Query

[Lindy2]

It's been a long, long time since I last visited this site - way back when there were only 3 or 4 Clueless Specials! Things have certainly changed!

A couple of questions: What's the difference between the Clueless Specials and the Clueless Explosions?

I imagine techniques have advanced since those early days so I wonder what experience is needed for today's Specials. Being strictly a paper and pencil person who never uses computer helpers/solvers, will I be biting off more than I can chew by jumping back on the Special bandwagon? Is a helper recommended?

Just thought I would ask, as I've been enjoying the Samurai contest the past couple of weeks and am now eyeballing the Specials in a whimsical fashion - mindful that back then I could only do the easy and moderate puzzles!

Thanks

Lindy

[Ruud]

Hi Lindy,

welcome to the forum.

The difference between Clueless Specials and Clueless Explosions is in the distribution of the blue cells, which form the 10th grid. In the special, a 3x3 box in the blue grid matches a single box in one of the 9 base grids. In the Explosion, a single box in the blue grid is spread over the center cells in one of the 9 base grids, effectively turing this grid into a center-dot sudoku, where the center cells of each 3x3 box must also be all different. Additional solving techniques can be used for this variant.

A helper is not required. Many players use P&P to solve these puzzles.

All overlapping puzzles on the main site can be solved using singles, locked candidates, (naked & hidden) pairs, triples (rarely a quad) and X-Wing. Some puzzles I post on the forum may require more difficult techniques, but these are not for the competition.

Enjoy the puzzles!
Ruud

[Lindy2]

Thank you, Ruud. I feel more confident, now

Lindy