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		| shea89 
 
 
 Joined: 22 Apr 2012
 Posts: 3
 
 
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				|  Posted: Sun Apr 22, 2012 4:58 pm    Post subject: what technique am I missing to solve this puzzle |   |  
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				| Hi guys, 
 I'm making a sudoku solver which can only use techniques and not brute force/backtracking, I have a number of techniques implemented in my program but I'm kind of stuck on what technique to use next.
 
 I have a sample of 10 random hard puzzles and at the moment I'm completely solving 6 of them could someone have a look at my partially completed puzzle (possible candidates included) and maybe tell me the next technique to code.
 
 puzzle is here -> http://i43.tinypic.com/zugnlh.png
 
 This would be a great help thanks.
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		| Marty R. 
 
 
 Joined: 12 Feb 2006
 Posts: 5770
 Location: Rochester, NY, USA
 
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				|  Posted: Sun Apr 22, 2012 6:45 pm    Post subject: |   |  
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				| I transcribed the grid which might be easier for those who have to squint. 
 
  	  | Code: |  	  | +---------------+------------+-----------------+
 | 168  5   1468 | 46  9   7  | 2     3    168  |
 | 167  2   146  | 8   34  35 | 4567  9    1567 |
 | 3    678 9    | 456 2   1  | 45678 468  5678 |
 +---------------+------------+-----------------+
 | 5678 678 568  | 9   1   4  | 3     2    68   |
 | 9    68  3    | 25  7   25 | 1     68   4    |
 | 4    1   2    | 3   6   8  | 59    7    59   |
 +---------------+------------+-----------------+
 | 168  3   168  | 7   5   9  | 468   1468 2    |
 | 1258 4   158  | 12  38  6  | 789   18   3789 |
 | 1268 9   7    | 124 348 23 | 68    5    368  |
 +---------------+------------+-----------------+
 
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 Play this puzzle online at the Daily Sudoku site
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		| arkietech 
 
 
 Joined: 31 Jul 2008
 Posts: 1834
 Location: Northwest Arkansas USA
 
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				|  Posted: Sun Apr 22, 2012 7:03 pm    Post subject: Re: what technique am I missing to solve this puzzle |   |  
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				|  	  | shea89 wrote: |  	  | maybe tell me the next technique to code. | 
 Look in row 8 at digits 7 and 9. This is called a hidden pair. Other candidates can be removed from the 2 cells involved.
 Also any other 7 or 9 in row 8 or block 9 other the the 2 cells involved (if there were any).
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		| Marty R. 
 
 
 Joined: 12 Feb 2006
 Posts: 5770
 Location: Rochester, NY, USA
 
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				|  Posted: Mon Apr 23, 2012 1:14 am    Post subject: Re: what technique am I missing to solve this puzzle |   |  
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				|  	  | arkietech wrote: |  	  |  	  | shea89 wrote: |  	  | maybe tell me the next technique to code. | 
 Look in row 8 at digits 7 and 9. This is called a hidden pair. Other candidates can be removed from the 2 cells involved.
 Also any other 7 or 9 in row 8 or block 9 other the the 2 cells involved (if there were any).
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 That's all that's needed to complete it.
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		| shea89 
 
 
 Joined: 22 Apr 2012
 Posts: 3
 
 
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				|  Posted: Mon Apr 23, 2012 11:34 am    Post subject: |   |  
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				| Thanks so much, it was pointed out to me that row 8 also has a naked quad in it so now I've now coded naked quads and naked triples I'm now solving 9/10 puzzles from my sample pool, the last puzzle is this one http://i44.tinypic.com/2ibkqqq.png 
 could you please tell me the technique needed to complete his puzzle?
 
 Also you can click on the image to make it bigger if it seems too small
 
 Thanks,
 Shea.
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		| Marty R. 
 
 
 Joined: 12 Feb 2006
 Posts: 5770
 Location: Rochester, NY, USA
 
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				|  Posted: Mon Apr 23, 2012 3:38 pm    Post subject: |   |  
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				| Look at the 4s in row 8. |  | 
	
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		| Luke451 
 
 
 Joined: 20 Apr 2008
 Posts: 310
 Location: Southern Northern California
 
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				|  Posted: Tue Apr 24, 2012 1:37 am    Post subject: |   |  
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				| What, shea89, don't trust those answers over  these?   |  | 
	
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		| DonM 
 
 
 Joined: 15 Sep 2009
 Posts: 51
 
 
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				|  Posted: Tue Apr 24, 2012 4:13 pm    Post subject: |   |  
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				|  	  | Luke451 wrote: |  	  | What, shea89, don't trust those answers over  these?   | 
 
 Not to mention the fact that if one wants to program a sudoku solver, one is likely better off understanding basic solving first and might want to check out some tutorials such as this:
 
 http://www.angusj.com/sudoku/hints.php
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		| shea89 
 
 
 Joined: 22 Apr 2012
 Posts: 3
 
 
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				|  Posted: Tue Apr 24, 2012 9:00 pm    Post subject: |   |  
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				| Hi guys thanks for your answers I'm currently solving my sample pool of hard puzzles now, some more testing needed but hopefully its a complete solver. 
 As for posting on multiple sites I needed an answer pretty quick and didn't know how active the forums are so posted on this and two others.
 
 The project I'm undertaking doesn't require me to have an advanced understanding of sudoku to successfully make a solver and I don't pretend that I'm an advanced sudoku solver so thought I'd seek the expertise of the people on these forums.
 
 Thanks again,
 Shea
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