Maverick 2

[mhparker]

Hi folks,

Here's the second puzzle in the Maverick series. This one lives up to its name by ruffling JSudoku's and SudokuSolver's feathers somewhat (in the nicest possible way, of course ), neither of which can even gain a foothold here. And yet the puzzle is solvable purely by logic...

Maybe you can show these fine programs how it's done?


Maverick 2 (M2) (Est. rating: 1.75)



3x3::k:4864:4864:4864:4611:46113077:6151:6151:4617:4864:4611:46114366:4366:4366:6151:46172835:51411303:4366:4121:6151:4617:4380:5141:51411303:8481:4121:6151:4380:4380:8481:8481:8481:8481:84813627:69578481440133784661:69575432440128764661:6957:5432:5432:5432:4401:5700:5700:4678:4661:6957:69572634:5700:5700:4678:4678:4678:

Good luck!

[Afmob]

What a difficult killer! It reminded me of the recent A78 killer since the solving path was so long, the massive use of Innies+Outies difference and I was not able to find a shortcut like in M1.

M2 Walkthrough:

1. C789
a) 16(2) = {79} locked for C8
b) Innies+Outies N9: 2 = R6C9 - R8C7
-> R8C7 <> 8,9; R6C9 <> 1,2
c) Innies+Outies C89: 11 = R79C7 - R2C8
-> R79C7 <> 1,2; R2C8 <> 8
d) 11(2): R7C7 <> 4

2. C45
a) 8(3) = 1{25/34} -> 1 locked
b) Innies C5 = 20(3) -> no 2
c) 17(3): Killer pair (35,45) of 8(3) blocks {359/458} -> no 5
d) 20(3): R3C4 <> 4 because R4C8 = (79) blocks {479}

3. R6789
a) Innies = 7(2) <> 7,8,9

4. R1234+C1
a) Innies R1234 = 12(2) <> 1,2,6
b) Innies+Outies C1: R15C1 = R9C2
-> R15C1 <> 9; R9C2 <> 1,2

5. R456
a) 33(7) = 126{3489/3579/4578} -> {126} locked between R5 and N4 -> R5C12 <> 1,2,6
b) 17(3) @ N4 = 5{39/48} -> 5 locked for N4
c) Innies R1234 = 12(2): R4C7 <> 5
d) Innies R6789 = 7(2): R6C8 <> 2

6. C123
a) Innies+Outies C1: R15C1 = R9C2
-> R9C2 <> 3 and R1C1 <> 7,8 because R5C1 >= 3
b) Innies+Outies N1: 3 = R4C1 - R2C3
-> R4C1 <> 1,2,3; R2C3 <> 2,7,8,9

7. R456!
a) ! R4C7 <> 7 since it sees all 7's in R5
b) Innies R1234 = 12(2) = {39/48}
c) 5 locked in 17(3) @ N4 for R5
d) 33(7) = {1234689}
e) Hidden Single: R5C9 = 7 @ R5
f) R4C8 = 9, R3C8 = 7
g) 14(3) = 7{16/25/34}
h) Innies R1234 = 12(2) = {48} locked for R4
i) 20(3) must have 8 or 9 and they're only possible @ R3C4 -> R3C4 = (89)
j) 20(3) = 5{69/78} -> R4C4 = 5

8. R456
a) Naked pair (67) locked in R4C13 for R4+N4
b) 17(3) @ N4 = {458} locked for N4 because R4C2 = (48)
c) Both 5(2): R3C6 <> 1, R7C2 <> 1
d) 4,6 locked in 33(7) between R5 and N6 -> R5C8 <> 4,6
e) 14(3): R6C8 <> 1,3

9. N1
a) Innies+Outies N1: 3 = R4C1 - R2C3, R4C1 = (67)
-> R2C3 = (34)
b) 11(2) <> 4

10. R67
a) 11(2) <> 6
b) 18(3) <> 2

11. C1+R1
a) Innies+Outies C1: R15C1 = R9C2
-> R9C2 <> 4 and R1C1 <> 6 because R5C1 >= 4
b) 12(2): R1C6 <> 5

12. C789
a) Innies+Outies N9: 2 = R6C9 - R8C7
-> R8C7 <> 5,7
b) Outies N3 = 15(2+1): R2C6 <> 1,2 because R1C6+R4C9 <= 12
c) Innies+Outies C9: 4 = R1C8 - R9C9
-> R1C8 = (568); R9C9 = (124)
d) 24(5) <> {12489} because R9C9 = (124)
e) 24(5) <> {23469} because it's blocked by Killer pair (49) of 18(3)
f) 24(5) = 56{139/148/238} -> 5,6 locked for N3
g) 12(2) = {39/48}
h) Outies N3 = 15(2+1): R2C6 <> 7 because R1C6+R4C9 <> 5,6,7

13. N2
a) 7 locked in 18(4) = 7{146/236/245} because R2C3 = (34)
b) 18(4) must have 3 xor 4 and R2C3 = (34) -> R1C45+R2C4 <> 3,4

14. C345 !
a) Innies C5 = 20(3) <> 3 because R1C5 = (567)
b) Hidden Killer pair (23) in 8(3) + 17(3) and none of them can have both -> 17(3) <> 4,5
c) ! Innies+Outies C1234: -3 = R1C5 - (R5C34+R6C3); R1C5 = (567)
-> R5C34+R6C3 = 8/9/10(3) -> no 8,9
-> R5C4 <> 1,2,3 since R5C34+R6C3 would be 6(3)

15. C1234
a) Hidden Single: R6C1 = 9 @ N4
b) 18(3) = {378/468/567}
c) Innies+Outies C1: R15C1 = R9C2
-> R5C1 <> 8, R1C1 <> 4,5 because R9C2 <= 8
d) 17(3) = {458} -> 8 locked for C2
e) 11(2) @ C4: R7C4 <> 2
f) 11(2) @ N1: R3C3 <> 3
g) Outies N7 = 9(2+1) -> R89C4 <> 8,9
h) 10(2): R9C3 <> 1,2
i) (89) only possible in R367C4 for C4 -> 11(2) @ C4 must have 8 xor 9 -> 11(2) <> 4,7

16. C789
a) Innies+Outies C89: 11 = R79C7 - R2C8; R2C8 = (1234)
-> 7 locked in R79C7 = 12/13/14/15(2) -> no 3,4,9
-> R2C8 <> 3 since 14(2) with 7 is impossible
b) 11(2): R7C8 <> 2,8
c) 9 locked in 18(3) = 9{18/36/45} for C9
d) 24(5) = 568{14/23} -> 8 locked for N3
e) 12(2): R1C6 <> 4
f) 24(5): R123C9 <> 1 because R4C9 <= 3
g) 1 locked in 17(4) @ N3; 17(4) = 1{259/268/349/358}
h) 17(4) <> 6,8 because (568) only possible @ R2C6
i) 18(3): R78C9 <> 8 because R6C9 <> 1,9

17. C345 !
a) 6,7 locked in 18(4) = 67{14/23} -> no 5
b) Killer pair (67) locked in 17(3) + R1C5 for C5
c) ! Innies+Outies C1234: -3 = R1C5 - (R5C34+R6C3); R1C5 = (67)
-> R5C34+R6C3 = 9/10(3) = {126/234/136}
-> All 3 combos force R12C4 <> 6 because either R1C5 = 6 or R5C4 = 6
d) 18(4) = 67{14/23} -> R1C5 = 6; 7 locked for C4
e) Innies C5 = 20(3) = [695] -> R5C5 = 9, R9C5 = 5
f) 8(3) = {134} locked for C5, 4 locked for N2
g) 10(2): R9C3 <> 3

18. C67
a) 5(2) = {23} locked for C6
b) 12(2): R1C7 <> 9
c) 17(4) = {1259} because R1C7 = (34) blocks {1349}
-> R2C6 = 5, {129} locked for N3

19. C789
a) 6 locked in 24(5) for C9
b) 18(3) = 9{18/45}
c) 3 locked in 24(5) @ C9 -> 24(5) = {23568}
d) Hidden Single: R4C5 = 1 @ R4, R1C7 = 4 @ N3 -> R1C6 = 8
e) 24(5) = {23568} -> R1C8 = 5, R1C9 = 3, R4C9 = 2, 8 locked for C9
f) 18(3) = {459} locked for C9

20. R3+N1
a) 1 locked in 19(4) = 19{27/36}, 9 locked for N1
b) 11(2) = [38/56/65]
c) 19(4) = {1279} locked because {1369} blocked by Killer pair (36) of 11(2)
d) Killer pair (68) locked in 11(2) + R3C9 for R3

21. R5+N4
a) Naked pair (46) locked in R5C46 for R5
b) R5C1 = 5, R5C2 = 8, R4C2 = 4, R4C7 = 8, R4C6 = 3 -> R3C6 = 2

22. R9
a) Naked pair (67) locked in R9C27
b) R9C9 = 1
c) 10(2) = [82] -> R9C3 = 8, R9C4 = 2
d) Hidden Single: R9C6 = 9
e) 22(4) = {2569} -> R8C6 = 6, R8C7 = 2
f) 18(4) = 16{38/47} -> R9C7 = 6

23. Rest is singles.

Rating: A tough 1.75. It was more difficult than M1 but the Brick Wall (which is my reference for the hardest puzzle I've solved so far) is still a in a different league. I guess now I would rate M1 with a 1.5.

[Para]

Hi all

Just finished this. I agree with the 1.75 rating. It was a tough one, with some interesting moves that help settle down the puzzle. A lot of tough combination work till step 23, which breaks it open completely.

Walk-through Maverick 2

1. R1C67 = {39/48/57}: no 1,2,6

2. 8(3) at R2C5 = {125/134}: no 6,7,8,9; 1 locked for C5

3. R3C23, R67C4 and R7C78 = {29/38/47/56}: no 1

4. 20(3) at R3C4 = {389/479/569/578}: no 1,2

5. R34C6 and R67C2 = {14/23}: no 5,6,7,8,9

6. R9C34 = {19/28/37/46}: no 5

7. R34C8 = {79} -> locked for C8
7a. Clean up: R7C7: no 2,4

8. 45 on R1234: 2 innies: R4C27 = 12 = {39/48/57}: no 1,2,6
8a. 33(7) at R4C7 = {1234689/1235679/124578}: 1,2,6 locked within cage -> pointing: R5C12: no 1,2,6
8b. 17(3) at R4C2 = {359/458}: no 7; 5 locked for N4
8c. 7 in R5 locked within R5C345679 -> pointing: R4C7: no 7
8d. Clean up: R4C27: no 5

9. 5 in N4 locked for R5
9a. 33(7) at R4C7 = {1234689}: no 7
9b. R5C9 = 7(hidden); R34C8 = [79]
9c. R4C27 = {48} -> locked for R4
9d. 17(3) at R4C2 = {458} -> locked for N4
9e. 4 locked in 33(7) at R4C7: pointing -> R5C8: no 4
9f. 9 in R5 locked for 33(7) at R4C7
9g. 14(3) at R5C8 = 7{16}/[25/34]: no 8; R6C8: no 2,3
9h. Clean up: R3C6: no 1; R7C2: no 1; R3C23: no 4; R1C6: no 5

10. 20(3) at R3C4 = [965/875]: R3C4 = {89}; R4C3 = {67}; R4C4 = 5
10a. Clean up: R67C4: no 6

11. 45 on N1: 1 innie and 1 outie: R2C3 + 3 = R4C1: R4C1 = {67}; R2C3 = {34}
11a. Naked Pair {67} in R4C13 -> locked for R4 and N4

12. 45 on R6789: 2 innies: R6C38 = 7 = [16/25/34]
12a. Clean up: R5C8: no 6

13. 18(3) at R2C1 = {29}[7]/{38}[7]/{48}[6]/{56}[7]/[756]: {39}[6] blocked by step 11: no 1
13a. 1 in N1 locked within 19(4) cage at R1C1 -> 19(4) = {1279/1369/1378/1459/1468/1567}

14. 45 on N3: 3 outies: R12C6 + R4C9 = 15 = [95][1]/[86][1]/{49}[2]/[85][2]/[76][2]/{39}[3]/{48}[3]/[75][3]: R2C6: no 1,2,7

15. 45 on C5: 3 innies: R159C5 = 20 = {389/479/569/578}: no 2

16. 45 on N9: 1 innie and 1 outie: R6C9 = R8C7 + 2: R6C9: no 1,2; R8C7: no 5,7,8,9

17. 45 on C9: 1 innie and 1 outie: R1C8 = R9C9 + 4: R1C8 = {568}; R9C9: {124}

18. 24(5) at R1C8 = [6]{1359}/[6]{1458}/[5]{2368}/[8]{2356}: [8]{1249}/[8]{1456}/[5]{1369}/[5]{1468}/[6]{2349} blocked by step 17: 5,6 locked for N3
18a. Clean up: R1C6: no 7
18b. R12C6 = [95/86/85]/{49/39/48} = {8|9..}
18c. Killer Pair {89} in R12C6 + R3C4 -> locked for N2

19. 7 in N2 locked within 18(4) at R1C4 -> 18(4) = {1467/2367/2457}: {34} in R2C3 -> R1C45 + R2C4: no 3,4; R12C4 = {6|7..}

20. 45 on C1234: 1 outie and 3 innies: R1C5 + 3 = R5C34 + R6C3: Max R5C34 + R6C3 = 10: no 8,9; Min R5C34 + R6C3 = 8: R5C4: no 1,2,3
20a. R6C1 = 9(hidden)
20b. R67C4 = [29]/{38}: {47} blocked by R12C4 + R5C4: no 4,7; R7C4: no 2
20c. Killer Pair {89} in R3C4 + R67C4 -> locked for C4
20d. Clean up: R9C3: no 1,2

21. 18(3) at R6C9 = [8]{19}/[3]{69}/[6]{39}/[4]{59}/[5]{49}/[4]{68}: [8]{46}/[6]{48} blocked by step 16: no 2

22. 45 on C1234: R1C5 + 3 = R56C3 + R5C4: [5]-{13}[4]/[6]-{12}[6]/[6]-{23}[4]/[7]-{13}[6]
22a. 18(4) at R1C4 (R1C5-R12C4-R2C3) = [7]{16}[4]/[6]{17}[4]/[6]{27}[3]/[5]{27}[4]:[7]{26}[3] blocked by step 22: R12C4 = {16/17/27} = {1|7..}

23. 45 on N7: 3 outies: R6C2 + R89C4 = 9 = [1]{26}/[2]{16}/[2]{34}/[3]{24}: [1]{17} blocked by R12C4: no 7; 2 locked within outies: R6C4: no 2
23a. 7 in C4 locked within R12C4 for N2: R12C4 = {17/27}: no 6
23b. Clean up: R9C3: no 3; R7C4: no 9
23c. R67C4 = {38} -> locked for C4
23d. R3C4 = 9; R4C13 = [76]; R2C3 = 4(step 11)

24. 45 on C5: 3 innies: R159C5 = [587]/[5]{69}/[695]: no 3,4; R9C5: no 8; 5 locked for C5
24a. 8(3) at R2C5 = {1[4]3} -> locked for C5; R3C5 = 4
24b. R34C6 = {23} -> locked for C6
24c. R1C67 = [84]; R4C27 = [48]; R7C4 = 3(hidden); R6C4 = 8; R67C2 = [32]
24d. R159C5 = {569} -> locked for C5
24e. R56C3 = {12} -> locked for C3 and 33(7) at R4C7
24f. R1C58 = {56} -> locked for R1
24g. Clean up: R3C2: no 5; R3C3: no 8; R6C8: no 4(step 12); R5C8: no 3; R8C7: no 6(step 12)

25. 45 on N7: 2 outies: R89C4 = 6 = {24} -> locked for C4 and N8
25a. R5C4567 = [6943]; R3C6 = 2(hidden); R4C56 = [13]; R4C9 = 2; R56C8 = [16]; R1C8 = 5

There are loads of singles left but this will get it to all singles.
26. R7C78 = [74](last combo)

And this will leave you all singles.

greetings

Para

ps. This is the first puzzle i have ever seen that SumoCue makes more progress than Sudoku Solver. This is mostly because two properties of SumoCue seems to be missing from Sudoku Solver.