The full reasoning can be found below the Sudoku.
Mar 03 - Very Hard
Puzzle Copyright © Kevin Stone
Reasoning
R1C4 can only be <6>
R1C6 can only be <3>
R4C2 is the only square in row 4 that can be <4>
R4C8 is the only square in row 4 that can be <5>
R4C1 is the only square in row 4 that can be <6>
R6C8 is the only square in row 6 that can be <6>
R5C6 is the only square in row 5 that can be <6>
R5C4 is the only square in row 5 that can be <5>
R8C2 is the only square in row 8 that can be <3>
R2C7 is the only square in row 2 that can be <3>
R3C1 is the only square in row 3 that can be <3>
R7C5 is the only square in row 7 that can be <3>
R9C9 is the only square in row 9 that can be <7>
R3C5 is the only square in column 5 that can be <4>
R3C7 can only be <5>
R3C9 can only be <1>
R3C2 can only be <6>
R3C8 can only be <7>
R3C3 can only be <8>
R1C1 is the only square in row 1 that can be <5>
R2C3 is the only square in row 2 that can be <7>
R7C2 is the only square in row 7 that can be <5>
R9C6 is the only square in row 9 that can be <5>
R1C9 is the only square in column 9 that can be <4>
Squares R9C1 and R9C4 in row 9 form a simple naked pair. These 2 squares both contain the 2 possibilities <19>. Since each of the squares must contain one of the possibilities, they can be eliminated from the other squares in the row.
R9C3 - removing <19> from <1469> leaving <46>
R9C7 - removing <9> from <469> leaving <46>
Squares R1C7 and R5C7 in column 7 form a simple naked pair. These 2 squares both contain the 2 possibilities <29>. Since each of the squares must contain one of the possibilities, they can be eliminated from the other squares in the column.
R7C7 - removing <29> from <2689> leaving <68>
R8C7 - removing <29> from <2489> leaving <48>
Intersection of row 7 with block 9. The value <8> only appears in one or more of squares R7C7, R7C8 and R7C9 of row 7. These squares are the ones that intersect with block 9. Thus, the other (non-intersecting) squares of block 9 cannot contain this value.
R8C7 - removing <8> from <48> leaving <4>
R9C7 can only be <6>
R9C3 can only be <4>
R7C7 can only be <8>
R7C3 is the only square in row 7 that can be <6>
Squares R1C3 and R1C7 in row 1 and R5C3 and R5C7 in row 5 form a Simple X-Wing pattern on possibility <2>. All other instances of this possibility in columns 3 and 7 can be removed.
R8C3 - removing <2> from <129> leaving <19>
R8C8 is the only square in row 8 that can be <2>
R2C8 can only be <9>
R7C9 can only be <9>
R2C2 can only be <2>
R7C8 can only be <1>
R1C7 can only be <2>
R7C1 can only be <2>
R4C9 can only be <8>
R1C3 can only be <9>
R5C7 can only be <9>
R6C2 can only be <9>
R4C5 can only be <9>
R6C9 can only be <2>
R5C5 can only be <1>
R6C1 can only be <1>
R8C3 can only be <1>
R5C3 can only be <2>
R6C5 can only be <8>
R9C1 can only be <9>
R8C6 can only be <8>
R8C4 can only be <9>
R2C6 can only be <1>
R9C4 can only be <1>
R2C4 can only be <8>
Today's Sudoku Puzzles
All daily items change at midnight GMT. set time zone