Jan 04 - Very Hard
Puzzle Copyright © Kevin Stone
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Reasoning
R3C7 can only be <6>
R7C3 can only be <2>
R7C7 can only be <1>
R3C3 can only be <8>
R5C3 can only be <9>
R7C5 can only be <4>
R5C7 can only be <5>
R3C5 can only be <2>
R8C4 can only be <5>
R9C9 is the only square in row 9 that can be <7>
R9C8 is the only square in row 9 that can be <5>
Squares R1C1 and R1C2 in row 1 form a simple naked pair. These 2 squares both contain the 2 possibilities <27>. Since each of the squares must contain one of the possibilities, they can be eliminated from the other squares in the row.
R1C8 - removing <2> from <128> leaving <18>
R1C9 - removing <2> from <125> leaving <15>
Squares R4C2 and R4C4 in row 4 form a simple naked pair. These 2 squares both contain the 2 possibilities <47>. Since each of the squares must contain one of the possibilities, they can be eliminated from the other squares in the row.
R4C8 - removing <4> from <149> leaving <19>
Squares R8C8 and R8C9 in row 8 form a simple naked pair. These 2 squares both contain the 2 possibilities <24>. Since each of the squares must contain one of the possibilities, they can be eliminated from the other squares in the row.
R8C1 - removing <4> from <469> leaving <69>
R8C2 - removing <4> from <1469> leaving <169>
Squares R1C1 and R1C2 in block 1 form a simple naked pair. These 2 squares both contain the 2 possibilities <27>. Since each of the squares must contain one of the possibilities, they can be eliminated from the other squares in the block.
R2C1 - removing <2> from <269> leaving <69>
R2C2 - removing <2> from <269> leaving <69>
Squares R2C1 and R8C1 in column 1 form a simple naked pair. These 2 squares both contain the 2 possibilities <69>. Since each of the squares must contain one of the possibilities, they can be eliminated from the other squares in the column.
R9C1 - removing <6> from <46> leaving <4>
Squares R2C1, R2C2, R8C1 and R8C2 form a Type-1 Unique Rectangle on <69>.
R8C2 - removing <69> from <169> leaving <1>
R8C6 can only be <6>
R9C2 can only be <6>
R8C1 can only be <9>
R9C5 can only be <1>
R2C2 can only be <9>
R5C5 can only be <8>
R2C1 can only be <6>
R1C5 can only be <5>
R1C9 can only be <1>
R4C5 can only be <9>
R2C6 can only be <3>
R1C8 can only be <8>
R5C9 can only be <4>
R2C4 can only be <8>
R6C6 can only be <2>
R4C8 can only be <1>
R6C5 can only be <6>
R4C6 can only be <5>
R5C4 can only be <7>
R8C9 can only be <2>
R6C8 can only be <9>
R6C2 can only be <4>
R5C6 can only be <1>
R8C8 can only be <4>
R2C9 can only be <5>
R2C8 can only be <2>
R5C1 can only be <2>
R4C4 can only be <4>
R6C4 can only be <3>
R4C2 can only be <7>
R1C2 can only be <2>
R1C1 can only be <7>
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