Tricks For When You Get Stuck On A Hard Sudoku

[@markwilding3828]

Is it possible to use this sudoku interface and transfer in numbers from other sudokus? I would like to use it to solve other sudokus because I find it very clear and I like the corner and centre notation options.

[@rilian226]

Second this opinion!

[@holroy]

You're able to use f-puzzles.com/ to enter sudokus and solve with this notation style.

[@richardfarrer5616]

I really must show more restraint. I keep coming in of an evening and finding a new video. Then I have to sit down and solve the puzzle before watching the video and it's suddenly after midnight. Still delighted that I spotted the X-Wing and the 17 pair. Clearly i'm learning, slowly. Just a shame that it still took me over twice as long as Simon

[@thorbjrnhellehaven5766]

First I try to solve, then if I give up, I watch some of the video, and continue solving, then I resolve multiple times, trying to imrove the solving time, strying to beat the video-time. I try to force my selfe to solve, but not fill by memory, sometimes comming back some days later if I liked the puzzle, to solve it afteer I forgot more of positions.

[@glum_hippo]

Go to bed, Richard! Tomorrow is another day! :-) (Also: same here)

[@brucerose4383]

Me too.. this puzzle was very hard to get a toehold .. I then came close to solving but made a silly mistake and ended with many wrong numbers .. 2 hours later .. watched video and mistake was very innocuous but led to huge divergence .. and a hopeless cause ..

[@kvorum]

First time for me trying to solve it rather than just watch. I got stuck and had to watch a bit to get a hint. After you spotted the x-wing I could grind it out from there. Great video as always, and interesting to watch the rest of it having already solved it.

[@not2tees]

I draw encouragement simply from seeing you at a (however temporary) loss for your next move. I identify with such moments. Your speed is an inspiration but difficult for me to identify with . . . so far.

[@blackmoonroze9336]

I wanted to solve it without removing the numbers completely so I bent the method a little... I randomly entered the last three digits like you did and colored each box differently. Then matched the number to the color the actual fixed number was. Worked like a charm. The bottom three rows solved really easily and I worked my way up (I was lucky I guessed the numbers as soon as the first color was revealed but it's an option for when you cannot totally remove the numbers) :) thanks for teaching us new tricks! :D

[@davidh.4944]

I found the x-wing almost too quickly, but then couldn't see any other easy options. I ended up painstakingly eliminating candidates until it finally unwound. It took me about 70 minutes. I'm getting better, but progress is still slow.

[@FoolishBubbles]

Thanks for all the videos. Very enjoyable and I'm definitely improving my sudoku abilities. I really like using your web app for solving. Its super intuitive. Can you make a 'blank' version available? Then we could input other puzzles and solve them on your software

[@markwilding3828]

exactly!

[@TheBlackZodiacGhost]

15 minutes and I only found a single 2, an x-wing on 2s on row 6 and 7, column 5 and 7, 3s in row 1 is in column 2 or 6 and few snyder-notations... Have to give up and watch the video before trying to apply a solve. Really looking forward to the long videos you've announced EDIT: You found the x-wing twice as fast as I did :D After I saw how you found the 7 in row 1, the puzzle slowly but surely collapsed like a nice domino for me

[@maxfriis]

Exact same experience here :)

[@monkeybusiness673]

After watching you discuss the x-wing, I found a second one with 6's and from there on it was very doable....that first step, though, almost melted my brain. I'll keep trying. Thanks for all the content!

[@ValeriePallaoro]

First time newbie; using your application. (With your help) I got it out .. no claim to fame, but I got to use the 'check' button ... sooo glorious, 'looks good to me' says the pop up. Well designed. Very nicely done. I must say .. that 'doing' has helped a lot. Watching your videos is charming and useful, but putting all your 'rules' of action into practice? Brilliant!!

[@Playerx19]

Please place the 4

[@rilian226]

Seconded. He left it dangling there for a good few minutes...

[@nathangarciamuro]

Well done. Good eye seeing the x-wing I wasn’t able to see it. Once you spotted it Inwas able to finish quickly.

[@suetzg]

I was staring at the puzzle for quite some time, until I discovered the X-Wing of the "2". With the 1/7-pair on the bottom of column 5, I found the 7 in r1 c6. This was the "bridge" as I call it, that enabled me to solve the hole puzzle.

[@rabidsamfan]

35:29 and I am going to be pleases by that. Used slot machine on the twos and then found a 17 pair in the bottom center box., which was the leverage I needed. Now to watch the video to see how you do it.

[@goldenera7090]

@rabidsamfan, I also used slot machine on 2 but then had to bifurcate. well done at WSC.

[@SamCoca]

The X Wing on the 2's opened up the puzzle for me nicely.

[@sixis1399]

Really been enjoying content and learning loads on solving sudoku. Just a thought, have you considered using eye tracking software so we can see what you are concentrating on. I've seen gamers use it and I found it very helpful for thinking like a pro.

[@brianshields6374]

It’s amazing how strong people are at sudoku.

[@insaneyankee4996]

Sir you went for the X-wing .I spotted sword fish in column 1,4,7 . That also helps

[@Hephaestus_God]

Do you know any good website I can do Tapa puzzles without printing out sheets?

[@benjamineavenson3165]

After watching these videos every night for about a week, this is the first of the puzzles that he has shown that I've been able to complete. Had never heard of an x-wing in the context of Sudoku before watching these, but was able to use it to solve this one, thanks Simon! 56:08

[@crookedspin]

This is actually an identical pattern to a puzzle you solved a few weeks ago, just with a offset! Wonder if anyone else noticed. It was called Advanced Sudoku: X-wings made easy.

[@Alisson-pj9ww]

Begins at 3:19

[@furroy]

at 12:00 i see how the ones have to be locked in because of the 1 in the top box, but why does the 7 have to be as well? the 7 could also be in row 1 or 2 of that column yes? how does an X wing on 2 restrict the 7's ??? heeeelp

[@joelfong]

The key is to consider what those cells cannot contain. Both those cells at the bottom cannot be 2 (from x-wing), 3, 5, 9 (from the column), 6, 8 (from the same box), 4 (from the rows). The only possible candidates left to fill in those cells are 1 and 7. So 1 and 7 must be a pair there. There is literally no other option for those 2 cells.

[@gmoyano2]

When you put the 8 in the central box at 16:54 it can also be in the top right corner, you marked three spots for the 9 in that box, and you acted like there were only two spots for the 9, I think

[@ylenolsreppeptgs]

1 and 9 in the row :)

[@thomaswilke6312]

Another awesome lesson

[@joopjansen9102]

Let's start off with acknowledging I'm a noob - and the times to prove it ;-) I found the x-wing on 2, but I found a swordfish (I think it's called) on 2 at the same time: columns 1, 4 and 8 (rows 4, 8 and 9). Especially the combination of these structures looks incredibly powerful! But I don't know how to use this combo efficiently... Later, upon resolution of the x-wing, the swordfish transforms into another x-wing on 2. Beautiful to see, if nothing else :-) If I missed something powerful with this combination (like I said: I'm a noob), please let me know and if at all possible, point me to more puzzles with these structures.

[@j0hnc00]

I finally got how xwings are used thanks to this video

[@goldenera7090]

wow good work Simon. I spotted the X wing but it took me more than 10 min before my next step. I used bifurcation later..

[@eamonal-saffar2861]

I found a Sword fish on 2's before the X wing ahahah. The swordfish found the 17 pair and that cracked the puzzle, so it was kind funny seeing there was an x wing there

[@04LightningFan]

I didn't notice the X-wing in 2's in rows 6 & 7 right away, but I did notice the swordfish in 2's in columns 1, 4, & 8. I'm guessing it's because of the snyder notation in the bottom left box. I wonder if this puzzle is even solvable with finding that naked 1-7 pair in column 5, other than finding that pair, this puzzle was not difficult at all.

[@SelebiiMaster]

really nice crypto! first time really getting into one so was a hard one to start with but really enjoyed the X in this puzzle. learned a lot and was a lot of fun!

[@jm184]

Quite an easy solve once the X Wing on 2's forced the 1/7 pair. However, I would never have spotted that X Wing!!! Was completely stuck before he pointed that out.

[@scania9786]

18 mins, but got a bit lucky and spotted the x-wing almost right away

[@MrMagicMelone]

So after over an hour I finally solved the sudoku with the use of the X-Wing (Still a beginner in the logic behind sudokus, needed 40 mins to spot the X-Wing and make proper use of it). Meanwhile my mother solved it using her logic faster and because I can't understand it I hope anyone reading this can verify and maybe name this strategy: In row 2, column 5 both the 6 and 8 can fit in. Both only have one other place left, that are not the same (row 1 column 5 the 8; row 3 column 6 the 6) Her experience is now that in row 2, column 5 has to be either the 6 or the 8. With this information she solves the sudoku. This happened to her already more than a few times in the sudokus of the newspaper, that she usually solves. I have no idea how her statement that "there must be either a 6 or an 8 in the field" works. I hope anyone of you can expain this detailed.

[@batdowg]

Sounds like luck!

[@adamagedone]

Once the pencil marks have exausted their initial usefulness the first thing I do is search for hidden triples.

[@rodrigodemiguellamminen5244]

I really like the puzzles you post and your webpage is great. But you only post a video a day. Is there anywhere where there are more links to more puzzles?

[@stephanieingraldi6725]

I like dailykillersudoku.com for lots of killer sudoku puzzles

[@rabidsamfan]

I like enjoysudoku.com. The free version gives you several puzzles each day in a range of difficulties.

[@locustedfox]

If anyone knows, which program is this? Thanks for the video btw

[@ThatGuy-dj3qr]

I must try harder to spot x-wings. this would undoubtedly help with my solves.

[@jossdr]

Why did you decide row 7 and not row 9 for the 2nd row of the x wing. I don't see how you ruled out that 2s couldn't be in columns 5 and 7 of row 9.

[@BradWissing-ds9si]

At the 12:35 mark you placed the 7. I’m not seeing how you came to that conclusion

[@إنجيمحمد-ظ8ه]

لعبة ممتازة

[@stronggreenflame]

i got stuck so quick. 12 pencil marks and 1 number and i couldn't figure anything else out. uhg i thought i was getting better. love the channel though.

[@nicktecky55]

First time ever, I spotted the 2 X-wing... but I didn't have the vision to spot the 17 pair that unlocked the puzzle. :-{

[@ValeriePallaoro]

Yeah ... that was a crazy game changer.

[@lewiswegner2339]

29m 38s

[@davidboyeswahn4654]

Solved by the same X pairs of 2's :)

[@DukeTVGaming]

I have a universal formula i created to solve any sudoku & can used in my mind with a couple other projection techniques that i've created my self. So just pure self taught techniques would anyone want to see a video using them ? Where can i get that app used here to make a video ? or should i just film doing a hard book & explain my formula ?

[@XoIoRouge]

@@qc1okay Handwritten Sudoku in a book, he means. @Duke: You should try to avoid using a book because then you'll need to worry about lighting and all that stuff. Use a computer screen recorder instead. And the app they use has a forced Daily Puzzle (first link in description), so just google search, "Random sudoku puzzles" and you'll find websites. Record yourself using the technique on other websites.

[@DukeTVGaming]

@@XoIoRouge K thanx the app they use here would be perfect for showing my formula & technique via the app & screencapture with microphone input or camera. But i'd need a 'blank' app so i could input sudokus not being done by this channel. The current book i do is Will Shortz Huge book of hard sudoku, but i've also done mensa & blackbelt with the formula.

[@ValeriePallaoro]

It's their app. You would have to make your own app. Otherwise, no reason an overhead camera position with good light and correct hand movement would not let you film. As always .. it's not easy however if you can work out how to sudoko, on your own ... you can figure out this. I would think, however, that there is no 'universal' formula since there is such a wide range of options. Also ... you'd have to build your own subscribers ... no sneaky stealing from this page, yes?

[@DukeTVGaming]

@@ValeriePallaoro I really don't care about subscribers as i don't monetize my channel nor plan to ... but would love to have my universal formula critiqued by the experts here. My universal formula is used with standard projection techniques and is a very good aid to quickly solve sudokus on the fly. I think i will just film my universal formula with narration and submit here for review.

[@pedzsan]

The title is "Tricks ..." but I didn't really see any tricks for when I get stuck. I guess I missed it?

[@patriciadeakin9367]

Aw you move too fast for me😀

[@r0bw00d]

I quit here: i.postimg.cc/Z5Gqwywg/Sudoku.png I used every technique that I know and that's all that I could come up with. All I'm left with now is going row by row and column by column in an attempt to find triples or quadruples, which is boring and not worth the effort. This is a poorly constructed puzzle.

[@jimjimellell]

Well, you missed all the fun! I got stuck right away after finding only one 2, but I sifted through all those rows and columns looking for cells that were restricted to only two or three candidates (sometimes four). I noticed a pattern with the 7's and did a little bifurcation/chain which gave me All the 7's. Everything slowly unwound from there. It was indeed a Balrog of a puzzle, but I liked it!

[@r0bw00d]

@@jimjimellell Yeah, well, if I have to go through such tedium before being able to get to the good stuff, then I need some incentive, like money or something, because I won't willingly put myself through all of that.

[@jimjimellell]

@@r0bw00d Ha-Ha-Ha! It's just like weightlifting, my friend, No Pain = No Gain. When the going gets tough - The tough get going! Superman never quits and there is no Kryptonite in Sudoku. OK, Pep talk is over.