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David Bryant
Gold Member
Joined: 20 Jan 2006
Posts: 86
Location: Denver, Colorado
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 Posted: Thu Jul 13, 2006 5:11 pm Post subject: Where are the BUGs? |
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I've been having some trouble finding the "BUG" patterns in this week's special collection. I did find a BUG+1 pattern in the puzzle for July 9th, but I solved it three different ways before I figured out how to see a BUG.
Today's puzzle is a case in point. After doing the usual stuff I arrived here.
| Code: | 456 259 3 1 2469 247 479 249 8
1 289 24 278 24679 3 5 249 4679
46 289 7 28 2469 5 1 3 469
89 3 6 27 247 2489 49 1 5
89 4 5 6 1 89 3 7 2
2 7 1 3 5 49 6 8 49
7 6 9 4 8 1 2 5 3
45 25 8 9 3 27 47 6 1
3 1 24 5 27 6 8 49 479 |
At this point I spotted a very nice DIC proceeding from r8c2.
A. r8c2 = 5 ==> r1c1 = 5 ==> r3c1 = 6
B. r8c2 = 5 ==> r9c3 = 2 ==> r9c5 = 7 ==> r2c9 = 7 ==> r3c9 = 6
With r8c2 = 2 the rest is singles all the way.
Can somebody point out the "BUG" in this puzzle? dcb
PS Proceeding from the same point I also tried setting r5c6 = 8, based on the "UR" in r45c16 ... this led me through another "UR" (r23c24) pattern that got to the solution, but I still didn't find a "BUG". |
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Ruud
Site Owner
Joined: 30 Dec 2005
Posts: 601
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| Posted: Thu Jul 13, 2006 6:38 pm Post subject: |
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Hi David,
The trouble with BUG is that it is usually the last step before the final cascade of singles. Sudokus as complex as the Daily Nightmares can be solved in many ways, and I can only hope that the solving path you choose leads to to the BUG. Since DIC's are not on my list, using them will lead you away from the BUG.
About todays Nightmare:
Singles and intersections bring you here:
| Code: | .------------------.------------------.------------------.
| 456 259 3 | 1 24679 2479 | 479 249 8 |
| 1 289 24 | 278 24679 3 | 5 249 4679 |
| 46 289 7 | 28 2469 5 | 1 3 469 |
:------------------+------------------+------------------:
| 89 3 6 | 27 2479 24789| 49 1 5 |
| 89 4 5 | 6 1 89 | 3 7 2 |
| 2 7 1 | 3 5 49 | 6 8 49 |
:------------------+------------------+------------------:
| 7 6 9 | 4 8 1 | 2 5 3 |
| 45 25 8 | 9 3 27 | 47 6 1 |
| 3 1 24 | 5 27 6 | 8 49 479 |
'------------------'------------------'------------------' |
My solver now continues:
finned X-Wing removes 2 from R1C6
finned X-Wing removes 4 from R2C9
finned X-Wing removes 7 from R1C5
X-Wing removes 7 from R4C6
finned X-Wing removes 9 from R1C6
intersection removes 9 from R4C5
uniqueness 1 removes 89 from R4C6
a few singles
naked pair 47 in row 1
X-Wing removes 4 from R2C5
XY-Wing removes 7 from R2C4
single and intersection
hidden pair 67 in row 2
hidden pair 28 in row 3
uniqueness 1 removes 28 from R2C2 (leaves single 9)
a few singles
brings us to da BUG:
| Code: | .------------.------------.------------.
| 56 25 3 | 1 69 47 | 47 29 8 |
| 1 9 24 | 8 67 3 | 5 24 67 |
| 46 8 7 | 2 469 5 | 1 3 69 |
:------------+------------+------------:
| 8 3 6 | 7 24 24 | 9 1 5 |
| 9 4 5 | 6 1 8 | 3 7 2 |
| 2 7 1 | 3 5 9 | 6 8 4 |
:------------+------------+------------:
| 7 6 9 | 4 8 1 | 2 5 3 |
| 45 25 8 | 9 3 27 | 47 6 1 |
| 3 1 24 | 5 27 6 | 8 49 79 |
'------------'------------'------------' |
You see how many things you could have missed or done differently?
cheers,
Ruud
_________________
“If the human brain were so simple that we could understand it, we would be so simple that we couldn't.” - Emerson M Pugh |
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David Bryant
Gold Member
Joined: 20 Jan 2006
Posts: 86
Location: Denver, Colorado
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| Posted: Fri Jul 14, 2006 4:07 pm Post subject: Relying on "uniquity" |
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Thanks for the explanation, Ruud.
I went back through some of the earlier puzzles and managed to work a couple of those down to a BUG + 1 pattern by relying heavily on the "uniqueness" of each solution. That probably explains my problem -- like Chuck B, I usually try to avoid making that assumption unless I'm completely stymied otherwise.
It makes sense that if the final blow (BUG + 1) depends on uniquity, one must also use that tool all along the way. dcb |
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dejsmith
Rookie
Joined: 06 Mar 2006
Posts: 5
Location: San Ramon, CA, USA
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| Posted: Fri Jul 14, 2006 6:22 pm Post subject: What Am I to Use for Bait Next Week? |
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Thank goodness it was not just me! I could not find any bugs all week (I am two days behind, though) & got very frustrated having to rely on forcing chains, which really do not improve my solving skills at all. I personally love uniquity & consider it a valid, logical technique; so I'll recheck one or two to see if I missed some. Thanks Rudd & David for your explanations. I look forward to our fishing expedition next week; but am quite concerned that I will meet up with some big sharks that will refuse to be caught & may catch me!
Dave |
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