Changes are in the air! May is graduation for some colleges and universities, so we will celebrate your graduation from a Sudoku undergrad to graduate student!
If you have been following my articles, you know that for over 6 years I have been providing step-by-step instruction for solving the “feature” puzzle. That officially ends with this article. However, I will provide a clue for the feature puzzle, with a hint such as to Step 5 or 6 required, along with a reference to a previous puzzle where the exercise is explained in detail. Then all you have to do is click on that previous article and review the technique.
Also, I will not be providing the answer to the puzzle. Showing the specific answer is not necessary as you either get it right (no repetition of numbers 1-9 in a row, column or box), or you do not. If you do not, you have the choice of starting the puzzle over.
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 #149?
(The answer follows the conclusion of Puzzle #152, the feature puzzle for this month)
Simply a Logic Puzzle
Difficult rating … 6/10
(Rating based on puzzles not requiring advanced techniques)
Impossible to solve?
Impossible? No. Difficult? Extremely. Puzzle #151 will be challenge for you.
Advanced Techniques (Steps 6 and/or 7) are required. Difficult rating 6/10.
Feature Puzzle
Difficult rating … 2 /10
(Rating based on puzzles requiring advanced techniques)
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
(hint … If you need a refresher on Step 6, please click the April 2023 issue)
[Clue for Puzzle #149 … did you find the clue? If not, read on. Check the contents of row 4 and box 5. What do you see? The three given numbers in row 4 and the three given numbers in box 5 are not the same. Therefore C4R4, C5R4 & C6R4 can only be three numbers, in this case, numbers 1, 2 & 4. This means those three cells form a triplet. Then, note that in row 4 the re-maining cells are limited to options 2, 7 & 9. In column 8 a 2 & 7 already exist; therefore, C8R4=9. You may want to finish solving this puzzle. The advance techniques (6 & 7) are not required.
This situation appears more often than you might imagine when solving Sudoku puzzles. So put this one in your tool bag.]
May the gentle winds of Sudoku be at your back,
By Dan LeKander
Important Editor's Note
Hey there... do you know how daunting it is to type Puzzles #149,#150, #151, ˜? Yes, Dan Lekander has produced over 150 Sudoku puzzles for us and better still he has taught us how to solve them. This issue is slightly difference. So, Dan would like to hear more from his readers, such as questions, comments & suggestions - info@thousandislandslife.com. We will forward this to Dan, and he will contact you directly. Thank you."
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, I suggest you purchase Dan’s book: