📕Get my FREE Solving Guide that will help you solve over 80% of all Sudoku puzzles🧩to include NYT Hard👉👉www.buymeacoffee.com/timberlakeB/e/125822 Timestamps 0:00 Intro 00:33 It’s Solving Time 00:56 Puzzle Story 01:13 Technique #1 05:54 Experts Do NOT Do This! 06:34 Technique #2 09:24 Technique #3
It would be very hard for me to unlearn filling in BVCs as they are produced, and this puzzle produced a lot of them. If I suddenly were given a puzzle and I had no knowledge of how difficult it was designed to be, I'd certainly fill in any BVC as I found them. There is no telling at first if the puzzle will require any of the advanced techniques that use BVCs. One thing I can possibly work on reducing though is my time spent converting corner markings to middle markings. I did this puzzle in 25:58 prior to watching the video, and I suppose that wasn't horrible.
What I have been trying to find out for months is the EASIEST way to understand HOW to use the x-wing and y-wing techniques! Please could someone explain it to me? It seems every Suduko solver calls the cells different names or just doesnt explain it to someone as if they have never tried it. I am a good solver but I really want to employ those 2 techniques Thank You so much! 😊
I don't have the best X-wing advice, but the thing that clarified it for me is to focus less on which rows and columns can be cleared out, and then focus on the fact that both rows and columns can be cleared out. No matter how you get there, check to make sure that both rows and columns are cleared out, other than the X-wing. Does that help?
@@eugenetswong thank you, but I need specifics on doing both techniques, like which cell should I initially choose as the pincers etc. Sorry, it probably isnt something someone can answer in a text. But Bless your heart for at least answering me! That was very kind of you! 😊🤗
@@bammi4 the pivot sees both pincers, thats how you pick which one is the pivot. The pincers don't see each other. Look for your pivot, there must be one pincer in that block but this pincer is not in the same row or column as the pivot. The second pincer will be in the same row or column as the pivot but in another block.
@@geckobecka wow! Thank you! Now that is making sense!!! Now once you have identified your pivot and pincers, what exactly do you do next? This is where I get confused? Are you to then remove certain numbers from your puzzle? This is where I get stuck. Thank you so so much!
@benetta8275 yes, once you find both your pincers, they will share one number. Find the cells that both these 2 pincers see and remove that number only. There may be no cells to remove from or you might have 1 or 2.
2:40 Since the puzzle was billed as easy, I tried it notation-free. I got that 8 a little later, after filling the row except for block 3. That left an 89 pair, resolved by the 9 below. I managed three more 5s, and I had in mind a 46 pair in column 1, as well as a couple other pointing/claiming pairs. But I finally gave up NF solving. Shortly after, I wished that I'd placed block 8's 3 in row 7 before giving up, as it would have given me a 19 pair. (I don't know if I would have eventually given up anyway.) 3:30 If I may brag a little, I got all these digits before giving up NF. You will, of course, bring me back down to earth if you place the 3 immediately above that 5.
@@SmartHobbies I started with pencil and paper but now I use an app. I suppose I find it more enjoyable with pen and paper, but I don't focus on it as a pastime enough to buy books of them so I just use an app
I will try to solve as much as possible without markings on the beginning. Then, i will only use markings if there are only possible 2 cells in one block. That keeps it clean. Therefore, when you have 2 cells which both could only receive 2 numbers, you know that you can eliminate those cells for other numbers. But I prefer going around the grid to solve, instead of looking only into one block. Because for me, it's quicker. If would I only look at one block, I'll have to verify and check what number is missing (and going through all the numbers to verify if it's there or not). Instead I go around and can easily spot the numbers I'm looking for in each block. As said, it's much faster for me, don't know if it's the same for others.
For this puzzle, I did not come close to finding any use for notations. Your comment about using techniques that focuses on a given area to limit eye movements. What one has in his eye sight to limit movement may, however, be different from one player to the other. For instance, when you solve the 4 in block 9 : I found that 4 about the same time as you did. But at that point, I also had the 2 in my eyesight that was also pointing down from the column 8 into block 9. Upon placing the 4, I noticed this created a pattern where the remaining empty cells had the shape of a cross, a powerful source of restrictions. So I ran my 2 across block 9 and was able to place a 2 in the lower west corner. This was not a difficult puzzle, but it was well constructed to make use of all basic forms of restrictions. There was a very nice flow to it, which made solving quite enjoyable. Thanks for another good demo.
@@sharmilisharmili472 Perhaps as I am getting older and slower, I prefer to forget about my times :) Here, my best recollection is a slow 17 minutes. Nothing to write home about, as you will agree.
📕Get my FREE Solving Guide that will help you solve over 80% of all Sudoku puzzles🧩to include NYT Hard👉👉www.buymeacoffee.com/timberlakeB/e/125822
Timestamps
0:00 Intro
00:33 It’s Solving Time
00:56 Puzzle Story
01:13 Technique #1
05:54 Experts Do NOT Do This!
06:34 Technique #2
09:24 Technique #3
It would be very hard for me to unlearn filling in BVCs as they are produced, and this puzzle produced a lot of them. If I suddenly were given a puzzle and I had no knowledge of how difficult it was designed to be, I'd certainly fill in any BVC as I found them. There is no telling at first if the puzzle will require any of the advanced techniques that use BVCs. One thing I can possibly work on reducing though is my time spent converting corner markings to middle markings. I did this puzzle in 25:58 prior to watching the video, and I suppose that wasn't horrible.
Thank you for your feedback, Brad. I agree that without knowing the difficulty, you may need to start with marking.
What I have been trying to find out for months is the EASIEST way to understand HOW to use the x-wing and y-wing techniques! Please could someone explain it to me? It seems every Suduko solver calls the cells different names or just doesnt explain it to someone as if they have never tried it. I am a good solver but I really want to employ those 2 techniques Thank You so much! 😊
I don't have the best X-wing advice, but the thing that clarified it for me is to focus less on which rows and columns can be cleared out, and then focus on the fact that both rows and columns can be cleared out. No matter how you get there, check to make sure that both rows and columns are cleared out, other than the X-wing.
Does that help?
@@eugenetswong thank you, but I need specifics on doing both techniques, like which cell should I initially choose as the pincers etc. Sorry, it probably isnt something someone can answer in a text. But Bless your heart for at least answering me! That was very kind of you! 😊🤗
@@bammi4 the pivot sees both pincers, thats how you pick which one is the pivot. The pincers don't see each other. Look for your pivot, there must be one pincer in that block but this pincer is not in the same row or column as the pivot. The second pincer will be in the same row or column as the pivot but in another block.
@@geckobecka wow! Thank you! Now that is making sense!!! Now once you have identified your pivot and pincers, what exactly do you do next? This is where I get confused? Are you to then remove certain numbers from your puzzle? This is where I get stuck. Thank you so so much!
@benetta8275 yes, once you find both your pincers, they will share one number. Find the cells that both these 2 pincers see and remove that number only. There may be no cells to remove from or you might have 1 or 2.
2:40 Since the puzzle was billed as easy, I tried it notation-free. I got that 8 a little later, after filling the row except for block 3. That left an 89 pair, resolved by the 9 below. I managed three more 5s, and I had in mind a 46 pair in column 1, as well as a couple other pointing/claiming pairs. But I finally gave up NF solving. Shortly after, I wished that I'd placed block 8's 3 in row 7 before giving up, as it would have given me a 19 pair. (I don't know if I would have eventually given up anyway.)
3:30 If I may brag a little, I got all these digits before giving up NF. You will, of course, bring me back down to earth if you place the 3 immediately above that 5.
Nice job John. I liked that you tried this NF. 😊
I didn't know people watched other people solve sudokus. I have always been alone in my sudokuing
It’s a thing. I learned several tips and strategies from watching others. Do you prefer solving with paper and pencil or on an app?
@@SmartHobbies I started with pencil and paper but now I use an app. I suppose I find it more enjoyable with pen and paper, but I don't focus on it as a pastime enough to buy books of them so I just use an app
Looking forward to being shocked (79 = row 7 column 9):
79, 23, 94, 25, 12,
21, 27, 29, 16, 85,
93, 75, 96, 61 (hidden pair in box),
49 (naked single; the only step that slowed me down, but not drastically),
51, 41, 57, 39, 97,
59, 38, 34, 35, 36,
54, 56, 74, 76, 14,
18, 17, 13, 71, 62,
72, 87, 68, 43, 58,
45, 63, 81, 32, 31,
47, 78, 92, 83, 98,
69, 89, 67, 65, 53,
52.
3:25. Easy puzzle indeed! 🤗
Awesome job! 😎
I will try to solve as much as possible without markings on the beginning. Then, i will only use markings if there are only possible 2 cells in one block. That keeps it clean. Therefore, when you have 2 cells which both could only receive 2 numbers, you know that you can eliminate those cells for other numbers.
But I prefer going around the grid to solve, instead of looking only into one block. Because for me, it's quicker. If would I only look at one block, I'll have to verify and check what number is missing (and going through all the numbers to verify if it's there or not). Instead I go around and can easily spot the numbers I'm looking for in each block. As said, it's much faster for me, don't know if it's the same for others.
This is great feedback. I think many others go around the grid to solve as well. Thank you so much for sharing.
For this puzzle, I did not come close to finding any use for notations. Your comment about using techniques that focuses on a given area to limit eye movements. What one has in his eye sight to limit movement may, however, be different from one player to the other. For instance, when you solve the 4 in block 9 : I found that 4 about the same time as you did. But at that point, I also had the 2 in my eyesight that was also pointing down from the column 8 into block 9. Upon placing the 4, I noticed this created a pattern where the remaining empty cells had the shape of a cross, a powerful source of restrictions. So I ran my 2 across block 9 and was able to place a 2 in the lower west corner. This was not a difficult puzzle, but it was well constructed to make use of all basic forms of restrictions. There was a very nice flow to it, which made solving quite enjoyable. Thanks for another good demo.
You are welcome. Thanks for the feedback, Georges!
GT SIR, Try mentioning ur time reqd for every puzzle u solve.
@@sharmilisharmili472 Perhaps as I am getting older and slower, I prefer to forget about my times :) Here, my best recollection is a slow 17 minutes. Nothing to write home about, as you will agree.
@@georgesthibaudeau1533
Ok
11m 56 s for me but I did this in two stages as I was interrupted in b/w otherwise I wld hv taken a minute or two less.