SudoCue Users

isnt this very easy?

the outies on the corner nonets give you defined numbers straightaway then the middle third falls with either/ors for the six outside pairs then16(3) in the bottom right nonet must be961 943 willnt work because 12(3) in bottom left nonet is either 462 or 473 finally23(4) can only be 4586 otherwise you have problems with 25(4) in the top left nonet after that it just seems to fall out

Welcome to goooders but he/she clearly doesn't know the "netiquette" on this forum. One doesn't post a message like that while a puzzle is still active unless it's in tiny text; the first line is OK in normal text.

Ruud wrote:Although this Assassin cannot be solved by SumoCue, it only requires a single advanced move. Can you find it?

Maybe that was step 18?

This was a smooth puzzle except right at the end where I had to work harder to finish it off. Maybe I missed something there. Here is my walkthrough.

Thanks to Mike and Para for their comments which have been added below. The comment after step 33d and the typo corrections in steps 48 and 51 were made earlier.

1. R4C12 = {49/58/67}, no 1,2,3

2. R4C89 = {19/28/37/46}, no 5

3. R5C12 = {17/26/35}, no 4,8,9

4. R5C89 = {59/68}

5. R6C12 = {17/26/35}, no 4,8,9

6. R6C89 = {17/26/35}, no 4,8,9

7. R456C5 = 1{25/34}, 1 locked for C5 and N5

8. 45 rule on N1 2 outies R1C4 + R4C3 = 14 = {59/68/77}
8a. Min R1C4 = 5 -> max R1C23 = 8, no 8,9

9. 45 rule on N2 2 innies R1C46 = 8 = [53/62/71], clean-up: no 5,6 in R4C3 (step 8)

10. 45 rule on N3 2 outies R1C6 + R4C7 = 4 = {13/22}

11. 45 rule on N7 2 outies R6C3 + R9C4 = 6 = {15/24/33}

12. 45 rule on N8 2 innies R9C46 = 11 = [29/38/47/56], clean-up: no 5 in R6C3 (step 11)

13. 45 rule on N9 2 outies R6C7 + R9C6 = 17 = {89}, clean-up: no 4,5 in R9C4 (step 12), no 1,2 in R6C3 (step 11)
13a. Min R9C6 = 8 -> max R9C78 = 8, no 8,9
[Mike pointed out that after step 13 there is the CPE no 8,9 in R6C6. This then sets up a hidden pair {89} in R6C47 -> R6C4 = {89}.]

14. Killer pair 8,9 in R5C89 and R6C7, locked for N6, clean-up: no 1,2 in R4C89

15. 23(4) cage at R6C3 with R6C3 = {34} = {2489/3479/3569/3578/4568}, no 1

16. 45 rule on N5 2 outies R5C37 = 7 = {16/25/34}, no 7,8,9

17. R5C34567 must contain 4 and 8/9
17a. 45 rule on R5 5 innies R5C34567 = 23 = {13478/23459/23468} (cannot be {12479} which clashes with R5C37, cannot be {13469} which clashes with R5C89) = 34{178/259/268}, 3 locked for R5, clean-up: no 5 in R5C12
[Para pointed out that I missed R5C37 cannot be {16} because there are no R5C34567 combinations with both 1 and 6. Alternatively, and possibly more obvious, R5C37 cannot be {16} because this would clash with R5C12.]

18. Hidden killer pair 8,9 for N4 in R4C12 and R4C3 -> R4C12 = {49/58}, R4C3 = {89}, 8,9 locked for R4, clean-up: no 7 in R1C4 (step 8), no 1 in R1C6 (step 9), no 3 in R4C7 (step 10)

19. 7 in N4 must be in R5C12 or R6C12, one of which must be {17} -> no 1 in R5C3, clean-up: no 6 in R5C7 (step 16)

20. 45 rule on C123 2 outies R19C4 – 4 = 1 innie R5C3, min R19C4 = 7 -> min R5C3 = 3, clean-up: no 5 in R5C7 (step 16)
[Para pointed out that if I had done step 20 before step 19, then there would have been a hidden killer double instead of hidden killer singles. However this is the order in which I spotted the moves. The fact that we see different moves, or see the same moves in different orders, is one of the things that makes this forum interesting and makes it worthwhile working through other people’s walkthroughs.]

21. R5C12 must contain 1/2 -> R6C12 must contain 1/2 -> R6C12 = {17/26}, 6 locked in R56C12 for N4, clean-up: no 1 in R5C7 (step 16)

22. 3 in N4 locked in R56C3, locked for C3

23. 25(4) cage at R4C4 with R5C3 = {345} = {3589/3679/4579/4678}, no 2
23a. 19(4) cage at R4C6 = {2359/2368/2458/2467/3457}

24. 45 rule on R1 3 innies R1C159 = 19 = {289/379/469/478/568}, no 1

25. 45 rule on N6 3 innies R456C7 = 13 = [139/148/238] -> no 2 in R5C7, clean-up: no 5 in R5C3 (step 16)

26. Naked pair {34} in R5C37, locked for R5

27. Naked pair {34} in R56C3, locked for C3 and N4, clean-up: no 9 in R4C12

28. Naked pair {58} in R4C12, locked for R4 -> R4C3 = 9 -> R1C4 = 5 (step 8), R1C6 = 3 (step 9), R4C7 = 1 (step 10), clean-up: no 7 in R6C89

29. 7 in N6 locked in R4C89 = {37}, locked for R4 and N6 -> R5C7 = 4, R5C3 = 3, R6C3 = 4, R9C4 = 2 (step 11), R9C6 = 9 (step 12), R6C7 = 8 (step 13), clean-up: no 6 in R5C89, no 5 in R6C89
[Para “As i always check hidden singles. There is a hidden single 3 in R6C5 at this point. Doesn't matter much as it becomes naked in 2 steps.” Maybe I forgot to eliminate 3 from R6C4. It’s so easy to overlook those round-the-corner eliminations. In this puzzle I always remembered the ones for the L-shaped 4-cell cages but often forgot them for the sideways T-shaped cages, both when originally solving this puzzle and later when checking walkthroughs.]

30. Naked pair {26} in R6C89, locked for R6

31. Naked pair {17} in R6C12, locked for R6 and N4 -> R6C456 = [935]

32. R5C5 = 1 (hidden single in R5), R4C5 = 4 (cage sum), R4C46 = [62], R5C4 = 7 (cage sum), R5C6 = 8

33a. R1C4 = 5 -> R1C23 = 8 = {17/26}, no 4
33b. R1C6 = 3 -> R1C78 = 10 = [28/64/91]
33c. R9C4 = 2 -> R9C23 = 10 = [37/46]
33d. R9C6 = 9 -> R9C78 = 7 = [34/61]
[I missed R9C78 cannot be [34] which clashes with R9C23, as in goooders message and Para's walkthrough, but fortunately it didn’t matter as I fixed those cells with the next step.]

34. 5 in R9 locked in R9C159
34a. 45 rule on R9 3 innies R9C159 = 17 = {458} (only remaining combination), locked for R9 -> R9C23 = [37], R9C78 = [61], clean-up: no 1 in R1C2 (step 33a), no 4 in R1C8 (step 33b) -> R1C78 = [28], R1C23 = [71], R6C12 = [71]

35. 16(4) cage at R2C7 = {1357/1456} = 15{37/46}, no 9, 5 locked for N3
35a. 20(4) cage in N3 = 19{37/46}
[Para pointed out that {1456} is blocked because 4,6 only in R2C8. Oops! I should have spotted that. It was getting very late when I finished this puzzle and first posted my walkthrough.]

36. 9 in C7 locked in R78C7, locked for N9
[Alternatively grouped X-Wing for 9 in 20(4) cage in N3 and R5C89, locked for C89, but I spotted the locked 9 in C7 first.]

37. 24(4) cage at R6C7 = {2589/3489} = 89{25/34}, no 7
37a. R78C7 = {359} -> R8C8 = {24}

38. 7 in C7 locked in R23C7, locked for N3
38a. 16(4) cage at R2C7 (step 35) = {1357} (only remaining combination), 3 locked for N3

39. 23(4) cage at R6C3 = {2489/4568} = 48{29/56}, 8 locked for N7
39a. 16(4) cage in N7 = 14{29/56}

40. 25(4) cage at R2C2 = {2689} (only remaining combination), 2,6,8 locked for N1

41. 5 in C3 locked in R78C3, locked for N7 -> R9C1 = 4, R1C159 = [964]

42. Naked pair {35} in R23C1, locked for C1 and N1 -> R3C2 = 4, R4C12 = [85]

43. 23(4) cage at R6C3 (step 39) = {4568} (only remaining combination), locked for N7

44. Naked pair {12} in R78C1, locked for C1 and N7 -> R5C12 = [62], R7C2 = 9

45. Naked triple {578} in R789C5, locked for C5 and N8

46. Naked pair {35} in R2C18, locked for R2 -> R2C7 = 7

47. R3C6 = 7 (hidden single in R3)

48. R8C7 = 9 (hidden single in C7)

49. R7C456 = [186/384/456] (cannot be {357} which clashes with R7C7), no 7 in R7C5, no 1 in R7C6

50. R8C5 = 7 (hidden single in C5)

51. 19(4) cage at R8C5 = [1765/3718/3745], no 4 in R8C4

52. 22(4) cage in N9 = {2578/3478} = 78{25/34}
52a. For {3478} 4 must be in R7C8 and 7 in R7C9 -> no 3 in R7C89

53. 20(4) cage at R1C5 = {1469} (only remaining combination because [6824] clashes with R2C23) -> R2C5 = 9, R2C46 = {14}, locked for R2 and N2

and the rest is naked singles, hidden singles and cage sums

Hi "gooders",

First of all, welcome to the forum from me as well. See you joined some time back. Congratulations on finally getting around to your first post!

goooders wrote:isnt this very easy?

I haven't even started this puzzle yet, so can neither confirm nor deny that. But what I can say in general is that it's good to have a good spread of difficulty levels. For example, if the puzzles were always too torturous, they would just end up getting done by the regulars here, and we would never get the chance to hear from newbies like yourself. The fact that this puzzle prompted you into action is a positive in its own right.

It normally doesn't matter too much if a particular Assassin is deemed to be too easy or too difficult, because they will typically be followed up by either harder "V1.5"s or "V2"s (as we call them) or easier "Lite" versions, as appropriate. These follow-up versions either come from Ruud himself (like last week), or one of the forum regulars.

Andrew wrote:One doesn't post a message like that while a puzzle is still active unless it's in tiny text

Yes, please make sure that all spoiler information is in tiny text (TT) in the future. I recommend that you edit your post above to do just that. It's a pain, I know, but one gets used to it...

Hi all,

Warmed up from that little A63 sprint?
Looking for something that requires a little more stamina?

One things for sure - you can throw away your starting blocks for this one:


Assassin 63 V1.5



3x3::k:4608:6145:6145:6145:435623095896:46083338:4356:4356:4356:4879:4879:5896:4608:46084117:4117:4117:4879:5896:589636114126:4639:5152:487928502340:4126:4126:4639:5152:515236272605:5935:4126:4639:5152:721918443894:593538977219:4157:41575935:5935:4674:4674:4674:7219:7219:41575961:5961:5961:46742381:2381:4157:

On your marks! Get set! Go!

Hi

V1.5 seems overrated. Didn't have any more trouble with this one than with the V1. Nothing special needed: Only 45-tests, naked pairs/simple combination work and one Killer Triple needed.

Walk-through Assassin 63 V1.5(?)

1. 24(3) at R1C2 = {789} -->> locked for R1

2. 9(3) at R1C6 = {126/135/234}: no 7,8,9

3. 13(4) at R2C2 = {1237/1246/1345}: no 8,9

4. R4C12 and R5C89 = {59/68}: no 1,2,3,4,7

5. R4C89 = {29/38/47/56}: no 1

6. R5C12 = {18/27/36/45}: no 9

7. R6C12 = {19/28/37/46}: no 5

8. R6C89 = {16/25/34}: no 7,8,9

9. 28(4) at R6C7 = {4789/5689}: no 1,2,3

10. 23(3) at R9C2 = {689} -->> locked for R9

11. 9(3) at R9C6 = {135/234}: no 7; 3 locked for R9

12. 45 on N7: 2 outies: R6C3 + R9C4 = 16 = [79/88] -->> R6C3 = {78}; R9C4 = {89}

13. 45 on R789: 2 outies: R6C37 = 12 = [84/75] -->> R6C7 = {45}
13a. Killer Triple {456} in R5C89 + R6C7 + R6C89 -->> locked for N6
13b. Clean up: R4C89: no 7

14. 45 on R123: 2 outies: R4C37 = 4 = {13} -->> locked for R4
14a. R5C7 = 7(hidden)
14b. 45 on N5: 1 outie: R5C3 = 2

The Big Clean up:
15. R4C89 = {29} -->> locked for R4 and N6
15a. R4C12 = {68} -->> locked for R4 and N4
15b. R6C3 = 7; R9C4 = 9(step 12); R6C7 = 5(step 13)
15c. R5C89 = {68} -->> locked for R5 and N6
15d. R6C89 = {34} -->> locked for R6 and N6
15e. R4C7 = 1; R4C3 = 3
15f. R6C12 = {19} -->> locked for R6 and N4
15g. R5C12 = {45} -->> locked for R5

The free outies
16. 45 on N1: 1 outie: R1C4 = 7
16a. 45 on N3: 1 outie: R1C6 = 5
16b. 45 on N9: 1 outie: R9C6 = 3
16c. R4C6 = 4; R4C4 = 5; R4C5 = 7

17. R1C23 = {89} -->> locked for N1
17a. R9C23 = {68} -->> locked for N7
17b. R4C1 = 8(hidden); R4C2 = 6; R9C23 = [86]; R1C23 = [98]; R4C12 = [91]

18. 9(3) at R1C6 = 5[31](last combo) -->> R1C78 = [31]

19. 20(4) at R4C6 = 47{18}(last combo) -->> R56C6 = [18]
19a. R56C4 = [36]; R56C5 = [92]
19b. Clean up: R9C78 = {24} -->> locked for R9 and N9

20. 28(4) at R6C7 = 5{689} (last combo) -->> R7C7 + R8C78 = {689} -->> locked for N9

21. 45 on C89: 3 innies: R289C8 = 18 = [594]: ([792] blocked by R4C8; {68}[4] blocked by R5C8)
21a. R9C7 = 2; R4C89 = [29]; R6C89 = [34]; R7C8 = 7
21b. R7C3 = 9(hidden); R8C6 = 7(hidden); R9C1 = 7(hidden)

22. 13(4) at R2C2 = 3{145}: (3{127} blocked by R2C2(only place for {27}): no 2,7 -->> R2C2 = 4; R2C3 = 1; R3C3 = 5
22a. R5C12 = [45]; R8C3 = 4; R8C2 = 3; R7C2 = 2; R3C2 = 7
And the rest is all naked singles.

greetings

Para

Hi all

Here's the Walk-through for the original as well.

Ruud wrote:Although this Assassin cannot be solved by SumoCue, it only requires a single advanced move. Can you find it?

They don't really fall in the really advanced moves category, but by giving SumoCue step 6c, 9a and 9b, SumoCue will solve the puzzle.

Walk-through Assassin 63

1. R4C12 = {49/58/67}: no 1,2,3

2. R4C89 = {19/28/37/46}: no 5

3. R5C12, R6C12 and R6C89 = {17/26/35}: no 4,8,9

4. R5C89 = {59/68}: no 1,2,3,4,7

5. 8(3) at R4C5 = {125/134}: no 6,7,8,9; 1 locked for C5 and N5

6. 45 on N9: 2 outies: R6C7 + R9C6 = 17 = {89}
6a. Killer Pair {89} in R5C89 + R6C7 -->> locked for N6
6b. Clean up: R4C89 = {37/46}: no 1,2
6c. R4C12 = {49/58}: {67} blocked by R4C89: no 6,7
6d. Killer Triple {567} in R4C89, R5C89 and R6C89 -->> locked for N6

7. 45 on R789: 2 outies: R6C37 = 12 = [39/48] -->> R6C3 = {34}

8. 45 on N7: 2 outies: R6C3 + R9C4 = 6 = [42/33] -->> R9C4 = {23}

9. 45 on N5: 2 outies: R5C37 = [34/43/52/61] -->> R5C3 = {3456}
9a. R5C12 = {1|5|6..}; R5C89 = {5|6..} -->> R5C37: [61] blocked: R5C3: no 6; R5C7: no 1
9b. Killer Triple {345} in R4C12, R5C3 and R6C3 -->> locked for N4
9c. Naked Quad {1267} in R5C12 + R6C12 -->> locked for N4

10. 45 on N1: 2 outies: R1C4 + R4C3 = 14 = [59/68] -->> R1C4 = {56}

11. 45 on R123: 2 outies: R4C37 = [82/91] -->> R4C7 = {12}

12. 45 on N3: 2 outies: R1C6 + R4C7 = 4 = [31/22] -->> R1C6 = {23}

13. 45 on N6: 3 innies: R456C7 = [139/148/238] -->> R5C7: no 2
13a. Clean up: R5C37 = {34} -->> locked for R5
13b. Killer Pair {34} in R4C89 + R5C7 -->> locked for N6
13c. Clean up: R6C89: no 5
13d. Naked Quad {1267} in R6C1289 -->> locked for R6

14. 5 in N6 locked within 14(2) cage at R5C89 -->> R5C89 = {59} -->> locked for R5 and N6
14a. R6C7 = 8; R9C6 = 9; R6C3 = 4; R9C4 = 2; R5C37 = [34]
14b. Clean up: R4C12 = {58} -->> locked for R4
14c. R4C3 = 9; R1C4 = 5; R4C7 = 1; R1C6 = 3; R6C4 = 9; R6C6 = 5; R6C5 = 3
14d. R5C5 = 1(hidden); R4C5 = 4; R4C6 = 2(hidden); R5C6 = 8
14e. Clean up: R4c89 = {37} -->> locked for R4 and N6
14f. R45C4 = [67]
14g. R5C12 = {26} -->> locked for N4

15. 12(3) at R9C2 = [37/46]2: R9C2 = {34]; R9C3 = {67}

16. 16(3) at R9C6 = 9[61]: [934] blocked by R9C2 -->>R9C78 = [61]
16a. R9C23 = [37]

17. 13(3) at R1C6 = 3[28]: 3{46} blocked by R1C7 -->> R1C78 = [28]

18. 13(3) at R1C2 = [71]3 -->> R1C23 = [71]
18a. R6C12 = [71]

19. 25(4) at R2C2 = 9{268}(last combo) -->> R2C23 + R3C3 = {268} -->> locked for N1

20. 5 in C3 locked within 23(4) cage at R7C3 -->> 23(4) = 4{568} -->> R7C3 + R8C23 = {568} -->> locked for N7; R8C2 = {68}
20a. R9C1 = 4; R1C1 = 9; R1C5 = 6; R1C9 = 4; R3C2 = 4(hidden); R7C2 = 9(hidden)
20b. R4C1 = 8(hidden); R4C2 = 5; R5C1 = 6(hidden); R5C2 = 2

21. 16(4) at R2C7 = 1{357}(last combo) -->> R2C78 + R3C7 = {357} -->> locked for N3
21a. R8C7 = 9(hidden)
21b. Naked Triple {578} in R789C5 -->> locked for C5 and N8

22. 17(3) at R3C4 = [197/827] -->> R3C6 = 7

23. 24(4) at R6C7 = 89[52/34] -->> R7C7 = {35}; R8C8 = {24}
23a. R2C7 = 7(hidden)

24. 20(4) at R1C5 = 6{149/248} -->> R2C456 = {149}: {248} clashes with R2C23: no 2,8 -->> R2C5 = 9; R2C46 = {14} -->> locked for R2 and N2
And this leaves you with all naked singles.

greetings

Para

I found this one relatively easy, which is not necessarily a bad thing. I just wouldn't call it an "assassin."

I guess it's a matter of opinion what is an Assassin. Yes it was one of the easier ones but, as you say, that is not necessarily a bad thing. On Mike's recently introduced ratings Ed has placed A63 at about 0.75 which is probably about right. Definitely not lower because, as Ruud said, it needed one move that SumoCue didn't find.

Even the easier Assassins are still harder than newspaper ones and killers on some other websites. That's what the Assassins and forum puzzles are all about, puzzles ranging from 0.75 upward.

goooders wrote:the outies on the corner nonets give you defined numbers straightaway ...

I don't think so. Para and I both had to do more work to make those eliminations.

I think goooders overlooked the fact that outies from a nonet can repeat the same digit when they are in different nonets and not in the same row or column. For example 45 rule on N3 2 outies R1C6 + R4C7 = 4 = {13/22}, not just {13}, and R6C3 + R9C4 = 6 = {15/24/33}, not just {15/24}. As it happened, these "doubles possible" cases weren't the correct solution but they could be in other puzzles and can catch out unsuspecting solvers.

It should be noted that these "doubles possible" cases also apply for innies of multiple nonets. An example of this occurs in Assassin 60 where R4C9 + R9C4 (innies of N5689) = 14 = {59/68/77}.

I've now worked through both of Para's walkthroughs, for Ruud's original puzzle and Mike's V1.5.

For the original puzzle we have different first breakthrough moves but otherwise had fairly similar solving paths.

Similarly for V1.5 we had different first breakthrough moves. Para had a killer triple which I didn't spot but a few moves later I had a hidden killer triple and we both reached the same position. Then Para's step 21 was a powerful move that really broke it open for him. I've commented more on that below.

Ed has asked me to give my estimated ratings whenever I post walkthroughs and all other regulars are encouraged to do the same.

On the basis, in Mike's definition of ratings, that average Assassins now have a rating of 1.25, I would put A63 as 1.0. For Mike's V1.5 it would probably be rated as 1.0 for Para's solving path but 1.25 for the way that I solved it.

Here is my walkthrough for A63V1.5. Thanks Para for the correction and the comments that have been added in the walkthrough.

1. R4C12 = {59/68}

2. R4C89 = {29/38/47} (cannot be {56} which clashes with R4C12), no 1,5,6

3. R5C12 = {18/27/36/45}, no 9

4. R5C89 = {59/68}

5. R6C12 = {19/28/37/46}, no 5

6. R6C89 = {16/25/34}, no 7,8,9

7. R1C234 = {789}, locked for R1

8. R1C678 = {126/135/234}

9. R9C234 = {689}, locked for R9

10. R9C678 = {135/234} = 3{15/24}, no 7, 3 locked for R9
10a. R9C159 = 7{15/24}

11. 13(4) cage at R2C2 = {1237/1246/1345}, no 8,9

12. 28(4) cage at R6C7 = {4789/5689}, no 1,2,3

13. 45 rule on N1 2 outies R1C4 + R4C3 = 10 = [73/82/91]

14. 45 rule on N2 2 innies R1C46 = 12 = [75/84/93]
14a. R1C678 (step 8) = {135/234} (cannot be {126} because only 3,4,5 in R1C6) = 3{15/24}, no 6, 3 locked for R1
14b. R1C159 = 6{15/24}

15. 45 rule on N3 2 outies R1C6 + R4C7 = 6 = [33/42/51]

16. 45 rule on R123 2 outies R4C37 = 4 = {13}, locked for R4, clean-up: no 8 in R1C4 (step 13), no 4 in R1C6 (step 14 or step 15), no 8 in R4C89
16a. 8 in R1 locked in R1C23, locked for N1

17. 45 rule on N7 2 outies R6C3 + R9C4 = 16 = [79/88]
17a. 6 in R9 locked in R9C23, locked for N7

18. 45 rule on N8 2 innies R9C46 = 12 = [84/93]

19. 45 rule on N9 2 outies R6C7 + R9C6 = 8 = [44/53]
19a. 28(4) cage at R6C7 (step 12) = {4789/5689} = 89{47/56}, R6C7 = {45} -> no 4,5 in R7C7 + R8C78
[At this stage I missed Para’s first breakthrough, killer triple 4,5,6 in R5C89, R6C7 and R6C89 for N6. My first breakthrough is in step 23.]
19b. 8,9 locked in R7C7 + R8C78 for N9

20. 45 rule on N5 2 outies R5C37 = 9 = {18/27/36/45}, no 9

21. 45 rule on N4 3 innies R456C3 = 12 = [138/147/318/327], R5C3 = {1234}, clean-up: R5C7 = {5678} (step 20)

22. 45 rule on N6 3 innies R456C7 = 13 = [175/184/364], no 5 in R5C7, clean-up: no 4 in R5C3 (step 20)
22a. R456C3 (step 21) = [138/318/327]
[Para pointed out that I missed that 3 is locked for C3 and N4.]

23. 45 rule on R6789 3 innies R6C456 = 16 = {169/259/268/349/358/367} (cannot be {178} which clashes with R6C3, cannot be {457} which clashes with R6C7) [7/8/9]
23a. Hidden killer triple 7,8,9 in R6C12, R6C3 and R6C456 -> R6C12 = {19/28/37}, no 4,6
23b. Killer triple 1,2,3 in R4C3, R5C3 and R6C12, locked for R5C12, clean-up: no 6,7,8 in R5C12
23c. Naked pair {45} in R5C12, locked for R5 and N4, clean-up: no 9 in R4C12, no 9 in R5C89
23d. Naked pair {68} in R5C89, locked for R5 and N6 -> R5C7 = 7, R5C3 = 2 (step 20), clean-up: no 4 in R4C89, no 8 in R6C12, no 1 in R6C89
[Para suggested that it’s easier to go directly from step 23a to step 23c. Agreed but step 23b is what I spotted.]

24. R4C7 = 1 (hidden single in N6), R4C3 = 3, R6C3 = 7 (step 22a), R6C7 = 5 (step 22), R1C4 = 7 (step 13), R1C6 = 5 (step 14 or 15), R9C4 = 9 (step 17), R9C6 = 3 (step 18 or 19), clean-up: no 2 in R6C89
24a. Naked pair {89} in R1C23, locked for N1
24b. R1C6 = 5 -> R1C78 = 4 = [31]
24c. Naked pair {68} in R9C23, locked for N7
24d. R9C6 = 3 -> R9C78 = {24} (only remaining combination), locked for R9 and N9

25. R4C5 = 7 (hidden single in R4), R56C5 = 11 = [38/92]

26. R4C1 = 8 (hidden single in C1), R4C2 = 6, R9C23 = [86], R1C23 = [98], R6C12 = [91]

27. Naked triple {139) in R5C456, locked for N5

28. R6C456 (step 23) = {268} (only remaining combination), locked for N5 -> R4C46 = [54]

29. R4C6 + R5C7 = [47] -> R56C6 = 9 = [18], R6C45 = [62], R5C45 = [39]

30. 28(4) cage at R6C7 (step 12) = {5689} (only remaining combination) -> 6 locked for N9
[At this stage Para had his second breakthrough 45 rule on C89 3 innies R289C8 = 18 = [594]: ([792] blocked by R4C8; {68}[4] blocked by R5C8). I’d stopped looking for any more 45s, possibly because the original Assassin 63 came out with straightforward combination work so that’s what I used but it’s quite a bit longer for this puzzle.]

31. 23(4) cage at R6C3 = {2579/3479} = 79{25/34}, no 1
31a. 2,3 only in R8C2 -> R8C2 = {23}
31b. 1 in C3 locked in R23C3, locked for N1
31c. 15(4) cage in N7 = {1257/1347} = 17{25/34}

32. 13(4) cage at R2C2 = {1345} (only remaining combination, cannot be {1237} because 2,7 only in R2), 4,5 locked for N1

33. Naked pair {45} in R25C2, locked for C2

34. R3C456 = {169/268/349} [4/6,…]
34a. 1 of {169} must be in R3C4 -> no 1 in R3C5
34b. 3 of {349} must be in R3C5 -> no 4 in R3C5

35. Killer pair 4,6 in R1C5 and R3C456, locked for N2

36. 17(4) cage in N2 = {1268/1349/2348}
36a. 2 of {1268/2348} must be in R2C6 -> no 2 in R2C4

37. R7C456 = {168/258/267/456}
37a. 4 of {456} must be in R7C4 -> no 4 in R7C5

38. 18(4) cage in N8 = {1278/1467/2457} (cannot be {1458} because R8C6 only contains 2,6,7) = 7{128/146/245} -> R8C6 = 7
38a. 1 of {1278/1467} must be in R9C5 -> no 1 in R8C45
38b. 5 of {2457} must be in R9C5 -> no 5 in R8C5
38c. 2 of {1278} must be in R8C4 -> no 8 in R8C4

39. R7C456 (step 37) = {168/258/456}
39a. 2 of {258} must be in R7C6 -> no 2 in R7C4
39b. 6 of {168/456} must be in R7C6 -> no 6 in R7C5

40. 19(4) cage at R2C7 = {1279/1459/1468} (cannot be {1567} because 5,7 only in R2C8)
40a. 5,7 only in R2C8 -> no 9 in R2C8
40b. {1279} must have 7 in R2C8 -> no 2 in R2C8
40c. {1468} must have 4 in R23C7 because {68} there would clash with R78C7 -> no 4 in R2C8

41. R2C78 + R3C7 contain 2/4 -> 23(4) cage in N3 must contain 2/4 = {2579/2678/4568}
41a. {2579} must have 2 in R1C9 and then 9 in R3C8 to avoid clash with R4C9 -> no 9 in R23C9
41b. {2678} cannot have {268} in R123C9 which would clash with R5C9 -> no 7 in R3C8
41c. {2678} cannot have {678} in R123C9 which would clash with R5C9 -> no 2 in R3C8
41d. {4568} cannot have {468/568} in R123C9 which would clash with R5C9 -> no 4,5 in R3C8

42. Naked triple 6,8,9 in R358C8, locked for C8 -> R4C89 = [29], R9C78 = [24], R6C89 = [34]
[Alternatively after step 41a, R4C9 = 9 (hidden single in C9). Just spotted that while checking this walkthrough. Anyway it was good to continue with the eliminations from R3C8.]

43. 23(4) cage in N3 (step 41) = {2579/2678} = 27{59/68}, 7 locked R23C9 for C9 and N3 -> R2C8 = 5, R7C8 = 7
43a. 23(4) cage = {2678} (only remaining combination), 6,8 locked for N3

and the rest is naked singles and a cage sum

Bonjour mes amis! J'ai retournee de la France. (My French is a bit rusty but we managed OK!)

You've been busy while I've been away! I didn't do anywhere near as many puzzles as I thought I might last week - just about 1 a day of some GT killers that I'd taken with me. Didn't look at Andrew Stuart's book at all so ALSs will remain a mystery for a while longer! Much to catch up on so I may be quiet for a few days.

The scenery in and around Chamonix was truly spectacular despite 3 days of low cloud and rain Tues-Thurs. Will try and post a piccie once we have them sorted out. It was -5 at the Aiguille du Midi - we went up on Friday when the weather finally cleared. We also took a cable car across to Helbronner with incredible views of the glaciers.

A bientot

Salut!

Three full days to go until A64, and the V1 and V1.5 already fully devoured. Time for another small challenge?

goooders wrote:outies on the corner nonets give you defined numbers straightaway then...middle third falls...after that it just seems to fall out

All of the above three assertions except one could be also be claimed to apply to the following puzzle. Guess which?


Assassin 63 V2 (Estimated rating: 1.75)



3x3::k:4608:5121:5121:5121:614828216664:46083594:6148:6148:6148:5391:5391:6664:4608:460836053605:5391:6664:6664258738706688:5391:802:802208438706688:668820913373:64473359:6688:59392868:5686:5686:644736415939:6205:6205:5686:6447:6447:4418:4418:4418:5939:5939:6205:5686340144183149:3149:6205:

Bon voyage!

Test to post tiny print

1. Hopefully, this is very small
2. and continues to be small

and now is normal again...
the preview is normal print

If this didn't work, someone please enlighten me.

Hi Nouggie,

I corrected your post. Use the edit button to see how it's done.

Ruud

Thank you very much, Ruud.