Catch 22

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Ruud
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Catch 22

Post by Ruud »

This puzzle is similar in shape to the Queens Day puzzle on the special page, but all comparisons end there. This puzzle is bad, reeeeally bad! The only sure facts about this puzzle are a) it has a single solution b) basic techniques will only solve 26 cells.

The name refers to the 22 constituent puzzles, intertwined in such a way that there's no escape. All constituent sudokus have diagonal constraints and the blue cells form a 22nd sudoku with the same constraints.
Joseph Heller wrote:There was only one catch and that was Catch-22, which specified that a concern for one's own safety in the face of dangers that were real and immediate was the process of a rational mind. Orr was crazy and could be grounded. All he had to do was ask; and as soon as he did, he would no longer be crazy and would have to fly more missions. Orr would be crazy to fly more missions and sane if he didn't, but if he was sane he had to fly them. If he flew them he was crazy and didn't have to; but if he didn't want to he was sane and had to. Yossarian was moved very deeply by the absolute simplicity of this clause of Catch-22 and let out a respectful whistle."
"That's some catch, that catch-22," he observed.
"It's the best there is," Doc Daneeka agreed.
Image

Code: Select all

002900000640003500000040000000000000200400000030168000000020000000000000000750000
000000000000000054000000000600003400570000000800010006000700000000030000000900000
000001000000600000000040000009000000000000007000000000000080000000000000000000000
000000000000005000000000000000000067000000800800000001000000000000090000000400000
000600000000010000000020000030000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
090400000400070000000200000080040000000100080000000009706000000000090000000000000
000000000000050000000004000700000002020000065004000000000001000000000000000008000
000000000000020000000000000300004100000200000060000500000800000000600000000000000
000078000000000000000400050200007085050000000009000000000000060000000000000005070
000000000000409000000000000000000000040000070000000089000000000000004000000001000
000002000000000000000049000400000008002000600300000009000460000000000000000100000
000600000000300000000000000130000000090000010000000000000000000000105000000000000
060200000000000000040000000000000400000000020470100003010007000000000000000520000
000000000000009000000006000005000020000007000009300006000000000000050000000000000
000400000000000000000500000000000800390000070100000004000900000000080000000000000
000000000000010000000000807400000000050002000000090020000004000000080006000005070
000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000040000010000000050000000003000
000008000000090000000000000200000005006000000530000000000000000000200000000000000
000000000000000000000070000000000000500000000000000400000010000000005000000200000
000008000000020000000007000900060002000000064003200009000000000290000000000000000
000018000000000000000090000000832090000009008000000000000040000008100045000005300
The first to PM me the correct solution will receive the unique "Major Major Major" rank in this forum.

Ruud
Ruud
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Post by Ruud »

We have a winner!

Please salute our new Major Major Major Glyn :salut:

Ruud (shocked & awed) :shock: :pale:
Para
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Post by Para »

Hmmmm, I was still planning on printing it.

Great job, Glyn

Para
Marlie
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Post by Marlie »

Heej Para
I justed printed it too and going to solve as much as I can outside in the garden with a nice cup of coffee.
Who will be the second winner you or me? Or anyone else?
Para
Yokozuna
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Post by Para »

Don't think it will be me. My speed in these big ones isn't that impressive. quickly get distracted :wink:

greetings

Para

ps. How long did you take Glyn?
Glyn
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Post by Glyn »

I think I was lucky. It took about 6 hours but I did use something to give me help in the individual puzzles. With something that size it would be a disaster to make a mistake somewhere. That's why Clueless Helper is such a godsend on the smaller grids.

I started round the perimeter, interacting with the adjacent grids, I thought I would never get anywhere. Then I went to the centre grid and with the help of the neighbouring grids made some headway.

Even when the Clueless grid was solved there were still 4 grids I had trouble finishing. One on the left and a chain of three overlapping ones on the right.

Also I think it's beginners luck on these big ones as I've tried the Queens puzzle, I've got answers for the centre grid and another 20, but the one left is not coming up as valid in Sudocue. I've messed up something somewhere, probably right at the start.

I take my hat off to anyone that does these completely on paper, or should I say a small notepad.

Have fun.

Glyn
I have 81 brain cells left, I think.
Para
Yokozuna
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Post by Para »

How's the rest getting along with this one?

greetings

Para
Marlie
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Post by Marlie »

Ik heb er niet meer aan gewerkt nu jij toch niet meer meedeed. Ik moet de koninginnepuzzel en de laatste nieuwe nog.
Ik heb weinig tijd zit in een verbouwing en moet ook af en toe eens werken bij de baas pffffffffff

I did'nt work on it lately becayse we had a winner already.
I have to finish the queens puzzel and the latest one.
I am in the middle of rebuilding our house and have to work too.
Glyn
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Post by Glyn »

Best of luck Marlie with both puzzles.

The Queens one is fortunately quite a bit easier to completely finish as the 21 grids will solve when the centre grid is done.

Catch-22 needs bifurcation to finish the outer grids near the end unless someone comes up with a neater method.

All the best

Glyn
I have 81 brain cells left, I think.
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