dailysudoku.com

[Earl]

I used only standard techniques for this one.
Two xyz-wings which opened the way for three xy-wings.
Any one find a more direct solution?

Earl

[cgordon]

I've been doing VHs for a few months now and have always been able to solve them (eventually) with x to xyz wings. Unless I made a lucky error with this one, it seemed to require just the basic elimination techniques of a medium to hard.

Ironically, I thought the previous VH (July 16) was the hardest I'd come across. After 4 wing steps I was still stuck - until Mogulmeister directed me towards an explanation of xy chains. But to be honest, I found the chain thing a bit too arbitrary - like finding you way out of a maze by trial and error. Unless there's a technique for spotting the route - it didn't seem much different from the trial and error iteration methods I used for the VHs before I learnt about wings.

[Marty R.]

One XYZ and one XY did it for me.

[dldcamp]

I am lost with the XYZ pattern you are describing. Since I am totally lost with this "new" skill, can someone very painstakingly explain it to me step by step?
+-------------+-------------+--------------+
| 5 1 4 | 8 7 2 | 3 9 6 |
| 8 27 9 | 4 6 3 | 5 27 1 |
| 27 3 6 | 15 159 19 | 4 8 27 |
+-------------+-------------+--------------+
| 167 67 15 | 9 3 168 | 2 4 578 |
| 4 9 135 | 2 15 168 | 68 1567 3578 |
| 136 8 2 | 156 4 7 | 9 156 35 |
+-------------+-------------+--------------+
| 1236 4 13 | 7 19 169 | 68 256 258 |
| 9 26 7 | 3 8 5 | 1 26 4 |
| 16 5 8 | 16 2 4 | 7 3 9 |
+-------------+-------------+--------------+
[/code]
[url=http://www.dailysudoku.com/sudoku/play.


Thanks
DLD Camp

[Marty R.]

[cgordon]

I think I may have erred in my presumption that this was not a 'Very Hard' puzzle. Wouldn't be the first time - but I promise the last. Anyway, 3rd time around I found an xy wing with pivot R4C2. At least I hope I did.

[dldcamp]

Thanks Marty R. and CGordon!!! It seems I finally Understand these two techniques. Now if I can only spot them on my own. The Brainbashers site was perfect at explaining everything. It seems that the most helpful clue was the "Buddies" entry. I printed out all three entries and will keep them by my side.
Thanks again for your patience and helpful "hints."

[Mogulmeister]

[PouLeeps]

Could someone tell me where to go from here please?

[/code]
+-------------+-------------+--------------+
| 5 1 4 | 8 7 2 | 3 9 6 |
| 8 27 9 | 4 6 3 | 5 27 1 |
| 27 3 6 | 15 159 19 | 4 8 27 |
+-------------+-------------+--------------+
| 67 67 15 | 9 3 18 | 2 4 58 |
| 4 9 135 | 2 15 168 | 68 1567 3578 |
| 13 8 2 | 156 4 7 | 9 156 35 |
+-------------+-------------+--------------+
| 1236 4 13 | 7 19 169 | 68 56 258 |
| 9 26 7 | 3 8 5 | 1 26 4 |
| 16 5 8 | 16 2 4 | 7 3 9 |
+-------------+-------------+--------------+

[jLo]

[cgordon]

[PouLeeps]

Thanks jLo