Nov 23 - Very Hard
Puzzle Copyright © Kevin Stone
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Reasoning
R2C6 can only be <8>
R3C7 can only be <2>
R6C2 can only be <1>
R7C3 can only be <9>
R2C4 can only be <7>
R4C6 can only be <6>
R3C3 can only be <1>
R5C6 can only be <2>
R4C2 can only be <4>
R5C4 can only be <4>
R1C5 can only be <6>
R9C3 can only be <4>
R5C1 can only be <6>
R1C3 can only be <2>
R8C8 is the only square in row 8 that can be <2>
R8C2 is the only square in row 8 that can be <6>
R9C7 is the only square in row 9 that can be <6>
Intersection of column 9 with block 3. The values <34> only appears in one or more of squares R1C9, R2C9 and R3C9 of column 9. These squares are the ones that intersect with block 3. Thus, the other (non-intersecting) squares of block 3 cannot contain these values.
R2C8 - removing <3> from <39> leaving <9>
R1C1 is the only square in row 1 that can be <9>
R1C9 is the only square in row 1 that can be <4>
R2C1 is the only square in row 2 that can be <4>
Intersection of column 1 with block 7. The values <15> only appears in one or more of squares R7C1, R8C1 and R9C1 of column 1. These squares are the ones that intersect with block 7. Thus, the other (non-intersecting) squares of block 7 cannot contain these values.
R9C2 - removing <5> from <358> leaving <38>
Intersection of block 8 with row 8. The value <5> only appears in one or more of squares R8C4, R8C5 and R8C6 of block 8. These squares are the ones that intersect with row 8. Thus, the other (non-intersecting) squares of row 8 cannot contain this value.
R8C1 - removing <5> from <158> leaving <18>
R8C9 - removing <5> from <1589> leaving <189>
Squares R3C1 and R3C9 in row 3 and R7C1 and R7C9 in row 7 form a Simple X-Wing pattern on possibility <8>. All other instances of this possibility in columns 1 and 9 can be removed.
R8C1 - removing <8> from <18> leaving <1>
R8C9 - removing <8> from <189> leaving <19>
R9C1 - removing <8> from <1358> leaving <135>
R9C9 - removing <8> from <1589> leaving <159>
R8C9 can only be <9>
R8C6 can only be <5>
R8C4 can only be <8>
R6C6 can only be <9>
R6C5 can only be <7>
R4C4 can only be <3>
R9C5 can only be <9>
R4C8 can only be <1>
R6C4 can only be <5>
R4C5 can only be <8>
R9C8 can only be <8>
R5C9 can only be <7>
R5C5 can only be <1>
R6C8 can only be <3>
R9C2 can only be <3>
R1C8 can only be <7>
R7C9 can only be <5>
R1C7 can only be <5>
R7C1 can only be <8>
R7C7 can only be <7>
R2C9 can only be <3>
R9C9 can only be <1>
R9C1 can only be <5>
R2C2 can only be <5>
R1C2 can only be <8>
R3C9 can only be <8>
R3C1 can only be <3>
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