Here comes summer and "4 fun" Sudoku puzzles to solve when you are not fishing, snorkeling, boating, water skiing, hiking, canoeing & exploring.
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 #153?
(The answer follows the conclusion of Puzzle #156, the feature puzzle for this month)
Simply a Logic Puzzle
Difficult rating … 7.5/10
(Rating based on puzzles not requiring advanced techniques)
Impossible to solve?
Impossible? No. Difficult? Extremely. Puzzle #151 will be challenge for you. Advanced Tech-niques (Steps 6 and/or 7) are required. Difficult rating 9.5/10.
Feature Puzzle
Difficult rating … 2.5 /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)
Clue for Puzzle #153 …
Did find the clue? If not, read on.
We will focus on column 7. Only two unsolved cells in column 7 can have options 4 & 6. Mark C7R2 & C7R9 with a small 46 in top of those cells. Then, the only unsolved cell in column 7 that can be a 2 is C7R1. C7R1=2.
You may want to finish solving this puzzle. Advance techniques (6 & 7) are not required.
May the gentle winds of Sudoku be at your back,
Dan LeKander
Important Editor's Note
I have to admit I took double take when I saw the numbers 153, 514, 155 and then 156, We are well over 150 Sudoku puzzles. Do you solve them each month? 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: