Feb 17 - Very Hard
Puzzle Copyright © Kevin Stone
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Reasoning
R4C8 can only be <3>
R5C5 can only be <5>
R5C8 can only be <2>
R8C5 can only be <9>
R5C2 can only be <8>
R5C9 can only be <6>
R6C8 can only be <1>
R6C7 can only be <5>
R5C1 can only be <7>
R4C2 can only be <5>
R4C7 can only be <8>
R4C3 can only be <9>
R2C7 is the only square in row 2 that can be <6>
R2C6 is the only square in row 2 that can be <9>
R2C4 is the only square in row 2 that can be <4>
R3C7 is the only square in row 3 that can be <1>
R3C9 is the only square in row 3 that can be <2>
R1C5 is the only square in row 1 that can be <2>
R7C3 is the only square in row 7 that can be <6>
R9C3 is the only square in row 9 that can be <1>
Intersection of row 1 with block 1. The value <5> only appears in one or more of squares R1C1, R1C2 and R1C3 of row 1. These squares are the ones that intersect with block 1. Thus, the other (non-intersecting) squares of block 1 cannot contain this value.
R3C1 - removing <5> from <4589> leaving <489>
R3C3 - removing <5> from <3578> leaving <378>
Intersection of block 3 with row 1. The value <3> only appears in one or more of squares R1C7, R1C8 and R1C9 of block 3. These squares are the ones that intersect with row 1. Thus, the other (non-intersecting) squares of row 1 cannot contain this value.
R1C3 - removing <3> from <35> leaving <5>
Intersection of row 8 with block 8. The value <5> only appears in one or more of squares R8C4, R8C5 and R8C6 of row 8. These squares are the ones that intersect with block 8. Thus, the other (non-intersecting) squares of block 8 cannot contain this value.
R7C4 - removing <5> from <578> leaving <78>
R7C6 - removing <5> from <345> leaving <34>
Squares R1C1 and R1C7 in row 1 and R9C1 and R9C7 in row 9 form a Simple X-Wing pattern on possibility <4>. All other instances of this possibility in columns 1 and 7 can be removed.
R3C1 - removing <4> from <489> leaving <89>
R7C1 - removing <4> from <458> leaving <58>
R7C7 - removing <4> from <2347> leaving <237>
R8C7 - removing <4> from <24> leaving <2>
R8C3 can only be <8>
R8C4 can only be <5>
R7C1 can only be <5>
R8C6 can only be <4>
R3C4 can only be <7>
R7C6 can only be <3>
R3C3 can only be <3>
R7C4 can only be <8>
R2C5 can only be <3>
R9C1 can only be <4>
R7C7 can only be <7>
R7C9 can only be <9>
R3C6 can only be <5>
R9C5 can only be <7>
R7C8 can only be <4>
R1C9 can only be <3>
R9C7 can only be <3>
R1C1 can only be <9>
R7C2 can only be <2>
R9C9 can only be <5>
R1C7 can only be <4>
R3C1 can only be <8>
R3C8 can only be <9>
R2C3 can only be <7>
R3C2 can only be <4>
R6C3 can only be <2>
R6C2 can only be <3>
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