There were quite a few comments from our visitors, especially on the Daily Killer Sudoku page, which makes that and other pages load slow. Therefore, I have moved some of the old comments to this new category.
If you’d like to read what other people had to say about our puzzles you may find the old comment by clicking on the “comments” link below or here.
UPDATE (some 5 years later): I reopened the comments on all pages. Feel free to add your comments there, it means a lot to me!
Thinker 40778
Finally cracked it.
After Stu’s tip (20 above) had to check all possible combinations of 18 and 16 in nonet 9.
Once I got the 8 for c7r8 it fell out easily.
Think I have found my (low) level with these.
btw with DJ looking on I think it’s a brave person who declares a puzzle “unsolveable”.
Either 8 will have to go in more than once in the very last row of the puzzle or 3 will be missing from the first row of the last 3 boxes.
not sure how you got that, but it’s not correct. please explain your reasoning.
Bottom right box, the empty cases must add to 17, i.e. 9 and 8.
Look at bottom right box. We have 11, 11 and 6 which sum to 28. The two empty cases must add to 17 to reach 45.
I’m trying to help you but you’re not helping me. Yes, R7C9 and R9C7 must be 8+9, but I don’t see a problem there?
Last row, 23. Only possible combination 9, 8 and 6.
Correct. So? There’s still no problem there. Think about it a little more.
Middle bottom box. Every possible combination of 3 cases that gives 8 must contain 1. Therefore to get 10, we must use 8 and 2. R7C9 is therefore 8. Follow me?
Middle bottom box. To get 8, we use 1, 4 and 3. 3 goes bottom. R8C8, we use 3 alongside 6 and 2 to get 11. R7, we use 3 and 9 to get 12. 8 is completely missing from R7.
Your last conclusion is wrong. Everything else is correct. There’s still no reason why R7C9 can’t be 9.
Hold on. You first say R7C9 is 8, then you say 8 is missing from R7. That’s not possible.
You’re on the right track, but I think you need to slow down a little bit.
I think the key problem in your reasoning is “3 goes bottom”. Check that once again :).
R4C2 and R4C3 must contain 5 and 1. Therefore 1 goes in R5C8. R4C8 and R4C9 can only contain 4 and 4. For The sum 10 in R6C7, 91 is impossible (R5C8=1), 73 and 64 is impossible (R4C8 and R4C9 contain 4 and 3). 82 is the only possibility. So R7C9 is 8. Follow me?
That’s all wrong. R4C2 and R4C3 need not be 5+1.
SORRY. I have been confusing rows and columns. Substitute Rs for Cs.
A row goes from left to right. A column goes from top to bottom.
Ok, now you’re correct (R9C7=8). So?
R1C4=6 and R1C5=2. So R2C4 and R3C4 must have 5 and 1.
Do you have an hotmail address? It’s quicker in hotmail. I can explain to you exactly what I mean.
No, this is fun :). Write a long explanation in one comment. Continue from R2C4+R3C4=5+1
My point is that R2C4+R3C4 being 5+1, R8C4+R9C4 = 4+3. Therefore R7C6+R8C6 = 2+8. Follow?
Agree, but R8C4+R9C4 can be 3+4 in any order.
I propose this. Take a blank copy of today’s puzzle. Fill in the numbers as we go along and i wiil show where we get stuck. Ready?
Mayundo, I’m following everything you said. Write one long explanation and I will tell you where you went wrong, it’s much better and quicker than this way.
Got it. I used such a low quality printer to print the puzzle that the 6 in R8C9 looked like an 8. Otherwise, I solved it a long time ago but the numbers simply didn’t make sense. Sorry for waisting your time. I am to Comet to buy a better quality printer.
Will there be a new (insane?) killer avialable tomorrow?
Where exactly can i find previous killer puzzles on this site?
On the right hand side, in menu ‘Links’ you have Puzzle Archive. They are there.
Thanks Olga,I’ve finally done it. I clicked samunapure and there they were!
Well, I liked a lot this Friday’s IQ, it has been smooth and I had continously to put numbers and cancel clues…
Thanks again!
I agree with Teostress. Smooth is also how I would describe Friday’s IQ.
Mike Japan
Hi all
whats the latest on the new book in pdf ?
Ta
To all of you who are visiting only the ‘Daily Killer’ page… Yesterday I posted a brand new type of puzzle which is quite difficult to solve.
There are even some new solving techniques that come out from the layout of this puzzle. Have a look and see how you go with it.
Had a go at the new puzzle but gave up after discovering 2 6s in the same row (I realise this is possible, but not the way I’d done it) Maybe try later. Was the middle number in the top half a 3?
Mike Japan
New puzzle
Spent lots of time – eventually realised the opposing 3 cells in the rows/cols of 12 are same.
Also the pair elimination syatem works on the diagonal too. Key is to work on the diagonals I think.
On the homeward straight – everything coming together then I found an illegal duplicate.
Am sure it is just carelessness and my logic is correct. Not time to attempt a repeat so call it a moral victory.
Interesting diversion from time to time but I won’t be tempted away from killers aas a routine.
Thanks, though. DJ
Hasher, I’m a bit confused with your “illegal duplicate”. If you’re saying that there is a problem with the puzzle please explain it a bit more.
Have you checked the solution that I posted? It looks fine to me.
Mike, of course since you have rows and columns with 12 numbers that 3 of them must be repeated.
But the two 9×9 sudoku puzzles that constitute the large puzzle are regular, classic Sudoku and all the rules apply.
It’s the same thing as with Samurai.
Tried it again and went wrong again. I’m sure some people will like it but I didn’t get the same buzz as when I do a killer. I think Samurai are the same ie; work not fun. Sorry.
Mike Japan
Would you please forward the solution to the SAMURAI SUDOKU from Friday 11/18/05 Wxpress Weekend Lookout page E15.
Thanks,
Linda
Stu. I also evolved the same method as you regarding paired innies and outies and described it in slightly different terms under Contact (messages 31 & 32). I have extended this to encompass more than 2 cells.
For example, what cracked the insane puzzle 497818 for me was realising that C1R6 + C4R7 + C4R8 = 12. When all combinations of the then remaining candidates were considered C1R6 had to be 8 and the rest flowed from there.
Finished the double trouble at last! (After 3 tries, last try approx 1.5 hours) At one point I was stuck and made an educated guess between 7 or 9 in the botom 9×9 middle box, bottom left. I chose 9 and it all worked out OK. Phew! I’ve finished every killer you’ve posted and the only Samurai I’ve tried (found it a bit boring though), so I couldn’t leave one incomplete.
Mike Japan
The “Double Trouble” puzzle was good. Thanks dj once again! However, I didn’t recall using any “diagonal subsets” when solving it (possibly used it unaware). I did applied the hidden singles on the diagonals quite a lot. And one of the most useful tricks is that the triples on opposite ends of long rows/columns must contain the same candidates.
Yes, the triplets must be the same, of course not necessarily in the same order. That’s the “new solving technique” that I referred to, although it is essentially “naked subsets of 6”, but once you figure it out you can use it straight away.
I’m not sure if diagonal subsets really *have* to be used, but I think they can be used. It’s cool as long as you solved it :).
I’d rather you didn’t categorise the killers by type until the solutions come out. Also, have difficulty finding archived killers.
How is the pdf book coming along please
I enjoyed the Double Trouble, DJ.
Had one false start and then realised, Hey Babs, you have to CONCENTRATE on this one! I must say, I was thankful for the presence of the X-Factor in this debut puzzle!
Adele,
the PDF book will be done and I promise that I will send you an e-mail as soon as it’s available for online sale. 🙂
Thanks for your patience.
Cheers!
What has happened to the puzzle file ? It was so small today that it was unreadable without editing it to a ‘normal’ size first.
Also, what is this ‘double trouble’ puzzle ? Did I miss one over the weekend ? (The last one I did befpre today (Monday) was Friday’s) If so, where can I find it
Today’s cool, straightforward.