help a novice out?

When you have problems solving a Sudoku, ask fellow members to help you
Post Reply
Bruce
Rookie
Rookie
Posts: 6
Joined: Fri Jan 05, 2007 8:47 pm

help a novice out?

Post by Bruce »

I guess I never learned some basic solving tool and am stuck. This is "Easy09" published November 16, 2005 on this site...

. . .|6 . .|. 4 .
. 5 .|1 9 .|. . .
. 1 3|. 8 .|. . 2
-----+-----+-----
6 2 .|. . .|. . 8
. 7 1|. . .|. . .
9 . .|. . 4|. 7 1
-----+-----+-----
. . .|. . 8|. . .
8 . .|. . .|3 . .
. 6 .|5 3 .|. . .

I've been able to solve to this point, but no further. (hope is readable)

Code: Select all

.------------------.------------------.------------------.
| 2     89    89   | 6     7     3    | 1     4     5    |
| 4     5     6    | 1     9     2    | 78    38    37   |
| 7     1     3    | 4     8     5    | 69    69    2    |
:------------------+------------------+------------------:
| 6     2     4    | 379   15    179  | 59    359   8    |
| 35    7     1    | 8     256   69   | 24569 23569 3469 |
| 9     38    58   | 23    256   4    | 256   7     1    |
:------------------+------------------+------------------:
| 35    349   2579 | 279   1246  8    | 25679 12569 679  |
| 8     49    2579 | 279   1246  1679 | 3     12569 679  |
| 1     6     279  | 5     3     79   | 24789 289   479  |
'------------------'------------------'------------------'
What am I missing to not be able to solve this "easy" puzzle? What tool in SudoCue would assist me?
Last edited by Bruce on Tue Jan 09, 2007 12:17 am, edited 1 time in total.
Nasenbaer
Master
Master
Posts: 167
Joined: Thu Jul 20, 2006 7:19 am
Location: Fellbach (Deutschland)

Post by Nasenbaer »

Welcome to the forum, Bruce!

First here is a tip for posting: please enclose SudoCue marks with [ code ] Marks [ / code ] (without the blanks in the brackets) to make it better readable.

Now to your problem, here's a hint: There is a naked triple in N8 (for a description look here).

If you are are using SudoCue you can hit F8 for a hint. It will give a short description in the bottom line and mark the relevant numbers.

More questions, or need another hint? Just ask. :D

Have fun!

Peter
Bruce
Rookie
Rookie
Posts: 6
Joined: Fri Jan 05, 2007 8:47 pm

Post by Bruce »

Hey Peter,

Thanks for the tips :) I found the naked triple pretty quickly when you told me where to look!

The F7, F8, F11 (vague hint, hint, step) don't seem to work for me... is there something else I need to do to have that work? I've only downloaded SudoCue.

I've done more than a few sudokus from other sites www.websudoku.com and www.life.com/sudoku but those are quite easy compared to these IMO. So far I like SudoCue - it really helps to take the mundane out of the pencil marks, etc and allows focus on much harder puzzles.
Nasenbaer
Master
Master
Posts: 167
Joined: Thu Jul 20, 2006 7:19 am
Location: Fellbach (Deutschland)

Post by Nasenbaer »

Have you looked at Tools -> Options? You can adjust SudoCue's behavior there. You also might want to look at the manual for exact explanations.

Ruud's sudoku puzzles are quite difficult, they usually require at least one sophisticated technique (or so I'm told). There is now a Daily Lite Sudoku, it should be easier. I'm more addicted to the "bigger" puzzles, like Samurai, Clueless Special and Clueless Explosion because of the additioal interactions between the sudoku puzzles. But my biggest addiction is Killer Sudoku. Those can really drive you grazy. But there are always some helping hands here. :D

Peter
Bruce
Rookie
Rookie
Posts: 6
Joined: Fri Jan 05, 2007 8:47 pm

Post by Bruce »

Well after reducing the naked triple I get

Code: Select all

.------------------.------------------.------------------.
| 2     89    89   | 6     7     3    | 1     4     5    |
| 4     5     6    | 1     9     2    | 78    38    37   |
| 7     1     3    | 4     8     5    | 69    69    2    |
:------------------+------------------+------------------:
| 6     2     4    | 379   15    179  | 59    359   8    |
| 35    7     1    | 8     256   69   | 24569 23569 3469 |
| 9     38    58   | 23    256   4    | 256   7     1    |
:------------------+------------------+------------------:
| 35    349   2579 | 279   146   8    | 25679 12569 679  |
| 8     49    2579 | 279   146   16   | 3     12569 679  |
| 1     6     279  | 5     3     79   | 24789 289   479  |
'------------------'------------------'------------------'
but can't get any further :( another hint please?

Also I've been able to get SudoCue to give some hints, but not on this puzzle. I turned on all the solver techniques (for better or worse) and was able to learn what a Skyscraper is (at least was able to understand that instance of it, hehe). Not sure why SudoCue can't/won't help me out on it.

I was able to do all the Daily Lites today as well (some with a little help from SudoCue) :) thanks for the linkage! I'm not quite ready for those bigger puzzles but they look pretty neat.
Bruce
Rookie
Rookie
Posts: 6
Joined: Fri Jan 05, 2007 8:47 pm

Post by Bruce »

OK the puzzle I got now! Missed the 2 in R4 of N8, not sure what its called tho. Phew - it was really getting under my skin, but once I found that it pretty much collapsed from there :).

But... any tips on how to get better use out of SudoCue is welcomed.
Para
Yokozuna
Yokozuna
Posts: 384
Joined: Wed Nov 08, 2006 7:42 pm
Location: The Netherlands

Post by Para »

Code: Select all

.------------------.------------------.------------------. 
| 2     89    89   | 6     7     3    | 1     4     5    | 
| 4     5     6    | 1     9     2    | 78    38    37   | 
| 7     1     3    | 4     8     5    | 69    69    2    | 
:------------------+------------------+------------------: 
| 6     2     4    | 379   15    179  | 59    359   8    | 
| 35    7     1    | 8     256   69   | 24569 23569 3469 | 
| 9     38    58   | -23   256   4    | 256   7     1    | 
:------------------+------------------+------------------: 
| 35    349   2579 | 2*79   146   8    | 25679 12569 679  | 
| 8     49    2579 | 2*79  146   16   | 3     12569 679  | 
| 1     6     279  | 5     3     79   | 24789 289   479  | 
'------------------'------------------'------------------' 
That is called a locked candidate.

You should check the downloads part of the site. (--->>http://www.sudocue.net/download.php). There is a learning curve collection there. Maybe fun to download these puzzles. You can open this wih the sudocue. It helps you learning different techniques. The puzzles get gradually harder and contain more techniques as you go along. Maybe that will help you.

If you need more help feel free to ask :)

greetings

Para
Post Reply