Techniques for Hard Sudoku

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  • Опубликовано: 4 май 2020
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Комментарии • 577

  • @brock2k1
    @brock2k1 4 года назад +1527

    Today I learned that the best technique for hard sudokus is being a genius.

    • @hopefulindia8533
      @hopefulindia8533 3 года назад +5

      @Brock Savage 😃😃😃😂

    • @cybvasquez
      @cybvasquez 2 года назад +13

      Now I feel hopeless

    • @Phriffo
      @Phriffo Год назад +36

      No, you don't have to be a genius. Just train your mind into spotting candidates and use good techniques, then practice a lot. You will be there before you know it.

    • @claudioestevez1028
      @claudioestevez1028 Год назад +13

      True, the title is misleading. He just solves the puzzle explaining strictly what he needs (and not explaining everything). From the title you would think the video discusses techniques, by name, you can use when facing different situations.

    • @mackbillions5378
      @mackbillions5378 Год назад +1

      🤣

  • @user-jr8rz7bx3v
    @user-jr8rz7bx3v 4 года назад +41

    what.... I got the exact same grid like him at 9:19 and I got super hard stuck, then he did this with 3 and 7 and I'm mindblown...

  • @glen4688
    @glen4688 4 года назад +534

    I love these “how to” videos. At my advanced age I’m just discovering Sudoku, and have finally graduated to the hard puzzles. For me it’s so easy to follow the logic while you do it, but still tricky to apply it on my own. I suppose that’s what makes it fun.

    • @GrandElemental
      @GrandElemental 4 года назад +19

      I've also just started to use the more 'advanced' techniques, and while their logic is very clear, they are very difficult to spot at the beginning! These videos help a lot though.

    • @funwhiz2911
      @funwhiz2911 4 года назад +12

      The logic is simple to understand and apply once shown but spotting it on your own without blindly trying 100s of options is really tricky. Is it intuition perhaps?

    • @secretagent7888
      @secretagent7888 3 года назад +4

      Th3e hardest thing is where to start. I simply rotate through the numbers. When completed, much is understood and all the obvious eliminated. I thin one could simply rotate through alll the numbers again, mechanically until it was completed, but that is boring. It is how I would program a computer.

    • @roberthoffenheim7861
      @roberthoffenheim7861 2 года назад +1

      Makes sense sudoku is np complete. Hard to solve but easy to verify a solution.

    • @garyb8454
      @garyb8454 Год назад

      Thanks for the comment Glen. I'm in the elderly group too and have just started the advanced. I usually end up with a lot of numbers in each box which makes my head spin. Hopefully it'll get easier to spot the not so obvious solutions.

  • @joek1989
    @joek1989 6 месяцев назад +32

    The logic starting from 09:20 to 10:00 has been what I have been missing for quicker very hard sudoku times. Thanks a lot!

    • @athaya2992
      @athaya2992 6 месяцев назад +3

      same! i never used that technique before but when he explained it seems so obvious lol. will implement it in my next puzzle for sure

    • @PeerAdder
      @PeerAdder 5 месяцев назад

      It's the key to solving this particular puzzle without having to resort to some much harder reasoning over chains of connected squares. Also, I sort of agree with the objection raised to using the "unique rectangle" rule but in the end if a sudoku rule is that the solution must be unique then it seems as legitimate to use it as the rule of no repeated digits. HOWEVER, I have come across puzzles where applying it leads to an error (because the pairs of digits gets fixed by some other means so there is actually no ambiguity in the answer, just the initial appearance of it).

    • @yiutung4427
      @yiutung4427 5 месяцев назад

      I still don't quite get it, why wasn't it possible to put the 3 at the top corner cell instead of the bottom corner, if we'd put a 3 on the left centred cell?

    • @user-tt4jz3tm6t
      @user-tt4jz3tm6t 4 месяца назад

      @@yiutung4427 Exactly what I was thinking. The answer is further down the comments by tiotito31

    • @adityagarg2185
      @adityagarg2185 4 месяца назад

      @@yiutung4427 Yeah 3 can definitely be on the top of the cell. This means this guy already knows the solution and is just "solving" it for internet clout.

  • @YouTubist666
    @YouTubist666 3 года назад +99

    9:30 analysis for placement of the three in the bottom row. Brilliant. I need to add this to my very small bag of tricks.

    • @Oatskii
      @Oatskii Год назад +5

      This was the defining moment of this puzzle for sure

    • @Fighter-jy1xo
      @Fighter-jy1xo 8 месяцев назад +8

      Anybody explain 9:30 min step how that cell 3 is possible I couldn't understood.. explain pls

    • @snigdhasharma8666
      @snigdhasharma8666 2 месяца назад +1

      @Fighter-jy1xo The bottom row would need a 3. If you placed the 3 in the 7th row, bottom row wouldn't get a 3 anymore. So 3 can only be places in the bottom row cell.

  • @handyb2000
    @handyb2000 4 года назад +246

    Anyone else bingeing this channel? I’m not the best at sudoku but watching this channel is just relaxing

    • @randybartlett3042
      @randybartlett3042 4 года назад +2

      Watching daily!

    • @alf10087
      @alf10087 4 года назад +8

      I discovered it pretty much at the point the RUclips algorithm made it explode (about a week ago) and have been mostly playing Sudoku and disregarding sleep. Case in point, it's almost 3AM and I'm so ready to start another puzzle before I go to sleep.

    • @chris5619
      @chris5619 4 года назад +2

      @@alf10087 We all are!

    • @Nikonguy73
      @Nikonguy73 4 года назад +3

      I’ve loved sudoku for a long time, since watching them solve puzzles and explaining their thinking and ways to solve I’ve found myself enjoy even more.... however I still find I get stuck on some where there are no more possible logic..... still lots to learn 😀📸😀

    • @sebrofniloc
      @sebrofniloc 3 года назад +2

      Yes! Wouldn't have believed it until I watched one myself and now I am deep down the rabbit hole.

  • @Lebowski69
    @Lebowski69 4 года назад +327

    Fantastic advice: "don't get triggered if you can possibly avoid it"

    • @NelielSugiura
      @NelielSugiura 4 года назад +2

      I need to work on this a lot... always getting frustrated with Simon :x

    • @evah4431
      @evah4431 4 года назад +3

      And this is why we need trigger warnings on the internet so people can avoid the things that do that :)

    • @angelmendez-rivera351
      @angelmendez-rivera351 4 года назад +2

      But I don't think the advice is entirely applicable. The problem is that this channel is an educational channel to an extent, at least they have proclaimed themselves to be. But if one of them is not being careful or attentive about how they go about solving puzzles, then not only is it not entertaining, but it actually takes away from whatever lesson they are trying to cover. As such, criticizing the channel due to the fact that they often miss very simply stuff that ends up leading to cluttered notation and less intuitive solution paths is completely legitimate. It's not hate, and it's not being triggered, it's a legitimate issue the channel could address and make the experience better for everyone. I still love the channel. But it's perfectly fine to state the flaws.

    • @PanteraDeNoche
      @PanteraDeNoche 4 года назад +2

      "Don't get triggered if you can possibly avoid it." --Seneca

    • @EramysMc
      @EramysMc 4 года назад +4

      @@angelmendez-rivera351 I agree with what you say for this particular video, because it mentions "techniques" in its title. Therefore I understand that some viewers may expect the puzzle to be solved the best way possible.
      When the video title doesn't explicitly says that the video is a tutorial, then I think viewers should not expect it to be a tutorial.
      Most of the time, the videos are just about 2 guys showing themselves doing what they like, which is solving puzzles. It happens that in those videos, they also give so adivce if they spot a particular solving path, but once again, if the video title doesn't suggest that it's a tutorial, then I would not expect it to be.
      I guess some people would prefer them to solve the puzzles beforehand, and just make a walkthrough of the solving in the video. But that would remove those magic moments when one of them spots a beautiful trick in the puzzle, and is amazed by it.

  • @tiotito31
    @tiotito31 3 года назад +79

    9:25 If you're confused here, he didn't do the best job explaining the deduction behind the 3-7 solve. So to clarify, if row 8 column 2 (r8c2) is a 3, that would mean that in box nine, 3 would be constricted to row 7. For now it doesn't matter we don't know the exact cell for box nine where the 3 would go, we can use that row 7 to eliminate the candidate 3 in box eight r7c6. If the 3 candidate in r7c6 is eliminated, that means 3 would go in r9c6. Now if r8c2 is a 7, then in box eight the 7 would go in r7c6, leaving the 3 to go in r9c6. Either way, r9c6 will always be a 3.

    • @atheeromar223
      @atheeromar223 3 года назад +3

      Thanks! That helped a lot

    • @piper0425
      @piper0425 3 года назад +6

      Thank you for this clarification! I literally paused at this section to try and figure out what this meant, and when I didn't get it, I checked comments. Appreciate the breakdown!

    • @amanjat4423
      @amanjat4423 3 года назад

      Good work

    • @xchalibur77
      @xchalibur77 3 года назад +2

      That’s exactly where I stopped, because it didn’t make sense.

    • @alanmay1945
      @alanmay1945 Год назад

      Your explanation is great, thankyou, very much appreciated. I was stuck at this very point. And even repeating his explanation many times, I still was'nt seeing the logic, and thinking it was really just his best intelligent guess. Then I read your comment, and realised what was going on. Yes, he should have explained it the way you have; I would'nt have got it otherwise. Thankyou! I notice you posted this 2yrs ago, a long time, for all I know you may have died since then, but if you hav'nt I say 'thankyou' to you. Best wishes from Alan, in England.

  • @phaustho
    @phaustho 4 года назад +190

    The trick with the 7 in box 8 was my weakness. I couldn't spot that.

    • @federicocavagnero5226
      @federicocavagnero5226 4 года назад +4

      same for me

    • @phaustho
      @phaustho 4 года назад +1

      @@federicocavagnero5226 I can picture myself returning to this puzzle every now and then until I'm finally capable of spotting this type of trick. Good luck with your upcoming puzzle attempts! :)

    • @chongchonghe3748
      @chongchonghe3748 4 года назад +8

      I put this puzzle to www.sudoku-solutions.com/ and the logic solving by the machine got stuck before figuring out the 3 in the 7 pair in box 8. I believe this proves that this puzzle is not solvable by using only the popular techniques (including the X-Wing, XYZWing stuff.)

    • @phaustho
      @phaustho 4 года назад

      @@chongchonghe3748 Thanks for the link! I'll use it with some sudoku puzzles that are giving me headaches. I used another website (don't remember the link) to try one puzzle and the logic chain broke after several and switched strategies to endlessly removing candidates from every cell until something fell apart.

    • @qfmarsh64
      @qfmarsh64 3 года назад +7

      I've been doing sudoku for 15 years and have never even considered that as a strategy. To have seen it instantly is masterful.

  • @kitsurubami
    @kitsurubami 2 года назад +16

    I've been a sudoku fiend for two days now. Got stuck on an expert puzzle, came here. I don't think I want to do sudoku anymore. Seeing someone who actually knows what they're doing solve in an infinitely more elegant way has crushed me. Maybe another day if I can learn to enjoy it again. TLDR: I thought I was doing sudoku, but I was not.

  • @jasonmetcalfe4695
    @jasonmetcalfe4695 4 года назад +82

    Great to see/hear Mark actually explain what he's doing in a way that makes clear sense for a change, rather than purely brute forcing a puzzle open leaving us to figure out what and how he's done it

  • @goliathcleric
    @goliathcleric 4 года назад +106

    I, obviously, can't speak for everyone, but when I catch something you or Simon miss I am most certainly not triggered. I am elated, because it is such a rare occurrence.

    • @RealCadde
      @RealCadde 4 года назад +5

      Triggered is such a bad description though. More like you just want to put that digit in so badly that it makes your fingers twitch.
      "Triggered" implies we have a negative emotional response to it. Like panic, flashbacks, fear or panic. Which is far from the truth. It's just that we can't convey the message which makes us so eager to comment about it.
      Sure most of their viewers are probably happy they spot something they didn't spot. But when it's so obvious that even a first time solver should be able to see it, it does get a bit too much to bare just watching it being missed over and over again.
      Still not triggering... If that was the case then people seeing someone walking straight out onto a busy road in front of traffic would be triggered rather than concerned for their safety.
      It's that human response of wanting to be helpful that can't be satisfied that's so uncomfortable.
      I feel elated if i spot something advanced and not immediately obvious before Mark and Simon though. That doesn't instill the same unease.

    • @maimee2angel
      @maimee2angel 4 года назад +1

      me: try clicking & typing on the screen

    • @wizardjokes
      @wizardjokes 2 года назад

      It's usually because they are busy solving something more important

  • @whosyoursaviour
    @whosyoursaviour 11 месяцев назад +11

    I love the meta strategy of uniqueness. I've never thought of that. I love situations where you can take outside, seemingly irrelevant information, and make informed decisions for strategy and tactics. I also really appreciate your attitude of pointing that out, and then showing how to solve the puzzle with its self contained logic. Beautiful video my friend.

  • @inderbeerkaurjaspal4064
    @inderbeerkaurjaspal4064 6 месяцев назад +3

    I have been doing sudoku for last 4-5 years, I have started loving it , my day is incomplete without daily dose of sudoku in morning newspaper, but I used to get stuck with very hard sudoku sometimes , today I have learned the technique , all thanks to you sir.

  • @shreyasgokhale625
    @shreyasgokhale625 3 года назад +6

    Very useful techniques showed in this video! See 8:11, 9:18, and 12:31!

  • @ArunIyerS
    @ArunIyerS 4 года назад +32

    As someone who used to work on Sudoku puzzles by filling out all possibilities in all cells and then eliminating them, I can attest to the fact that it takes ages to solve it that way. Also, the Snyder notation that Simon and Mark use have made some of the very hard sudoku puzzles very much accessible, along with speeding up my solves.
    As a side note, I can solve almost all of NYT hard sudoku puzzles using the elimination idea very quickly. NYT puzzles come with the auto completion check mark, that I use very often and I find that almost all their puzzles can be solved efficiently by simply eliminating candidates and finding hidden doubles and triples.

  • @Afterthoughtbtw
    @Afterthoughtbtw 4 года назад +45

    Using uniqueness is a perfectly valid way of _solving_ a puzzle, but (like bifurcation), it solves at the expense of appreciating the beauty of the logic involved. As you guys highlight the beauty of these puzzles rather than merely demonstrate the quickest way to solve it, I really appreciate that you refrain from using uniqueness.

    • @MTTR01
      @MTTR01 4 года назад +4

      But uniqueness still doesnt rely on using only logical deduction. The “logic” works like this: “Oh, this puzzle needs to have only 1 solution because all the other puzzles do”, which is not deduction but induction. It’s going to be right every single time... right until its not because there is no acutal logical basis for its validity! I just cant help but feel that sure, its a strategy in speedsolving but just doesn’t have a home in casual solving.

    • @paulobrien2057
      @paulobrien2057 4 года назад +11

      It depends on whether you regard "there is only one solution" as just a working assumption, or as one of the rules that defines a valid puzzle. If you see it as a rule, then it's a legitimate basis for logic just like any other rule. Personally I'd say that it IS a rule - a puzzle with more than one solution isn't just non-standard, it's defective - but I agree that it's usually a less satisfying route to the solution.

    • @MTTR01
      @MTTR01 4 года назад +1

      Paul O'Brien Yeah, didn’t think of it that way... I guess that i would just not assume it as an axiom. That is a good argument

    • @nicholasiverson9784
      @nicholasiverson9784 4 года назад +2

      @@MTTR01 disagree but my motivation to comment is more that what does and doesn't have a home in casual solving shouldn't be regulated? Being entertained? You're doing it right.

    • @matteodafre4259
      @matteodafre4259 4 года назад +1

      Am I the only one who finds the uniqueness logic fascinating?

  • @umchoyka
    @umchoyka 4 года назад +22

    This might be one of the more useful videos this channel has ever produced. Well done Mark!

  • @bradstrickler
    @bradstrickler 3 года назад +10

    So happy to see Mark solve a puzzle like this. Great for newer members of the channel, and super great for me who struggles with higher logic issues with tougher puzzles. I aspire to get to the point where I scan a grid, and finds a cell jumping out to me that needs attention.

  • @utahgamer
    @utahgamer 4 года назад +54

    The handicap of not using uniqueness just makes your solves more interesting to watch. I do appreciate you pointing out when it is available as it is a useful technique that I would not hesitate to use myself. I also find the topic of uniqueness interesting in relation to the star battles and other puzzles that almost require you to use it.

    • @billyoung8118
      @billyoung8118 4 года назад +2

      A couple of weeks ago I ran into one of their puzzles that had 2 solutions just like the 7-9 issue raised here. Except that puzzle had a knights move rule, which ruled out of the 2 possible solutions. I didn't notice the knights move, and was ready to triumphantly post how there was a 2nd solution. I was actually in process of typing my comment, when I noticed the knights rule. Damn...I should know better than to ever question these guys in sudoku!

    • @angelmendez-rivera351
      @angelmendez-rivera351 4 года назад +4

      Bill Young They would not be solving a puzzle that has two distinct solutions, because the people who make them test the puzzles before publishing them, since many of them are world-class puzzle crafters aided by software, they are not your average Joe from the street, most of the time. And if the puzzle is completely machine-generated, then it only validates further the uniqueness. I think it is silly to argue against the use of uniqueness.

    • @story1234
      @story1234 4 года назад +1

      Thanks, I learn something

    • @shawnheidingsfelder8179
      @shawnheidingsfelder8179 3 года назад +1

      If the goal were just to present the finished solution, I'm sure they'd be all for using uniqueness, as it's just another tool to get to the answer as fast as possible. However, the point of the channel is to not only get the answer right, but to show how they arrive at the answer. I guess it feels like they're not using the intended solve path if they skip ahead using uniqueness, though to most of us it's as much a rule as saying each box has to contain all of the digits 1-9. It's ok to use uniqueness to help get unstuck, but you'll never see Mark or Simon resort to that on purpose, and honestly, at their skill level, they shouldn't have to.

    • @SolDizZo
      @SolDizZo 2 года назад

      I hate showing my work :( but at least these folks don’t mind

  • @mickeycraven1822
    @mickeycraven1822 4 года назад +25

    Thank you for taking the time to explain how the cells tell off on each other.

  • @thejeqff
    @thejeqff 4 года назад +5

    Super helpful! I appreciate more of an explanation of what Snyder notation is. It's been referenced but I've had a hard time nailing down what specifically it is, so that was really helpful. Also appreciated the tip about using pairs to deduce other parts of the grid. Always learn something new on this channel. =)

  • @cjktoo
    @cjktoo 4 года назад +2

    I'm 44 seconds in to the video. Yes! Exactly! Thank you! I found you somewhere early in the shut down. No idea how. Became addicted. Went full Patreon. The next day tried your methods. Rethought patronage. Let's do this!!

  • @ThatGuy-dj3qr
    @ThatGuy-dj3qr 3 года назад +3

    Fascinating. Thanks illustrating your either/or technique for bivalue cells Mark. I find them to be quite powerful. I can always get out of a jam by testing them. I tend to use them at endgame when all else fails, but now I realize I can use them mid-game as well.

  • @adblockturnedoff4515
    @adblockturnedoff4515 4 года назад +3

    This was my first and only hard solve and I did it in about 1hr and 20ish minutes. Before this I had only attempted hard and had only solved a couple of easy ones. By watching this channel for about a week or two, now I felt like I was able to do some logic which I was not able to do before no matter how hard I tried. It was not obviously at the level shown in the vid. But I am still happy to be able to solve this on my own.

  • @grenvillephillips6998
    @grenvillephillips6998 4 года назад

    For those new to Sudoku or are stuck at an intermediate level, these sort of videos are absolutely essential. Thanks!

  • @seleew2208
    @seleew2208 3 года назад +2

    Can someone explain the 3 and 7 trick he did? I tried to read the comments but i still dont get it

  • @bluefloyd1
    @bluefloyd1 4 года назад +1

    Several months ago, you presenters as well as some high-profile setters in the comments turned me around to the idea of using uniqueness as a logical method. We've recently encountered a sudoku where that's not the case, but that was a very special case, I'm sure you know what I'm talking about. So I was actually perfectly prepared for you to use uniqueness and accept it. But THEN, you turn it around again! And for some reason I'm super happy about it!

  • @32sultan
    @32sultan 7 дней назад

    The tip about uniqueness was awesome. Thank you.

  • @akharawaka
    @akharawaka 4 года назад +1

    Great channel ! I discovered you by chance a few days ago and you made me realize that Sudoku can really be thrilling !

  • @peterhackett3815
    @peterhackett3815 4 года назад +2

    Thanks for this video learned something new with that chaining link. Very helpful.

  • @wowwee8562
    @wowwee8562 4 года назад +6

    10:12, completely missed that, ended up making a chain completing the puzzle of that cell was a three. Worked out every candidate trying to find an error and it turned out to be the final solution. Took me 40 minutes.

  • @eugenematison5571
    @eugenematison5571 3 года назад

    The precious one! Two powerful methods I did not know. Thank you very much!

  • @jugheadEPIC
    @jugheadEPIC 2 месяца назад

    I just started getting reinterested in sudoku after remembering how my math teacher would make us do a puzzle to start off class lol! It's super helpful to hear you think out loud, I didn't know about the Snyder notation, but will definitely start using it!! Great video, much love!!!

  • @noelitocastillo
    @noelitocastillo 3 года назад +4

    I agree that it's harder to spot things when you fill every cell with all possible values it could have. So I'm limiting my pencil marks to 2 (max 3). But that chain inference placing 3 at R8C6 that started at R7C2 with 3and7 as possible values is mind-blowing. I will never spot that ever.

  • @vilsbol
    @vilsbol 4 года назад

    I very much enjoyed this video! Im happy that you bring the explanations down to my level and take your time explaining some of the concepts (particularly the uniqueness bit)

  • @chowlissy
    @chowlissy Месяц назад

    I really enjoyed the deductions, thank you Mr. Holmes.

  • @vidyanandsinha8879
    @vidyanandsinha8879 26 дней назад

    Brilliantly solved with good teaching

  • @Tamaresque
    @Tamaresque 5 месяцев назад

    Thank you. You've given me a new way of solving the puzzles.

  • @lakarto19
    @lakarto19 4 года назад +3

    Took me 18:43 to solve; definitely one of the harder classics on the channel. Really enjoyed solving it.
    As a side note, I've never really agreed with people who think uniqueness rectangles are a non-satisfying, or even, invalid way of solving classic sudokus. Mainly for two reasons,
    1. As far as I know (I'll admit that I haven't researched this extensively myself, but I've read it on multiple sites/forums discussing sudoku strategies), while the strategy itself is based on the assumption that 'there is only one solution', even if you're solving a 'defective' sudoku with multiple solutions, using uniqueness will NOT lead to a wrong solution at the end of the road, just one of the multiple correct solutions. In other words, as long as the puzzle you are solving is a classic sudoku that has valid solution(s), there is actually no instance when applying uniqueness will lead to a contradiction, so it's ok to use it.
    The only case where you should actively refrain from using uniquness strategies is when you're solving variant sudokus; in this case, since classic rules aren't the only rules enforcing a unique solution, applying uniqueness can, and usually will, lead you to the wrong solution.
    2. While Unique Rectangles are introduced as fairly advanced techniques on a lot of sudoku tutorials/videos, I actually find that 'classic' Unique Rectangles (such as the example in this particular video) are fairly common and very easy to spot. They can often help out in tough spots, helping to avoid long chains. Again, I'll admit that the same can't be said for 'hidden' or 'extended' Unique Rectangles, but if you're solving a classic that requires these strategies to progress, it's probably an extremely difficult one anyway.
    Obviously, I understand that everyone has different reasons and styles/preferences when it comes to puzzles, and if using uniqueness to solve sudokus just doesn't 'feel right' to someone, that's perfectly ok.
    However I personally love URs and use them to solve classic sudokus at every opportunity, and encourage others to do the same.

    • @chalfo
      @chalfo 4 года назад +1

      I'm quite happy to use uniqueness if I can't spot any other way but I get the fact that to do so is not using the internal logic of the puzzle, instead using the external logic and assumption of it being a good sudoku. It's a bit like one of those "if you have $10, what can you buy to satisfy all" puzzles and turning round and assuming a good answer is "Feck it, I'll use my Credit Card"

    • @angelmendez-rivera351
      @angelmendez-rivera351 4 года назад +2

      Charles Fox Yes, it is ultimately external logic, but I do not see why this is an issue. It's such a purist, naive, and immature mentality to not consider external logic as part of the logic. Besides, some puzzles are explicitly designed such that the only way to arrive at the solution is precisely to assume that it has a unique solution. And if you don't ever use this rule, you'd have to simply literally guess the solution, or more formally use bifurcation, which many people also treat as not an act of using logic - though by definition, bifurcation is internal logic via the principle of reductio ad absurdum.

    • @chalfo
      @chalfo 4 года назад

      @@angelmendez-rivera351 that's good because I solve the rubiks cube by taking it apart and putting it back together again... cause it's how it's made.

    • @angelmendez-rivera351
      @angelmendez-rivera351 4 года назад

      Charles Fox That's a false equivalence fallacy. Not only are there are no Rubik's cube puzzles designed with the intent that external logic is required, but uniqueness is not even present. Sudoku and Rubik's cube is fundamentally present, in that a restricted binary deductive logic is required in sudoku, not in a Rubik's cube, which is purely combinatorial. So, your argument is invalid. I know you're trying to demonstrate the absurdity of my statement by making a comparison with a statement you think is equally as absurd that logically follows from my statement, but unfortunately, it doesn't work: they're not logically similar, and you can't prove my statement isn't absurd because it genuinely isn't. You can't prove a false statement if you're using the correct set of deductive rules.
      You can choose to prohibit the use of uniqueness as a valid deduction in your puzzle solving habits. Sure. But as far as the actual theory goes, there is legitimately no good reason to argue against it. Comparing it to a Rubik's cube isn't going to help the "purist's" case, if it can even be called that.

    • @rblossey
      @rblossey 4 года назад +1

      Agree with everything you've written so far, and I just want to add that uniqueness opens up some beautiful logical strategies that can get just as complex as the "normal" logic we use in these puzzles! There are so many variations of uniqueness patterns, going way beyond simple URs. I feel that the classic sudoku experience would be less "rich" without it (and even some variants too, though one has to be very careful using them in variants, it must be "sealed off" and not overlap with the variant logic to work ;) ).

  • @perakojot6524
    @perakojot6524 3 года назад +2

    Uniqueness is a genuine strategy. Instead of looking for crazy patterns that only a genius could see, one can simply use uniqueness and simply solve it. Insisting on the idea that using uniqueness is not pure is BS, because the other harder logic that he finds would simply not work if sudoku was not unique.

    • @MyReligionIs2DoGood
      @MyReligionIs2DoGood 3 года назад

      I'd agree on that. The uniqueness technique is using one simple assumption: 'This puzzle has a unique solution'. The uniqueness trait is the _default,_ and is _expected_ by the vast majority of people who solve sudokus. Sudokus without a unique solution are considered by many as invalid, and I'd reckon that most sudoku setters are taking pride in the fact that their sudokus are unique. Also, many other more complicated techniques are relying on uniqueness, like every 'unique rectangle' technique, for example.
      In my opinion, this 'uniqueness is not pure' idea is completely arbitrary nonsense.

  • @georgeclark8382
    @georgeclark8382 3 года назад

    I enjoy watching. It has helped me and has changed my approach to solving puzzles

  • @Ztingjammer
    @Ztingjammer 2 года назад

    Thanks for this very informative video! Managed to solve this one by myself first thanks to watching other videos on your channel. So it was interesting to then watch your solve and compare my results.

  • @bala1000mina
    @bala1000mina Месяц назад

    Great Job and very informative! I learnt a lot! Thank you so much!

  • @gordonglenn2089
    @gordonglenn2089 4 года назад

    I had fun solving this one in under 30 minutes. I did use a (different) uniqueness test when I got stuck at about 20 minutes. Thanks to Cracking The Cryptic for teaching me about that possibility! ;-)

  • @hansgunther6522
    @hansgunther6522 3 года назад

    I wondered a couple of times why you guys avoid the unique solution, so thank you very much for explaining! :)
    For myself I just figured out that it is harder to spot, when additional rules apply. For example a knights move could solve the double 79 pair and it would have been a mistake to say it is a 4 because of uniqueness.
    Thank you again for the explanation :)

  • @a.s.vanhoose1545
    @a.s.vanhoose1545 4 года назад

    I like these classic sudoku technique videos. I've learned quite a bit from these.

  • @indigorune
    @indigorune 4 года назад

    Very helpful! Thanks for this.

  • @anthonyxuereb792
    @anthonyxuereb792 Год назад

    I'm new to this and I do mean new and this is really helpful in getting an understanding of the process involved, many thanks.

  • @babypotato
    @babypotato 7 месяцев назад

    This is so helpful. Thank you

  • @roninboxers
    @roninboxers Год назад +1

    I love watching this channel, it makes me feel like a genius as the puzzle is solved before my eyes hahaha

  • @richardmartin7904
    @richardmartin7904 4 года назад

    Enjoyable to solve. I find your ap soduku puzzles to be exceptionally hard. Almost all of them are super challenging. Your low level puzzles are harder then 80% of your chess puzzles and some of those are ball busters. But you guarantee I will spend a long time with your ap. Thanks for your techniques here. You introduced some concepts I was not familiar with.

  • @missy1806
    @missy1806 Год назад +1

    YAY! I actually solved this by myself. Been ages since I last did a sudoku puzzle though the alternative one's really confuse me with all their different rules which I don't even understand most of them but still watching them being solved 'till something hopefully clicks in my brain so I can understand it lol Also loved your comments from 5:10 onwards. I've only just found your channel which is great for me trying to solve them before watching your video to see any difference.xx

  • @SmartHobbies
    @SmartHobbies 2 года назад +1

    I love CTC's solving style so much I made a video on my channel where I
    analyze each step of this solve. In addition to explaining the
    strategies used, I add a couple of pause the video moments and some
    alternate solving paths, similar to how someone analyzes a chess game.

  • @tommyjohn_45
    @tommyjohn_45 4 года назад

    These have been really helpful, thank you!

  • @Yimpa_Joy
    @Yimpa_Joy Год назад

    You are a great teacher. Thank you!

  • @donobeirne
    @donobeirne 3 года назад

    This puzzle took me days to solve, even with taking one clue at at time with the video
    That 3 solution from column 3 really helped, as did the 8 logic from column 3. BOth taught me a lot

  • @MartsGarage
    @MartsGarage 4 года назад

    Thanks for that. I would never have done this one without your help. Reading the comments I realise I am not very good at all. I do normally manage the NYT hard ones though, so not as bad as I was when I started.

  • @jean-baptiste6479
    @jean-baptiste6479 4 года назад

    Hi, thank you, very helpful and feasible, great lesson!

  • @eddiesneeh4266
    @eddiesneeh4266 10 месяцев назад

    Brilliant! Ignore the critics, your method is superior. @12:45 Your logic is valid logic, can't have 2 solutions, so 9 doesn't belong in those 2 squares, has to go in r1c3. Again, you're educating all of us, ignore the critics.

  • @matyldakrupa3775
    @matyldakrupa3775 Год назад

    Thanks a lot! I love watching your videos❤

  • @williamleinonen4888
    @williamleinonen4888 4 года назад

    A great learning experience for me. Thanks

  • @psychopietsuzuki
    @psychopietsuzuki 11 месяцев назад

    You are absolutely fantastic. I love the way you solve

  • @sumanthreddysadhu505
    @sumanthreddysadhu505 Год назад

    I tried to solve one puzzle from past few days. Today I solved it after watching this video. I learnt the way of using the notes. thank u

  • @ronaldkoh5281
    @ronaldkoh5281 2 года назад +17

    Thank you, your cracking of the 3 and 7, and then the 7 8 and 9 was excellent. Enjoy your even pace reasoning and clear illustration.

    • @Coder6719
      @Coder6719 2 года назад +1

      Agree. But note he pencilled in 7s to box 8 but that's only supported if the 78 in box 3 is an 7. Having watched these for years I know it won't matter in the end but I love the (super rare) times I get to say, "Aha!".

  • @Bodkin_Ye_Pointy
    @Bodkin_Ye_Pointy Год назад

    By the way, I did like your description on applying logic to the solution for this one. I very much fill out the obvious numbers first and have been known to colour their squares so as not to delete them if I have to clear the cells to start again.

  • @maitrekims9551
    @maitrekims9551 4 года назад +6

    Amazing video and puzzle, great tips. Thanks !

  • @johngiglia5985
    @johngiglia5985 4 года назад

    This pandemic has brought me to this channel out of nowhere and i can't stop watching. Absolutely brilliant!

  • @venkatrajan92
    @venkatrajan92 3 года назад

    Excellent, depending more on logical reasoning than on standard formula for elimination

  • @guyb7005
    @guyb7005 Год назад +1

    2:40 I use a dot or point system where I poke a dot at the position the number would have in a 9 digit grid per box. So if a cell has a potential of being a 6 or an 8, I would place a dot on the horizontal center axis to the right to represent a possible 6 and another on the vertical center axis at the bottom for the 8 position.
    In many cases I get to the point where deduction cannot eliminate options to a single option and therefore guessing between possible option 'A' or 'B' (eg 6 or 8) is a wild guess that can give progress until the knot occurs and then there's no going back.

  • @prakashrao3607
    @prakashrao3607 3 года назад

    Very educative. Thanks so much

  • @johnperry3497
    @johnperry3497 Год назад

    I have found that if you have pencilled in say a 1 in the top left square in column 1 and 2 then it follows that in the two sqares below the 1 will be either in Rowe's 1and 3 or 2 and 3. This has helped me many times.

  • @donnyh3497
    @donnyh3497 3 года назад

    That was fun to watch! I like your style of teaching.

  • @ErnestPiffel
    @ErnestPiffel Год назад

    I'm glad Capt Stubing is keeping himself busy.

  • @bclarkca9113
    @bclarkca9113 8 месяцев назад

    Thank you for this in depth look at your process. I’m new to the channel and had been wondering what you meant by “naked single”. Very insightful!

  • @ruthmaxwell60
    @ruthmaxwell60 3 года назад

    First video to watch on your channel and I can follow your great logical talk through.
    New subscriber. I’m away to look at another puzzle. Thank you sooo much. 👍. 🐢

  • @miguelbartelle6911
    @miguelbartelle6911 Год назад

    Thanks for your advice! 2.5 minutes in and I'm wiser already. No wonder these were so hard for me. 👍

  • @maheshsmadhu1673
    @maheshsmadhu1673 9 месяцев назад

    Thank you I really learned a good technique

  • @G0Gamer
    @G0Gamer Год назад

    having watched your videos again I can now feel confident in my skills

  • @terryshiells1527
    @terryshiells1527 4 года назад +1

    34:24... after spending 15 minutes stuck, i also used a 78 pair to find a chain of logic to help finish the puzzle

  • @isabelerwin7274
    @isabelerwin7274 4 года назад +75

    Hi! Do you have any tips for training yourself to become more aware of those chain reaction patterns that limited the three and the seven in the bottom middle square? Thanks! I love your videos!

    • @jacobbassam6616
      @jacobbassam6616 4 года назад +10

      Isabel Erwin practice by doing tons of sudokus. You’ll start to recognize patterns like that by yourself very quickly. You just have to do a few sudokus

    • @jlhidalgo
      @jlhidalgo 4 года назад +27

      Notating pairs as much as possible helps a lot, and, when you get stuck, checking what happens with each option in some pair. Pairs that are not "pairs of pairs within the same box" tend to be more likely to be involved in interesting chains, per my experience (but that might just be some bias that I have because of the way I solve sudokus, the things I spot more easily or the things I miss more often, etc., so "you mileage might vary"). Sometimes you can spot an interesting chain when a cell "is seen" by two different pairs, or is surrounded by other cells that are very restricted. Somehow, over time you start "feeling" that some cells are "in the middle of something" and some cells are just "quiet", uninteresting by now... I'm not sure there are exact criteria for that, but for sure that helps a lot with the solving speed (note how Mark always says "where should we look now..." when he is stuck: he is not looking for something specific, he is looking for "interesting" cells or patterns ;-) )

    • @wickedsamurai3323
      @wickedsamurai3323 4 года назад +10

      @@jacobbassam6616 Man I've been doing them every day for months and I still can't spot those chains

    • @jacobbassam6616
      @jacobbassam6616 4 года назад +1

      Wicked Samurai interesting. Maybe watch some videos. Try puzzles that use that specific strategy.

    • @sanferrera
      @sanferrera 4 года назад +9

      @@wickedsamurai3323 I found a sudoku app called HoDoKu. It might not be the best application, but you can ask it to make a puzzle that specifically has the strategy you want to practice. It is great, and it is free.

  • @Winchester1979
    @Winchester1979 4 года назад +1

    I got severely interrupted twice while doing this, so I don't have an exact time,, but I think I spent half an hour actively solving it. Didn't use the inference chain that Mark showed, or the naked single in box six, I managed to find a different logic path that still led to the same conclusion. Which means it's a good puzzle, since it can be solved for the same unique solution using different methods of attack.

  • @scottharding9916
    @scottharding9916 Год назад

    Wow, that happened fast! I had to pause and go back to watch a few things over, but THANK YOU!

  • @mediamannaman
    @mediamannaman 3 года назад

    Learned 2 things; Naked singles and why you fill some possible numbers in the middle while others go in the corners. Very useful. Thanks!

  • @denissoderman6399
    @denissoderman6399 2 года назад

    Absolutely fascinating logic: my puzzles will be much more fun! Bravo!!!

  • @caramba10
    @caramba10 4 года назад

    Thanks Mark, enjoyed that even though I got stuck half way through, at least it's one that normal mortals have a chance with, as opposed to some of the esoteric stuff you've been covering lately.

  • @jakesale6087
    @jakesale6087 4 года назад

    Thanks for the how to crack expectation really helpful

  • @bristolrovers27
    @bristolrovers27 4 года назад

    Excellent explanation and a good solve if a far from easy puzzle

  • @cr4zyftw
    @cr4zyftw Год назад

    very helpful - much easier to follow using deduction

  • @bastianagi7778
    @bastianagi7778 Год назад

    I learned a lot here , thanks 👍🙂

  • @IT-fr4wb
    @IT-fr4wb 4 года назад

    Great instruction, very helpful to hear t logic

  • @samuso86
    @samuso86 3 года назад +2

    I understand the solution but how you spotted it was incredible :O

  • @gayleyarbrough2699
    @gayleyarbrough2699 Год назад

    Thank really helped.

  • @mahimarathore7006
    @mahimarathore7006 2 года назад

    Amazing way 😀for solving sudoku 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
    Thanks 👍🏻

  • @technknowledge360
    @technknowledge360 4 года назад

    Found two expert level tricks thankz.

  • @marksmysteryshowandtell
    @marksmysteryshowandtell 4 года назад +2

    This master solver saying "don't get triggered" has me cracking up! Nice one, man.

  • @tamilian9679
    @tamilian9679 6 месяцев назад

    I first watched... then I did the sudoku and watch again... makes so much sense. Thanks ..
    I'm sure I have become a better player .
    Yes, u r sure not bad for the country 😂😂😂❤

  • @brucerose4383
    @brucerose4383 4 года назад +1

    Really good thinking aloud" Mark .. thanks .. the chaining what-if's seemed to be the only way to solve this .. and I'm not very good at that .. so I got pretty stuck .. discouraging .. I use uniqueness just as an impossibility check .. i.e. if I find it is an irrefutable result, I must be wrong .. and need to backtrack .. chaining is not cheating .. but it just feels very brute force-like .. like what a computer would do .. demonstrate conflict than try another pathway .. demonstrate conflict than try another pathway .. repeat ..

  • @lawrencekallal6640
    @lawrencekallal6640 4 года назад

    Nice FT (forcing test) solution with the 78.
    I tried putting a 7 in RC82 and ended up with an 8 being forced into both RC39 and RC79 = conflict.
    So RC82 was a 3.

  • @word20
    @word20 Год назад

    I have solved this puzzle in 45 minutes after I heard how you do it. Then it is easy to follow and solve
    yourself