Assassin 12 - August 18

[sudokuEd]

Lots of sums to do on this one. Took a while to find the right "45" for each new part of the puzzle. So good to have SuMoCue to help out! Thanks Ruud.

BTW- I missed not having a lead-in introduction on the puzzle page. The lead-in gives a puzzle more personality. Please keep the lead-in Ruud.

A walkthru follows.

Step 1
“45” on r12 -> 2 outies = 6 -> r3c2=5, r3c8=1 -> r5c9=1

Step 2
r2c23={89}-> no 8 or 9 elsewhere in N1 or r2
-> r4c1 = {89}
-> naked triple on {689} in r4c189 -> no 6, 8 or 9 elsewhere in r4 with 6 locked in N6
-> no 6 elsewhere in N6 or in r3c9 .

Step 3
“45” on r6-9 -> 2 innies = 12
->r6c8=3, r6c4=9, r5c8=2

Step 4
“45” on c12 -> 2 outies = 9
->r2c3=8, r8c3=1, r2c2=9

Step 5
“45” on N7 -> 3 innies = 19
but 2 cannot be in r7c1 since that would require {89} in r79c3
-> r7c1 = 4
-> 2 innies in N7 at r79c3 = 15 = {69} only -> no 6 or 9 elsewhere in N7 or c3

Step 6
r6c12 = {12} -> no 1 or 2 elsewhere in N4
-> 2 in c3 only in N1 -> no 2 elsewhere in N1
-> 10(3) cage in N1 {136} only -> no 1, 3 or 6 elsewhere in N1
-> r34c1= [78]

Step 7
r4c3 = 3 (hidden single c3)
->19(3) cage in N4 = {469} only with r45c2 = [46] and r5c1 =9
-> r5c34 =[58], r67c3=[76], r7c4=3, r9c34=[92], r3c34=[46], r3c9=8, r67c9 =[47]
the rest is mostly singles.

[Ruud]

You are right about the lead-in, Ed. Handmade puzzles can't do without it.

I fixed the page, so it now shows a text when it's present, but I'm not doing the archived puzzles. Maybe later, in the unlikely event that I have nothing to do and am bored to death...

Ruud

[sudokuEd]

Thanks Ruud. But what if you never get bored?

Would it be okay to quote the lead-in in a post about that puzzle? That way it doesn't drop off into the abyss.

These “elbow soup” killers have become one of my specialities. I even allowed a little imperfection in the symmetry to get this puzzle right. Enjoy!

BTW - can I hand-make Killers using suMoCue?

[Oscar]

Even if it's more than one year later, I am doing the "Assassins route".
I did no specific follow-up for the first 10. The Assassin 11 took me too long to solve.
Now, encouraged by Ed I will start posting my impresions and times on each one.
A12 was easy enough to be solved in only two hours! .
I am sure the rest of the road will have some surprises waiting for me...