Rigght, so I got a Super Fiendish Sudoku book for Christmas. And I'm stuck on the first one :D Filled in as much as I can including all the possibles, so I've come here for help. Let's see what ya got...
I first did the 7,6,8 diagonally in the center block. Then did the 5,7,9 respectively in row Four. Then the 4 R9C9. Then the 8 R5C1. Then the 8 R2C3. Then the 8 R8C5. Then the 8 R7C8. Then the 8 R1C9. Then the 3 R7C1. Then the 7 R1C5. Then the 4 R3C2. Then some time had passed ... and I got 4/5 4/5 in Col 7 and 3/9 3/9 in Row 3 in the upper right block. Thus the (6) was Col 8&9 in the upper right block, and Col 8&9 in middle right block. Then the (6) was in Col 7 in the lower right block, Rows 7&8 and Rows 7&8 in Col 4. Making then a 6 at R9C3. Then the 5 R9C5. Then the 1 R3C5. Then the 5 R3C3. Then the 5 R8C2. Then the 7 R9C1. Then the 1 R9C8. Then the 1 R2C9. Then the 2 R8C6. Then the 7 R8C8. Then the 7 R2C2. Now we know the 2/6 2/6 is in Col 8 in the upper right box. Then the 6 R6C9. Then the 2 R5C9. Then the 9 R5C7. Then the 3 R6C8. Then 9-3 to end Row 3. Then 1-9 to end Col 1. Then 9-5 to end Col 6. ... and pretty much BOB'S your uncle! :)
I'm not the greatest fan of the Snyder notation as there's a tendency to overuse pencil-marks, and it isn't particularly helpful when trying to identify hidden pairs/triplets/quads - which I think is the single most important technique for solving super-fiendish. I'm closer to the McNeill notation, but will usually add a few triplets here and there. The danger with this is that occasionally you might miss something that might have been easily revealed using Snyder, so I tend to complement the two together. This is more art than science I find, because too much of one or the other (or both) can often be confusing! Re the best in the world - the improvements in recent years have been mind-blowing. I'd be surprised to see a leading time much slower than 2 minutes these days, particularly using a computer interface. Some of these kiddos can type FAST!
I normally start with locked pairs only. Then, when "stuck", move on to open pairs as shown in the video. Then on to more and more complete possibles notation. Also, on paper, I use dots instead of numbers where the position within the box tells me the possibility it refers to. Then 'x' over a dot that is no longer valid (when using pen). This somewhat lessens the messiness.
My google fu is failing me. What is the "McNeill" notation? I like to approach puzzles with both the "pairs in squares" which is called Snyder here, and also by noting cells with only two or three candidates. With a pencil or pen it's easy to distinguish the two types of marking by adding a "/" in the second case. Something that the computer programs won't let me do!
Are you looking at the jump at the 4:31 mark? He places 3 7's at that jump. r6c4 is the result of r5c3+r7c6. Then r1c5 follows. The 6 and 8 place in box 5 and the only place left for a 7 in r4 is c9. If you're looking at the "7 is locked into this position" comment at 9:27, that is because r3 and c7 both have 7's already.
Over analysing. In the center box the 7 can only sit under the 3 and 5. The 6 in the middle. And the 8 in the right hand top corner. So the 8 can only sit between the 6 and 5 in the middle box left. And 8 can only sit under the 3 at top left box. The 5 can only sit next to the 1 in the middle box at the right. The 7 can only sit in the second top box in the middle above the 3.
I'm digging through history. So glad you hit you stride and became the host we now love, but wow this was painful to watch. Tedious. Luckily the channel did become a success.
Hi, thanks for your channel. At about 5:57 into your video you say that your software will not allow you to place notation for the complementary (matching) pair of 1,5 in the third row. If you are using a PC might I humbly suggest you search download.cnet.com for Sudoku Master from iGPro. The iGPro website is defunct but so far I have found that program to allow any combination of notations.
This was not that difficult. I was able to solve it and yet there are some that I can't solve. So far, none of the youtube videos that say they are addressing hard puzzles are actually not that hard.
Hi Ray. Certainly not that difficult but one of the hardest available in the British press on a daily basis. Some of our other videos feature harder puzzles. If you want more of a challenge, I'd recommend the videos on how the World Sudoku champion solves Sudoku. I've linked it here: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-o3PQrNecoag.html. Definitely try the puzzle first, it makes what he does more meaningful.
I agree. One that I found that is really hard is on sudokupuzzles.org on Wednesday 8th April, 2015 fiendish. I could only get 1 number. If you check this one out and can do better I would appreciate it if you would let me know. Thanks
Write numbers if only 2 cells in a box for a possibility. I've always done it that way! Poor program you are using. Should allow right-click at note locations for a note and left-click to select cell. I do not consider the given puzzle to be very difficult.
Puzzles like this are pretty easy really, and you're right notation isn't really necessary. but on the truly hard puzzles you need notation to be able to use chains, wings, swordfish etc. least that's how I see it at my particular skill level
I don't pay any attention to what label they give the difficulty. There's no consistency between puzzle creators. If you have a smartphone try the Anduko3 app, their level "hard" is where it changes from being able to solve without notations, to definitely needing to use notation, so that you can implement solving techniques/strategies like the X-wing, Finned X-wing, swordfish, Pivot cell, etc.
