Mar 21 - Hard
Puzzle Copyright © Kevin Stone
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Reasoning
R5C1 can only be <2>
R5C9 can only be <1>
R2C2 is the only square in row 2 that can be <9>
R7C2 is the only square in column 2 that can be <1>
R2C4 is the only square in column 4 that can be <7>
R4C8 is the only square in column 8 that can be <9>
R2C9 is the only square in block 3 that can be <6>
Squares R6C7 and R6C8 in row 6 form a simple naked pair. These 2 squares both contain the 2 possibilities <48>. Since each of the squares must contain one of the possibilities, they can be eliminated from the other squares in the row.
R6C2 - removing <8> from <68> leaving <6>
R6C4 - removing <48> from <2458> leaving <25>
R6C5 - removing <48> from <24568> leaving <256>
R1C3 is the only square in row 1 that can be <6>
R3C3 is the only square in column 3 that can be <3>
Squares R4C2 and R4C3 in row 4 form a simple naked pair. These 2 squares both contain the 2 possibilities <78>. Since each of the squares must contain one of the possibilities, they can be eliminated from the other squares in the row.
R4C5 - removing <8> from <468> leaving <46>
Squares R2C7 and R6C7 in column 7 form a simple naked pair. These 2 squares both contain the 2 possibilities <48>. Since each of the squares must contain one of the possibilities, they can be eliminated from the other squares in the column.
R1C7 - removing <8> from <18> leaving <1>
R7C7 - removing <4> from <3457> leaving <357>
R8C7 - removing <4> from <1457> leaving <157>
Intersection of column 2 with block 1. The value <2> only appears in one or more of squares R1C2, R2C2 and R3C2 of column 2. These squares are the ones that intersect with block 1. Thus, the other (non-intersecting) squares of block 1 cannot contain this value.
R2C3 - removing <2> from <258> leaving <58>
Intersection of row 2 with block 2. The value <2> only appears in one or more of squares R2C4, R2C5 and R2C6 of row 2. These squares are the ones that intersect with block 2. Thus, the other (non-intersecting) squares of block 2 cannot contain this value.
R1C4 - removing <2> from <238> leaving <38>
R1C6 - removing <2> from <23> leaving <3>
R3C5 - removing <2> from <12458> leaving <1458>
R3C6 - removing <2> from <1245> leaving <145>
R1C4 can only be <8>
R5C6 can only be <9>
R1C2 can only be <2>
R5C4 can only be <3>
R5C5 can only be <8>
R8C4 is the only square in row 8 that can be <9>
R9C7 is the only square in row 9 that can be <3>
R7C5 is the only square in row 7 that can be <3>
R7C4 is the only square in column 4 that can be <4>
R7C9 can only be <2>
R7C8 can only be <6>
R3C9 can only be <4>
R2C7 can only be <8>
R9C8 can only be <1>
R8C8 can only be <4>
R2C3 can only be <5>
R6C7 can only be <4>
R3C8 can only be <2>
R6C8 can only be <8>
R9C3 can only be <2>
R3C1 can only be <7>
R3C2 can only be <8>
R7C1 can only be <5>
R4C2 can only be <7>
R4C3 can only be <8>
R7C7 can only be <7>
R8C1 can only be <6>
R8C7 can only be <5>
R9C4 can only be <5>
R8C3 can only be <7>
R9C6 can only be <6>
R6C4 can only be <2>
R4C6 can only be <4>
R4C5 can only be <6>
R2C6 can only be <2>
R6C5 can only be <5>
R3C5 can only be <1>
R2C5 can only be <4>
R8C6 can only be <1>
R3C6 can only be <5>
R8C5 can only be <2>
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