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Do You Sudoku?
By Warren Stearns of Comfortera Enterprises, Inc.
I am a puzzle nut. I do crosswords, ciphers and, of course, sudoku. Since we discovered sudoku.org.uk, my wife and I have a daily competition with each other to see who can solve the puzzle first (or fastest if we can't start at the same time). My method is to look for the "staggers", i.e. the numbers in the three columns and rows of squares in a column and row of "boxes" (nine square arrays) must not line up but be staggered. Then I look for places within rows columns and boxes where only one number can go. Eventually enough squares get filled so that the puzzle yields quickly to solution. My wife uses a more cumbersome but more thorough method. She writes all of the numbers into every square where they are not clearly contra-indicated and then looks for ways to eliminate them until only one is left for each square. In our competition, I generally win the easy puzzles since my method is more streamlined and my wife wins the most complicated ones since her method is more thorough. In my method I must remember all the moves leading to a conflicting result while my wife can see the conflict if she can wade through all the numbers she has written in the squares. Do you sudoku? Which method do you use or do you use a combination of both? Puzzles are a way to keep your mind active and your brain exercised; just as important as your body exercises. So if you can find puzzles you like do them and keep your mind alert. |
http://www.sudoku.org.uk
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I start with the top number in the Northwest box. I then follow that number both horizontally and vertically. If there is a box where the number can only fit in one square I fill in the number. Then I look for boxes where the number can only fit in one of two squares. I put the numbers very small in each of the two squares. Once I have exhausted all the information that first number can give me I circle it. Then I run the next number the same way and when I have found all the info that number can give me I circle it too. This circling the numbers eliminates a lot of duplicated effort. After circling all the numbers I generally have most of the puzzle solved. This is a very methodical method. It is also nice if you need to take a break form the puzzle. You know exactly where you left off and evaluate the first uncircled number. I then write all the possible missing numbers for each row and column on the sides of the puzzle. Let's say a row is missing 3,5 and 8. If any of those squares will not take 3 or 5 the square must be 8. I do all Sudoku puzzles with a pen and not a pencil. This means you have to definitely know that is the only number possible. It's a logic puzzle and not a guessing puzzle. I use a web page at SudokuGreen.com for Sudoku puzzles.
Thank you for sharing this story, Warren. I have never learned Sudoku puzzle solving. My biggest challenge currently and for the last 3 years is E commerce.
Now of course it's also article writing!!!Next is how to publish on other article sites.
Best wishes.
Frederick
Confession Time: A friend of mine gave me a sudoku magazine as a present. I have not even tried to learn how to solve the puzzles. I'm sure some day I'll get around to it. I have so many interests that it is hard to fit in one more. Your intel makes me very interested and the comments do too. Maybe I'll just have to find that mag. and try it.
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http://wstearns.qondio.com/
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