Sudoku Demonstration - Skyscraper Technique (Example 05)

[@RealScarlett33]

This is the GREATEST technique,Shuey! I was working on a puzzle last night and tried to find a skyscraper, but I had trouble spotting one. This video is particularly helpful because you point out false skyscrapers in the beginning and explain why they are so. I think I'm slowly getting it! Thank you!

[@Shuey187]

Thanks dl!! If you'd like to practice specifically on skyscrapers, Hodoku has a practice mode that let's you play puzzle after puzzle that are setup specifically with skyscrapers ready to find. It will not only give you the ability to search when you know one is available, but it will also help you get used to seeing them the more you practice. I can find them SO MUCH EASIER than I ever could when I first learned about them. You can also configure Hodoku like this for all of the other techniques as well. Happy Sudokuing :)

[@RealScarlett33]

Very good. I'll check Hodoku out! Thanks! :)

[@balkthor]

Interesting puzzle. I actually tried to solve it using other techniques and while I'm no expert and I'm sure there are probably a couple others, in this particular case, skyscraper method was the only one I saw that would help solve it.

[@cyhan0425]

Hello Shuey, excellent technique and tips for difficult sudoku. I watched all the 5 examples of Skyscraper. It makes perfect sense although I am still yet to find the pattern on my own. It looks like with Skyscraper we can solve any kind of tough sudoku. Is it always the case that there four spots that we can use Skyscraper technique or sometimes there isn't just any? I know there are other techniques like swordfish, XY wing, and X wing. Do you have videos on those techniques as well? Thanks again for your great tip.

[@oumaroudia]

Hi Shuey. I know have both Hodoku and Komoroske. I prefer the latter by far as it allows to copy puzzles from say newspapers and it also allows to input the candidates needed unlike Hodoku which shows all the candidates at the same time. I may be wrong as I have not experimented sufficiently with Hodoku. Would appreciate your thoughts! Thanks!

[@Shuey187]

I would definitely recommend looking at the features of Hodoku. It gives the ability to create puzzles (from newspapers and any other puzzle you find outside of the randomizer), and it also allows you to either hide all candidates, or manually enter candidates.

[@titushui]

Yes. You could input the puzzle manually. The following is my way to create the puzzle using Hodoku:- Just input the candidates as you like and then finally using copy values function to paste it into a text file (no signature) to generate the required given text-format file which could be opened by Hodoku.

[@oumaroudia]

Yup! After watching the skyscrapers series 1 through 5, I have now a pretty good idea. Where can I practice now using for instance an iPad or a Chromebook? Thanks!

[@Shuey187]

On iPad I'm not sure, other than maybe just checking the store for some free Sudoku apps that have good ratings. On your Chromebook, there are some decent websites where you can practice. One of my favorites that I used to use a lot (before I got Hodoku) was this one: www.komoroske.com/sudoku/. There's also some good ones you can find in the Chrome Web Store :).

[@ponkey8569]

Hi Shuey, awesome video! Quick question, wasn't there a skyscraper when you highlighted the 2's? (2 in top left box - middle left cell, 2 middle left box - bottom left cell, 2 in top middle box - middle left cell, and 2 in middle box - left middle cell?)

[@ponkey8569]

Ignore that, just reailsed there's no numbers that connects with both boxes

[@happyhighway]

What is the name of your software you use to color the cells?

[@Shuey187]

+happyhighway In the video, I was using "Simple Sudoku", but now I use "Hodoku" (More info: hodoku.sourceforge.net/en/index.php / Download: sourceforge.net/projects/hodoku/files)

[@rcrogerabbit]

why did you change from "simple sudoku to "hodoku"?

[@Shuey187]

hodoku is more polished and has a lot more features

[@Shuey187]

rcrogerabbit hodoku is more polished and has a lot more features

[@finalfrontier1124]

Would column 3 and column 8 also of been a skyscraper and could that elliminate column 2 r 5 ?

[@Shuey187]

Yes, at around the 5:00 mark in the video, I also cover that one.

[@coryrudy98]

May I ask why column 3 and column 8 are skyscrapers in terms of the number 5?

[@coryrudy98]

Earthbound Cory Nevermind...you went over it after I posted that. Haha. Great job with the videos!

[@Shuey187]

Earthbound Cory Thanks Cory :)

[@manbobenterprises1176]

1 k j m E.g take b2 - b5 we will have k,j,j,m etc the same will have k,m,j,m(cells ref. b2,c3,b4 and b5) then c will have k,k,j,m etc 2 j m k take c2(b) we will have kjjm the same will have k,m,j,m then c will have kkjm etc 3 j k m one letter k generates 3 options, the second the same when we get to row 2 the same 4 m k j bearing in mind the letters the options generated by the column from 1 to 4 must differ even if I what to go up to 100. which branch of maths is this? I what the program to generate unique letters in each cell and different from every column