Dec 02 - Hard
Puzzle Copyright © Kevin Stone
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Reasoning
R5C5 can only be <5>
R5C6 can only be <4>
R5C4 can only be <7>
R4C6 can only be <9>
R6C4 can only be <6>
R1C9 is the only square in row 1 that can be <7>
R6C9 can only be <3>
R5C7 can only be <2>
R5C3 can only be <3>
R2C1 is the only square in row 2 that can be <7>
R2C6 is the only square in row 2 that can be <8>
R3C9 is the only square in row 3 that can be <9>
R6C7 is the only square in row 6 that can be <7>
R9C8 is the only square in row 9 that can be <4>
R4C8 can only be <5>
R4C7 can only be <4>
R3C8 can only be <3>
R8C8 can only be <8>
R2C9 is the only square in row 2 that can be <4>
R3C4 is the only square in row 3 that can be <4>
R8C5 is the only square in column 5 that can be <9>
Squares R2C7 and R3C7 in column 7 form a simple naked pair. These 2 squares both contain the 2 possibilities <15>. Since each of the squares must contain one of the possibilities, they can be eliminated from the other squares in the column.
R7C7 - removing <1> from <136> leaving <36>
R8C7 - removing <1> from <136> leaving <36>
Intersection of row 1 with block 2. The value <1> only appears in one or more of squares R1C4, R1C5 and R1C6 of row 1. These squares are the ones that intersect with block 2. Thus, the other (non-intersecting) squares of block 2 cannot contain this value.
R3C6 - removing <1> from <156> leaving <56>
Intersection of row 3 with block 1. The value <2> only appears in one or more of squares R3C1, R3C2 and R3C3 of row 3. These squares are the ones that intersect with block 1. Thus, the other (non-intersecting) squares of block 1 cannot contain this value.
R1C2 - removing <2> from <235> leaving <35>
R7C2 is the only square in column 2 that can be <2>
R7C9 can only be <1>
R8C9 can only be <2>
R7C3 is the only square in row 7 that can be <9>
R6C3 can only be <5>
R6C2 can only be <9>
R8C3 can only be <6>
R8C7 can only be <3>
R2C3 can only be <1>
R8C1 can only be <5>
R7C7 can only be <6>
R2C7 can only be <5>
R3C3 can only be <2>
R2C2 can only be <3>
R3C7 can only be <1>
R4C3 can only be <8>
R4C1 can only be <2>
R8C4 can only be <1>
R3C1 can only be <6>
R2C5 can only be <6>
R1C2 can only be <5>
R3C6 can only be <5>
R7C6 can only be <3>
R1C4 can only be <2>
R7C1 can only be <8>
R1C6 can only be <1>
R9C6 can only be <6>
R9C5 can only be <2>
R9C4 can only be <8>
R1C5 can only be <3>
R7C4 can only be <5>
R9C1 can only be <3>
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