Jul 19 - Super Hard
Puzzle Copyright © Kevin Stone
Share link – www.brainbashers.com
Reasoning
R2C6 can only be <2>
R8C6 can only be <9>
R4C6 can only be <3>
R6C6 can only be <4>
R5C6 can only be <7>
R1C2 is the only square in row 1 that can be <2>
R2C3 is the only square in row 2 that can be <7>
R5C5 is the only square in row 5 that can be <8>
R6C2 is the only square in row 6 that can be <3>
R3C1 is the only square in row 3 that can be <3>
R5C7 is the only square in row 5 that can be <3>
R7C2 is the only square in row 7 that can be <5>
R5C9 is the only square in block 6 that can be <5>
Squares R4C8 and R6C8 in column 8 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 column.
R1C8 - removing <9> from <149> leaving <14>
R3C8 - removing <69> from <4689> leaving <48>
R7C8 - removing <9> from <179> leaving <17>
R9C8 - removing <69> from <16789> leaving <178>
Squares R1C5<45>, R3C5<46> and R6C5<56> in column 5 form a comprehensive naked triplet. These 3 squares can only contain the 3 possibilities <456>. Since each of the squares must contain one of the possibilities, they can be eliminated from the other squares in the column.
R4C5 - removing <6> from <126> leaving <12>
Squares R2C1 and R2C9 in row 2 and R8C1 and R8C9 in row 8 form a Simple X-Wing pattern on possibility <8>. All other instances of this possibility in columns 1 and 9 can be removed.
R3C9 - removing <8> from <689> leaving <69>
Squares R2C1 (XY), R7C1 (XZ) and R3C2 (YZ) form an XY-Wing pattern on <9>. All squares that are buddies of both the XZ and YZ squares cannot be <9>.
R9C2 - removing <9> from <189> leaving <18>
Squares R9C2<18>, R9C5<17> and R9C8<178> in row 9 form a comprehensive naked triplet. These 3 squares can only contain the 3 possibilities <178>. Since each of the squares must contain one of the possibilities, they can be eliminated from the other squares in the row.
R9C3 - removing <1> from <169> leaving <69>
R9C7 - removing <1> from <169> leaving <69>
Squares R1C3 and R1C7 in row 1 and R9C3 and R9C7 in row 9 form a Simple X-Wing pattern on possibility <9>. All other instances of this possibility in columns 3 and 7 can be removed.
R5C3 - removing <9> from <149> leaving <14>
Squares R3C2 (XY), R9C2 (XZ) and R1C3 (YZ) form an XY-Wing pattern on <1>. All squares that are buddies of both the XZ and YZ squares cannot be <1>.
R8C3 - removing <1> from <146> leaving <46>
Squares R3C2 (XY), R2C1 (XZ) and R4C2 (YZ) form an XY-Wing pattern on <1>. All squares that are buddies of both the XZ and YZ squares cannot be <1>.
R5C1 - removing <1> from <149> leaving <49>
Squares R3C8 (XY), R3C5 (XZ) and R2C9 (YZ) form an XY-Wing pattern on <6>. All squares that are buddies of both the XZ and YZ squares cannot be <6>.
R2C4 - removing <6> from <56> leaving <5>
R3C9 - removing <6> from <69> leaving <9>
R1C5 can only be <4>
R3C2 can only be <8>
R7C9 can only be <2>
R1C8 can only be <1>
R3C5 can only be <6>
R1C3 can only be <9>
R1C7 can only be <5>
R7C8 can only be <7>
R2C7 can only be <6>
R2C9 can only be <8>
R8C7 can only be <1>
R9C7 can only be <9>
R2C1 can only be <1>
R8C9 can only be <6>
R3C8 can only be <4>
R9C2 can only be <1>
R6C5 can only be <5>
R7C5 can only be <1>
R9C8 can only be <8>
R8C4 can only be <2>
R8C3 can only be <4>
R9C5 can only be <7>
R4C2 can only be <9>
R7C1 can only be <9>
R9C3 can only be <6>
R4C8 can only be <6>
R5C1 can only be <4>
R6C8 can only be <9>
R5C3 can only be <1>
R8C1 can only be <8>
R5C4 can only be <9>
R6C4 can only be <6>
R4C5 can only be <2>
R4C4 can only be <1>
Today's Sudoku Puzzles
All daily items change at midnight GMT – set your local time zone.
Note: BrainBashers has a Dark Mode setting.