Find a rainy summer day to stay inside and focus on Sudoku.
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 #161?
(The answer follows the conclusion of Puzzle #164, the feature puzzle for this month)
Simply a Logic Puzzle
Difficult rating … 4/10
(Rating based on puzzles not requiring advanced techniques)
Impossible to solve?
Impossible? No. Difficult? Extremely. Puzzle #163 will be challenge for you. Advanced Techniques (Steps 6 and/or 7) are required. Difficult rating 10/10.
Feature Puzzle
Difficult rating … 4/10
(Rating based on puzzles requiring advanced techniques)
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
(hint … If you need a refresher on Step 6, please click the April 2023 issue)
May the gentle winds of Sudoku be at your back,
Dan LeKander
Clue for Puzzle #161 … did you find the clue? If not, read on.
In box 4 a 7 can only exist as an option in C2R4 or C2R5; therefore, a 7 cannot exist an option in C2R2. C1R2=7. Advanced techniques are not required for this puzzle. Please have a good time solving the puzzle.
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Important Editor's Note
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: