Hold it! See the number 200 - that means Dan LeKander has presented over the years to our TI Life readers, 200 Sudoku Puzzles. That means that those of us who have solved the puzzles can take a big Bow... Thanks Dan for all you have done and continue to do for us. We all appreciate it.
Note: PUZZLE PREPARATION
Prior to utilizing techniques 1-8, complete the 5 Steps of Puzzle Preparation …
- FILL IN DATA FROM OBSERVATIONS
- FILL IN OBVIOUS ANSWERS
- FILL IN NOT-SO-OBVIOUS ANSWERS
- MARK UNSOLVED CELLS WITH OPTIONS THAT CANNOT EXIST IN THOSE CELLS
- FILL IN THE OPTIONS FOR THE UNSOLVED CELLS
Clueless?
We start with a Sudoku puzzle in progress, where it appears that there are no more obvious or not-so-obvious clues. Can you find the hidden clue in Puzzle #197?
(The answer follows the conclusion of Puzzle #200, the feature puzzle for this month)
Simply a Logic Puzzle
Difficult rating … 2.5/10
(Rating based on puzzles not requiring advanced techniques)
Impossible to solve?
Impossible? No. Difficult? Extremely. Puzzle #199 may be a challenge for you. Advanced Techniques (Steps 6 and/or 7) are required. Difficult rating 9.6/10.
Feature Puzzle
Difficult rating … 3/10
(Rating based on puzzles requiring advanced techniques)
(hint … If you need a refresher on Step 6, please click the April 2023 issue)
(hint … if you need a refresher on Step 7, please click the January 2023 issue)
May the gentle winds of Sudoku be at your back,
By Dan LeKander
Clue for Puzzle #197 What is your next move? In box 4 we see that C2R5 & C3R5 are limited to options 2 & 6; therefore, a 6 cannot exist in C4R5, C5R5 or C6R5. In box 8 a 6 can only exist in C6R7 or C6R8; therefore a 6 cannot exist in C6R4, C6R5 or C6R6. Therefore, the only cell in box 5 that can be a 6 is C4R6. C4R6=6.
__________________________________
Editor’s Note: Dan would like to hear more from his readers regarding questions, comments, and suggestions. To confidentially reach Dan, please e-mail him at this address … info@thousandislandslife.com
Recently someone wrote to ask how to fill them out online. Unfortunately, you need to print them yourself, but that is easy to do and I know you will have just as much fun. Also you can use a grid sheet and copy numbers onto the grid.
And, if you have not already done so, we suggest you purchase Dan’s book: