Feb 21 - Very Hard
Puzzle Copyright © Kevin Stone
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Reasoning
R1C5 can only be <3>
R4C4 can only be <5>
R4C6 can only be <3>
R6C4 can only be <1>
R6C6 can only be <8>
R3C5 can only be <8>
R4C5 can only be <2>
R6C5 can only be <4>
R5C4 can only be <7>
R5C6 can only be <9>
R5C5 can only be <6>
R8C2 is the only square in column 2 that can be <8>
R8C7 is the only square in row 8 that can be <9>
R2C2 is the only square in row 2 that can be <9>
R1C9 is the only square in row 1 that can be <9>
R2C8 is the only square in column 8 that can be <7>
Squares R9C1 and R9C5 in row 9 form a simple naked pair. These 2 squares both contain the 2 possibilities <79>. Since each of the squares must contain one of the possibilities, they can be eliminated from the other squares in the row.
R9C3 - removing <7> from <47> leaving <4>
Squares R2C7 and R3C8 in block 3 form a simple naked pair. These 2 squares both contain the 2 possibilities <13>. Since each of the squares must contain one of the possibilities, they can be eliminated from the other squares in the block.
R3C7 - removing <13> from <13456> leaving <456>
R3C9 - removing <3> from <345> leaving <45>
Squares R7C2 and R8C3 in block 7 form a simple naked pair. These 2 squares both contain the 2 possibilities <23>. Since each of the squares must contain one of the possibilities, they can be eliminated from the other squares in the block.
R7C1 - removing <2> from <2679> leaving <679>
R7C3 - removing <23> from <2367> leaving <67>
Squares R2C3<13>, R5C3<12> and R8C3<23> in column 3 form a comprehensive naked triplet. These 3 squares can only contain the 3 possibilities <123>. Since each of the squares must contain one of the possibilities, they can be eliminated from the other squares in the column.
R3C3 - removing <123> from <12356> leaving <56>
Squares R1C1<67>, R1C3<567> and R3C3<56> in block 1 form a comprehensive naked triplet. These 3 squares can only contain the 3 possibilities <567>. Since each of the squares must contain one of the possibilities, they can be eliminated from the other squares in the block.
R3C1 - removing <6> from <126> leaving <12>
Squares R3C2 and R8C8 form a remote naked pair. <23> can be removed from any square that is common to their groups.
R3C8 - removing <3> from <13> leaving <1>
R3C1 can only be <2>
R2C7 can only be <3>
R2C3 can only be <1>
R5C7 can only be <8>
R3C2 can only be <3>
R5C1 can only be <1>
R7C2 can only be <2>
R5C3 can only be <2>
R8C3 can only be <3>
R5C9 can only be <3>
R9C7 can only be <5>
R7C9 can only be <4>
R7C8 can only be <3>
R8C8 can only be <2>
R7C7 can only be <1>
R3C9 can only be <5>
R9C9 can only be <8>
R1C7 can only be <6>
R1C1 can only be <7>
R3C7 can only be <4>
R3C3 can only be <6>
R1C3 can only be <5>
R9C1 can only be <9>
R7C3 can only be <7>
R7C5 can only be <9>
R7C1 can only be <6>
R9C5 can only be <7>
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