first lock lies in the first row. The last 2 cells (columns H and I) have only 3 and 8 as candidates. Thus, 3 and 8 can be eliminated from the rest of row 1, particularly in cell A1. This leaves A1 with a lone candidate, 1. Also, only one location remains to place 8 in column A, on A6.

HI1: 38 N
A1<>8 R
A1=1 N
A6=8 C

With two more steps, the puzzle is locked again.
D5=8 BC
B6=5 N

The key to the second lock lies in the 4th row. The last 3 cells (columns G, H and I) have only 1, 2 and 8 as candidates. Thus, 1, 2 and 8 can be eliminated from the rest of the block (and the rest of the row too). In particular, 1 and 2 are eliminated from cell G6, thus leaving 7 as the only candidate.

GHI4:128 N
G6<>12 B
G6=7 N
D6=2 R
F1=2 BC
H2=7 B
H7=9 C
E9=9 BC
... to the end.

Wednesday 3 August 2011

Jammed Puzzle - Set 5


Find the single move in each of the 4 jammed Sudoku puzzles.  A jammed puzzle has only a possible move (without using elimination techniques). See how fast you can find the single step in each puzzle.

For more information: First article – Sudoku Puzzle Notation
For the solutions: Spoiler Page

 
Grapefruit

A
B
C

D
E
F

G
H
I
1






6




2






2



6
3
1
6








4












4
6

8

4
9
3




5


1



8

6
4

6
4



7
6
1

8
9













7

1
6



5




8

8
2

6






9




1




6
9



Strawberry

A
B
C

D
E
F

G
H
I
1


6

3

2




2


3








3
2



7
5



3
6












4
3
6
4





2
9
1
5








6

3
6
7
2
1

9
3
6
















7

3








5
8
8





3




9


2



4

3




Redcurrant

A
B
C

D
E
F

G
H
I
1
8

4


6
7




2


6


8
3




3
7

3





6
5
8












4


7





1

9
5


8





7

5
6


5

3
7

















7
6
7




1




8
4
8


7

6




9




8

9




 

Clementine

A
B
C

D
E
F

G
H
I
1

3
1





5


2




5
1
3




3

5
9





1
3













4


7

6
5
9




5


5

1





6
6
6



8





5












7






1

9
5

8
5










9

8




5

4