Apr 03 - Hard
Puzzle Copyright © Kevin Stone
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Reasoning
R4C5 can only be <3>
R6C5 can only be <8>
R5C5 can only be <6>
R6C4 can only be <4>
R4C6 can only be <2>
R1C6 is the only square in row 1 that can be <6>
R2C8 is the only square in row 2 that can be <2>
R4C7 is the only square in row 4 that can be <5>
R5C7 is the only square in row 5 that can be <2>
R6C1 is the only square in row 6 that can be <2>
R8C8 is the only square in row 8 that can be <6>
R9C3 is the only square in row 9 that can be <6>
R1C1 is the only square in column 1 that can be <9>
R6C2 is the only square in column 2 that can be <9>
R6C7 can only be <1>
R6C3 can only be <7>
R5C8 can only be <4>
R4C3 can only be <4>
R8C2 is the only square in row 8 that can be <1>
R5C2 can only be <3>
R5C3 can only be <1>
R2C3 is the only square in block 1 that can be <3>
Squares R2C9 and R4C9 in column 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 column.
R1C9 - removing <7> from <1347> leaving <134>
R3C9 - removing <79> from <1479> leaving <14>
R9C9 - removing <9> from <1349> leaving <134>
Intersection of row 9 with block 8. The value <5> only appears in one or more of squares R9C4, R9C5 and R9C6 of row 9. These squares are the ones that intersect with block 8. Thus, the other (non-intersecting) squares of block 8 cannot contain this value.
R7C5 - removing <5> from <579> leaving <79>
Intersection of column 1 with block 7. The values <347> only appears in one or more of squares R7C1, R8C1 and R9C1 of column 1. These squares are the ones that intersect with block 7. Thus, the other (non-intersecting) squares of block 7 cannot contain these values.
R7C2 - removing <47> from <4578> leaving <58>
Squares R7C2 and R7C3 in row 7 form a simple naked pair. These 2 squares both contain the 2 possibilities <58>. Since each of the squares must contain one of the possibilities, they can be eliminated from the other squares in the row.
R7C7 - removing <8> from <3489> leaving <349>
R7C8 - removing <8> from <89> leaving <9>
R7C5 can only be <7>
R4C8 can only be <7>
R4C9 can only be <9>
R2C9 can only be <7>
R1C5 can only be <1>
R2C6 is the only square in row 2 that can be <9>
R3C5 can only be <5>
R3C3 can only be <8>
R9C5 can only be <9>
R2C4 can only be <8>
R2C2 can only be <5>
R1C4 can only be <7>
R8C4 can only be <3>
R3C8 can only be <1>
R7C3 can only be <5>
R3C9 can only be <4>
R9C8 can only be <8>
R3C2 can only be <7>
R3C7 can only be <9>
R1C9 can only be <3>
R7C2 can only be <8>
R9C4 can only be <5>
R9C6 can only be <4>
R8C7 can only be <4>
R1C2 can only be <4>
R1C7 can only be <8>
R9C9 can only be <1>
R8C1 can only be <7>
R8C6 can only be <8>
R7C7 can only be <3>
R9C1 can only be <3>
R7C1 can only be <4>
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