Y Wing Styles for March 19, 2007

The following is an illustrated proof for the Tough Sudoku of March 19, 2007. The primary key used in this proof, like yesterday's proof, is Y wing styles. This puzzle is relatively easy for a tough puzzle here at sudoku.com.au.

You may need to refer to previous blog pages to understand this proof. Links to these pages are found to the right, under Sudoku Techniques.

At many times during this illustration, there are other steps available. It is not the goal of this page to show every possible step, but rather to illustrate steps that, taken together, unlock this puzzle.

The information on the following blog pages is required to understand this page:

• Locked Candidates
• Pairs, Triples, Quads.
• Forbidding Chains 101 The Theory
• Y Wing Styles
• Finding Y Wing Styles
• Almost Locked Sets
• Definitions: If a term is used on this page that you do not understand, the definition is likely here!

The illustrations of forbidding chains used in this proof will share the same key:

• black line = strong inference performed upon a set (strong link)
• red line = weak inference performed upon a set (weak link)
• candidates crossed out in red = candidates proven false

Strong and weak need not be mutually exclusive properties.

Puzzle at start

Hidden Pair 49

Hidden Pair 36

Puzzle Possibility Matrix at 36 cells solved (UP 36)

At this point in the puzzle, there are a great many steps available. Rather than list them all, I will plunge directly into showing some possible key steps to unravel this puzzle. Most of the easy steps one can find at this point are superflous to solving the puzzle.

How to find Very Common Y Wing Style

Illustrated above, there are 4 cells in the current puzzle that are limited to exactly 18. The two in row 5 of course form a naked pair. The other two, at f6 and e8, are excellent candidates for the endpoints of a Very common Y Wing Style. All one needs to complete the pattern is a strong inferenence using either 1s or 8s (as the vertex). In this puzzle, the 1s in row 3 are almost too obvious!

This type of Y Wing Style is very common. Not only is it very common, but it is, in my opinion, easier to spot than a typical Y Wing. I have often thought that this particular technique should be taught before the typical 3 cell, 3 candidate Y wing. In fact, since it is both more common, and easier to spot, the reasoning behind other sites not discussing this type of Y Wing Style at more depth escapes me. Finally, I have found that many puzzles easily unravel with this technique.

Probably, all this particular technique lacks is a really cool name.

Very Common Y Wing Style

Above, the Very Common Y Wing Style is fully illustrated. The logic can be seen as follows, using ef3=1 as the vertex:

• e3=1 => e8≠1 => e8=8 => d6,f89 ≠8
• f3=1 => f6≠1 => f6=8 => d6,f89 ≠8

As a forbidding chain, one can write:

• f6=8 == f6=1 -- f3=1 == e3=1 -- e8=1 == e8=8 => d6,f89 ≠8

This elimination reveals the naked pair 15 at e36, forbidding e8=1. After e8=8% cell, the puzzle is reduced to hidden or naked singles to the end.

One can, of course, eliminate the 1 from e8 directly using Almost Locked Sets in a forbidding chain (also called Alternating Inference Chain, or AIC) that considers 4 strong inference sets as follows:

• e3=1 == f3=1 -- f6=1 == f6=8 -- e6=8 ==₁ {pair 15 at e36₁} => e8≠1

Nevertheless, this page is a tutorial on Y Wing Styles! It is almost universal that relatively easy puzzles like this one present with multiple paths to achieve the same end.

Another Alternate Path Beginning with Locked Candidate 1

Among the very many easy steps that I did not take before is the ones locked in row 3 at ef3, which forbid def12=1, as shown above. This is a set up for:

Y Wing Style using one cell, two bilocation strengths, two candidates

Illustrated above is a Y Wing Style much like the one presented in yesterday's blog. Again, the puzzle mark-up that is explained at Forbidding Chains 102, The Practice, combined with the page on Finding Y Wing Styles, can easily lead one to locate this chain, as both 1 & 5 will be circled at d4. The logic here is completely analagous to all Y Wings, and also the very common Y wing style presented above. Here, d4,e6=5 is the vertex:

• d4=5 => d4≠1 => d8=1 => e8≠1
• e6=5 => e3≠5 => e3=1 => e8≠1

As a forbidding chain, one can write:

• e3=1 == e3=5 -- e6=6 == d4=5 -- d4=1 == d8=1 => e8≠1

Regardless of which of the paths illustrated here one takes, the end result is the same. The puzzle unravels starting with e8 = 8% cell.

Solution

Proof

1. Start at 22 filled - the given puzzle. Unique Possibilities to 25 filled. (UP 25).
2. Hidden pair 49 at gi8 forbids cef8=4,bde8=9, gi8=28 UP 26
3. Hidden pair 36 at a9b8 forbids a9=48, b8=258 UP 36
4. 1. Locked 1s at ef3 forbids def12=1
   2. Y Wing Style: e3=15, e6d4=5, d48=1 forbids e8=1 UP 81

• Sets: 2 + 2 + 1 + 3 = 8
• Max depth 3 at step 4.2
• Rating: 2(.03) + .01 + .07 = .14

Notes

If one decides to perform all the standard easy steps upon this puzzle before looking for Y Wing Styles, one can find numerous Y wing Styles. There are so many available, that to list all the of them would be tedious indeed. If you wish, this puzzle is an excellent exercise in finding Y wing styles.