The following illustrated solution for the moderately difficult
Tough Sudoku of August 7, 2009 serves as a reasonably
good example of the power of using mixed groups or Sets within or as a Sudoku solving technique. This particular Sudoku
solving strategy, tip or trick is sometimes referred to in Sudoku forums as Quantums. This blog has used
this strategy numerous times, albeit under the name hybrid.
If this is your first visit to this blog, welcome! Unfortunately, if you are a first time visitor, this page may seem
like it is written in a different language. Well, it is!! Previous blog pages may be helpful. Links to these pages are
found to the right, under Sudoku Techniques. The earliest posts are at the bottom, and if you have never perused
the intricacies of our special coded language here, you may wish to start close to beginning. The list is rather large, so below
find a list of links that may be pertinent to this particular puzzle.
In some of the illustrations, more than one step is shown at once. This reflects an attempt to shorten the page. However, it
may contribute to some confusion. Hopefully, the confusion is managable. Moreover, many easy steps that this solution does not require
are not shown, nor taken in the illustrated puzzle positions. Again, this reflects an attempt to shorten the page.
A note: Puzzle solutions which employ Uniqueness techniques, such as this one, I generally call solutions. If Uniqueness
is not used, then such a solution is generally called a Proof.
The Puzzle
For those whom do not wish to struggle through the illustrations, I have written the steps
taken in this solution at the bottom of the page in sudoku.com.au notation.
Zero Unique Possibilities (UPs) are available here. However, at least one easy step can be taken without considering the
Possibiliy Matrix, or Pencil Marks. Note candidates (29) given in column c. It is clear that we have
- Hidden Pair 29 at a8b9 - (HP29)a8b9
This starts a cascade of singles, mostly hidden. One is naked, but easy to find without the Pencil Marks
- (4)b5 %col
- (8)a2 %col
- (9)b9 %col, (2)a8 %box
- (7)a3 %cell naked single
- (7) e2, f9, h7, g5, c6 %box
- (1)f8, c9 %row & box
- (8)i5 %row & box
This brings the puzzle to UP 36
(Unique Possibilities to a total of 36 given plus solved cells).
Steps 2a & 2b: A Naked Triple and a Locked Candidate
Below, two steps are shown. Step 2a in column g and box h2 is a Naked Triple:
- (NT246)g123 => h1≠26, i2≠4, g489≠246
After step 2a, step 2b, a Locked Candidate, is possible:
Other similar very easy steps are also possible, but not required in this solution.
![Steps 2a and 2b: Naked Triple and Locked Candidate](blog/jpgfiles/2009/08_07_09/2ab.jpg)
Step 2c: A short Alternating Inference Chain (AIC) previously called Forbidding Chain
![AIC depth 4](blog/jpgfiles/2009/08_07_09/2c.jpg)
Above, a short AIC using four Strong Inference Sets (SIS) is shown. The chain could be
written:
- (1=6)b2 - (6)b6 = (6)c5 - (6)h5 = (6-1)h4 = (1)h1
- => b1,i2≠1
This leads to a short cascade of four singles:
- (9)i2 %cell
- (9)h8 %box & column
- (1)h1 %cell & box
- (1)b2 %row & box, UP 40
Step 3a: Another short AIC
Below, a rather mundane candidate is eliminated as a set up for the following step. Once
again, a short depth 4 AIC is used.
![AIC depth 4 again](blog/jpgfiles/2009/08_07_09/3a.jpg)
The chain above uses groupings with both candidates (5) and (9). The chain:
- (9)f45 = (9-5)f1 = (5)f45 - (5)de6 = (5)a6 - (5=9)a5 => d5≠9
Preamble to step 3b. The derivation of a Quantum set.
Below, the Almost Unique Rectangle (AUR) with candidates (89) at de17 is used to derive
a Strong Inference Set (SIS). Such a SIS is sometimes called a Quantum Set. More typically,
a Quantum Set is used in conjunction with one or more native set(s) to derive something
more interesting. The term Quantum can also be used to describe just about any
grouping of items that forms, or almost forms, an atypical representation of a more normal set, such
as an ALS (Almost Locked Set). The example below is not nearly that complex.
- At de7, but for candidate 2, one would find (NP89) Naked Pair 89.
- At de1, but for candidate 9 at f1, one would find (HP89) Hidden Pair 89.
- If both candidate 2 at de7 and candidate 9 at f1 are false, we would have (Unique Rectangle 89)de17
- This configuration would force the puzzle to have at least two solutions. If the
puzzle has just one solution, then this configuration cannot occur.
- One could write the following chain fragment
- (2)de7 = (NP89)de7 - (HP89)de1 = (9)f1
- => (2)de7 = (9)f1
- Typically, one simply notes:
- (AUR89)de17 => SIS[(2)de7, (9)f1]
This SIS is a Quantum Set. One can use it in any chain, or any deduction for that
matter, just as if it is a Native SIS.
Step 3b: Two chains folded into one. Uses both Quantum AUR set plus another Quantum Set
Below, one could write two different chains. However, at least some of the information used
overlaps, so it is more efficient to simply show one long chain and note the eliminations it
causes. The previously AUR SIS is used, plus another atypical grouping. If candidate (5)
is contained at f45, then one would have within box e5 the equivalent to a Naked Triple (235)
at de56,f45. Candidate (2) is locked within this Almost Quantum Naked Triple at d56, so this
quantum set exerts a weak link upon (2)d79. This weak link is one of the endpoints of one of the
two chains contained in the larger chain below. The other chain spans from (5)f1 to (5)c2.
![AUR 89 in an AIC, and Quantum triple 235 in a chain.](blog/jpgfiles/2009/08_07_09/3b.jpg)
The chain above, given (2)de7=(9)f1 by (AUR89)de17:
- (2)de7 = (9-5)f1 = (QNT235)f45.de56 pause - (235=6)e6 - (6)b6 = (6)c5 - (6=5)c2
- => d9≠2, c1.d2≠5
These eliminations cause a cascade of singles until the puzzle is finished. UP 81.
Solution
![Solution](blog/jpgfiles/2009/08_07_09/done.jpg)
Steps taken in this solution:
- 1) start 23 (HP29)a8b9 => a8<>18,b9<>14 UP 36
- 2a) (NT246)g123 => h1<>26, i2<>4, g489<>246
- 2b) (LC4)de9 => e8de7<>4
- 2c) (1=6)b2 - (6)b6 = (6)c5 - (6)h5 = (6-1)h4 = (1)h1 => i2, b1<>1 UP 40
- 3a) (9)f45 = (9-5)f1 = (5)f45 - (5)de6 = (5)a6 - (5=9)a5 => d4<>9
- 3b) (AUR89)de17 => (2)de7=(9)f1
- =>
(2)de7=(9-5)f1 = (QNT532)f45d56 pause - (235=6)e6 - (6)b6 = (6)c5 - (6=5)c2 => d9<>2, c1.d2<>5 UP 81
The following spectrum of SIS considered is of limited relevance:
- Sets: 2+3+1+4+4+10=24.
- Max Depth 10, but can be reduced to 7 splitting step 3b into two steps
- Non-ssts: 3. SSTS refers to Simple Sudoku Technique Set, or something like that
- Rating: .03 + .07 + .01 + .15 + .15 + 10.27 = 10.68
- Alternate rating if step 3b is split: .03+.07+.01+.15+.15+1.27+.63 = 2.33
Digression: Usually, I prefer shorter steps. Thus I might split step 3b into two steps. However,
there seems to be a heavy preference towards minimizing the number of steps. In deference to
that preference, I have shown that step as one. Clearly, one could often, (perhaps always,) solve a puzzle with
one step - although such a step could be large and complex. For example, in this puzzle, one could easily form
a large and complex net that uses the same information from all of the steps considered above to produce one step
that unlocks the puzzle. That large and ungainly net would be truly ugly, but in some sense
quick and to the point. I have no idea where the
line lies between minimizing number of steps
and minimizing the length and complexity of the individual steps.