Sudoku Puzzles

9:32

Lovely photo, very tranquil.

Ducks? I don't see no ducks. A couple of cats maybe, but no ducks.

Looks like good country to visit. love those blue hills.

Easy one today. Simple elimination, with hidden pairs and lock sets. No FCs required.

Hhmmm 1:03:22 - for me, quite tough today. Very very nice picture - Utah!

8:14 I the mountain scenes

Beautiful Scenery! I have never been to Utah. It looks like it would be a nice place to visit.

A little simpler than yesterday's:

1) Start 23, Unique Possibilities to (UP) 23.
2) b1=5 == f1=5 -- f9=5 == h9=5 -- h6=5 == c6=5 forbids c3=5, b5=5. UP 27.
3) Naked pair 18 at c78 forbids b7=18, c2=18, c5=1, c6=8. UP 28.
4) Almost Locked Set (ALS) logic: S1={e2=39, e6=369}, More...

Gorgeous view!

Possible proof of tough sudoku of 10 09 06:

1) Start at 23 filled - the given puzzle. Unique Possibilities to 23 filled. (UP 23).
2) fc on 5's: f9 == h9 -- h6 == c6 -- b5 == b1 forbids f1=5 UP 27
3) Pair 18 at c78 forbids b7,c25=1 and forbids b7,c26=8 UP 28
4a) Locked 4's at More...

Hmm - seems there is always at least one person who thinks that the puzzle, no matter how difficult it may be, does not require forbidding chains.... If that is truly the case with today's puzzle, then I shall retire from posting proofs.

How wondrous--this is truly 'God's country' as they say. maEn.

Yesterday's puzzle is, I think, a true monster! I agree with Clark that today's is much easier then yesterday's.

Good afternoon to all! Great picture, and HalT, the ducks are just over those reeds where the cats are hiding.

heh heh heh

Hi Is this where we discuss the books we are reading?

I walked around this entire lake, enjoying the pure air and sunshine, while my husband and granddaughter were busy fishing. I loved the flowers, like the yellow lupine in the foreground, while I watched the antics of the various ducks and birds. It was both peaceful and entertaining. Those 'blue hills' are the peaks of mountains; we were probably 8,000 to 9,000 feet high at that lake.

Another great photo Wilodene. I can't wait to move to Idaho next year. Then I will be close enough to explore Utah. Thanks for giving me peeks of you beautiful state.

I just got how to do the Xing.
Thanks Clark.

3:17 with incorrect moves allowed...
Der...

just too tough for me today. cant even follow steve(ohio) which is usually the easiest proofs to understand. I think I'll have to revisit the fc theory.

5:12

I guessed once, then completed fairly easily. I must admit to using possibilities and their automatic removal. Otherwise, I would probably never finish! I know how long it can take me on paper.

Far more elegant is (UP) 23
1) i9=4
UP 81

7.28
have a great day/night one and all

Hi Ian R from Perth,
How can you do 1st step i9=4 by logic? GUESS only ...

to Steve: I think after your step 7 this:

a9=3 == a9=7 -- d9=7 == d9=6 -- d31=6 == f1=6 -- f5=6 == a5=6
=> ~a5=3, UP 81 for classical depth 4

Ian - in order to qualify as elegant, some logical reason for your decision needs to be provided.

excuse the error (chain above needs XYWing elim)
but this will do without XYWings:

8) a9=3 == a9=7 -- d9=7 == d9=6 -- e7=6 == e6=6 -- a6=6 == a5=6
=> ~a5=3, UP 81

Hi Pat!
Certainly you have provided an improvement to my proof. It would, however, still have the one depth 5 step - classically - at step 4b.
New rating though would be much better: .84 or so.

with two guesses

50:27

Are you here? Try hard then