Mar 16 - Hard
Puzzle Copyright © Kevin Stone
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Reasoning
R5C1 can only be <9>
R9C3 can only be <8>
R4C1 can only be <8>
R4C2 can only be <5>
R4C6 can only be <1>
R6C2 can only be <4>
R4C4 can only be <3>
R4C8 can only be <9>
R5C5 is the only square in row 5 that can be <2>
R7C5 is the only square in row 7 that can be <1>
R3C4 is the only square in row 3 that can be <1>
R3C1 is the only square in row 3 that can be <4>
R1C4 is the only square in row 1 that can be <4>
R7C6 is the only square in row 7 that can be <8>
R6C4 is the only square in row 6 that can be <8>
R7C9 is the only square in row 7 that can be <4>
R8C8 is the only square in row 8 that can be <2>
R8C7 is the only square in row 8 that can be <5>
R1C7 can only be <8>
R9C6 is the only square in row 9 that can be <4>
R8C5 is the only square in column 5 that can be <3>
R7C8 is the only square in column 8 that can be <7>
Intersection of row 3 with block 3. The value <9> only appears in one or more of squares R3C7, R3C8 and R3C9 of row 3. These squares are the ones that intersect with block 3. Thus, the other (non-intersecting) squares of block 3 cannot contain this value.
R2C9 - removing <9> from <23569> leaving <2356>
Intersection of column 5 with block 2. The values <58> only appears in one or more of squares R1C5, R2C5 and R3C5 of column 5. These squares are the ones that intersect with block 2. Thus, the other (non-intersecting) squares of block 2 cannot contain these values.
R2C6 - removing <5> from <569> leaving <69>
Squares R2C4 and R2C6 in row 2 form a simple naked pair. These 2 squares both contain the 2 possibilities <69>. Since each of the squares must contain one of the possibilities, they can be eliminated from the other squares in the row.
R2C5 - removing <6> from <568> leaving <58>
R2C9 - removing <6> from <2356> leaving <235>
Squares R2C4 and R2C6 in block 2 form a simple naked pair. These 2 squares both contain the 2 possibilities <69>. Since each of the squares must contain one of the possibilities, they can be eliminated from the other squares in the block.
R3C5 - removing <6> from <5678> leaving <578>
R9C5 is the only square in column 5 that can be <6>
R9C9 can only be <9>
R9C2 can only be <7>
R7C7 can only be <6>
R7C1 can only be <3>
R3C7 can only be <9>
R8C1 can only be <6>
R7C3 can only be <2>
R1C1 can only be <7>
R7C2 can only be <9>
R3C3 can only be <5>
R1C5 can only be <5>
R1C8 can only be <3>
R2C5 can only be <8>
R2C2 can only be <2>
R3C5 can only be <7>
R3C8 can only be <6>
R2C3 can only be <3>
R3C9 can only be <2>
R6C8 can only be <5>
R3C2 can only be <8>
R2C9 can only be <5>
R6C6 can only be <6>
R5C9 can only be <6>
R5C4 can only be <7>
R6C9 can only be <3>
R2C6 can only be <9>
R2C4 can only be <6>
R8C6 can only be <7>
R5C6 can only be <5>
R8C4 can only be <9>
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