Detailed Sudoku solution example, based on method of elimination. Note that the solution to this problem requires use of extended chains of logic that may appear indistinguishable from trial-and-error to the casual sudoku enthusiast. Notation: there are 81 squares, denoted by two digits representing the row and column respectively. (E.g. square 32 is 7.) There are 9 boxes, numbered one to nine reading left-to-right-and-top-to-bottom. (E.g. Box 7 contains a 3, 7 and 9.) A fully determined digit is surrounded by asterisks. Numeric possibilities ("pencilmarks") are noted in a 3x3 arrangement in each square. ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ ||***| | || | | ||***| | || ||*6*| | || | | ||*2*| | || ||***| | || | | ||***| | || ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ || | | || |***| || |***|***|| || | | || |*1*| || |*4*|*8*|| || | | || |***| || |***|***|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ || |***| ||***| |***|| | | || || |*7*| ||*9*| |*5*|| | | || || |***| ||***| |***|| | | || ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ ||***| | || | |***|| | | || ||*2*| | || | |*8*|| | | || ||***| | || | |***|| | | || ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ || | |***|| | | ||***| | || || | |*7*|| | | ||*1*| | || || | |***|| | | ||***| | || ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ || | | ||***| | || | |***|| || | | ||*3*| | || | |*6*|| || | | ||***| | || | |***|| ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ || | | ||***| |***|| |***| || || | | ||*1*| |*4*|| |*8*| || || | | ||***| |***|| |***| || ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***|***| || |***| || | | || ||*7*|*9*| || |*6*| || | | || ||***|***| || |***| || | | || ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ || | |***|| | | || | |***|| || | |*3*|| | | || | |*5*|| || | |***|| | | || | |***|| ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ Filling in all possible numbers... ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ ||***|1 3|1 || | 3| 3||***|1 3|1 3|| ||*6*|45 |45 ||4 |4 | ||*2*| 5 | || ||***| 8 | 89||78 |78 |7 ||***|7 9|7 9|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ || 3| 23| 2 || 2 |***| 23|| 3|***|***|| || 5 | 5 | 5 || 6|*1*| 6|| 56|*4*|*8*|| || 9| | 9||7 |***|7 ||7 9|***|***|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||1 3|***|12 ||***| 23|***|| 3|1 3|1 3|| ||4 |*7*|4 ||*9*|4 |*5*|| 6| 6| || || 8 |***| 8 ||***| 8 |***|| | | || ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ ||***|1 3|1 || | |***|| 3| 3| 3|| ||*2*|456|456||456|45 |*8*||45 | 5 |4 || ||***| | 9||7 |7 9|***||7 9|7 9|7 9|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ || 3| 3|***|| 2 | 2 | 2 ||***| 23| 23|| ||4 |456|*7*||456|45 | 6||*1*| 5 |4 || || 89| 8 |***|| | 9| 9||***| 9| 9|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||1 |1 |1 ||***| 2 |12 || | 2 |***|| ||4 |45 |45 ||*3*|45 | ||45 | 5 |*6*|| || 89| 8 | 89||***|7 9|7 9||789|7 9|***|| ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ || | 2 | 2 ||***| 23|***|| 3|***| 23|| || 5 | 56| 56||*1*| 5 |*4*|| 6|*8*| || || | | ||***|7 9|***||7 9|***|7 9|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***|***|12 || 2 |***| 23|| 3|123|123|| ||*7*|*9*|45 || 5 |*6*| ||4 | |4 || ||***|***| 8 || 8 |***| || | | || ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||1 |12 |***|| 2 | 2 | 2 || |12 |***|| ||4 |4 6|*3*|| | | ||4 6| 6|*5*|| || 8 | 8 |***||78 |789|7 9||7 9|7 9|***|| ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ Naked 5 in square 71 eliminates 5 in square 7, row 7, and column 1 ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ ||***|1 3|1 || | 3| 3||***|1 3|1 3|| ||*6*|45 |45 ||4 |4 | ||*2*| 5 | || ||***| 8 | 89||78 |78 |7 ||***|7 9|7 9|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ || 3| 23| 2 || 2 |***| 23|| 3|***|***|| || | 5 | 5 || 6|*1*| 6|| 56|*4*|*8*|| || 9| | 9||7 |***|7 ||7 9|***|***|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||1 3|***|12 ||***| 23|***|| 3|1 3|1 3|| ||4 |*7*|4 ||*9*|4 |*5*|| 6| 6| || || 8 |***| 8 ||***| 8 |***|| | | || ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ ||***|1 3|1 || | |***|| 3| 3| 3|| ||*2*|456|456||456|45 |*8*||45 | 5 |4 || ||***| | 9||7 |7 9|***||7 9|7 9|7 9|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ || 3| 3|***|| 2 | 2 | 2 ||***| 23| 23|| ||4 |456|*7*||456|45 | 6||*1*| 5 |4 || || 89| 8 |***|| | 9| 9||***| 9| 9|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||1 |1 |1 ||***| 2 |12 || | 2 |***|| ||4 |45 |45 ||*3*|45 | ||45 | 5 |*6*|| || 89| 8 | 89||***|7 9|7 9||789|7 9|***|| ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ ||***| 2 | 2 ||***| 23|***|| 3|***| 23|| ||*5*| 6| 6||*1*| |*4*|| 6|*8*| || ||***| | ||***|7 9|***||7 9|***|7 9|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***|***|12 || 2 |***| 23|| 3|123|123|| ||*7*|*9*|4 || 5 |*6*| ||4 | |4 || ||***|***| 8 || 8 |***| || | | || ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||1 |12 |***|| 2 | 2 | 2 || |12 |***|| ||4 |4 6|*3*|| | | ||4 6| 6|*5*|| || 8 | 8 |***||78 |789|7 9||7 9|7 9|***|| ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ Naked pair 26 in squares 72 and 73 eliminates 2 and 6 elsewhere in row 7 and box 7. ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ ||***|1 3|1 || | 3| 3||***|1 3|1 3|| ||*6*|45 |45 ||4 |4 | ||*2*| 5 | || ||***| 8 | 89||78 |78 |7 ||***|7 9|7 9|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ || 3| 23| 2 || 2 |***| 23|| 3|***|***|| || | 5 | 5 || 6|*1*| 6|| 56|*4*|*8*|| || 9| | 9||7 |***|7 ||7 9|***|***|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||1 3|***|12 ||***| 23|***|| 3|1 3|1 3|| ||4 |*7*|4 ||*9*|4 |*5*|| 6| 6| || || 8 |***| 8 ||***| 8 |***|| | | || ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ ||***|1 3|1 || | |***|| 3| 3| 3|| ||*2*|456|456||456|45 |*8*||45 | 5 |4 || ||***| | 9||7 |7 9|***||7 9|7 9|7 9|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ || 3| 3|***|| 2 | 2 | 2 ||***| 23| 23|| ||4 |456|*7*||456|45 | 6||*1*| 5 |4 || || 89| 8 |***|| | 9| 9||***| 9| 9|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||1 |1 |1 ||***| 2 |12 || | 2 |***|| ||4 |45 |45 ||*3*|45 | ||45 | 5 |*6*|| || 89| 8 | 89||***|7 9|7 9||789|7 9|***|| ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ ||***| 2 | 2 ||***| 3|***|| 3|***| 3|| ||*5*| 6| 6||*1*| |*4*|| |*8*| || ||***| | ||***|7 9|***||7 9|***|7 9|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***|***|1 || 2 |***| 23|| 3|123|123|| ||*7*|*9*|4 || 5 |*6*| ||4 | |4 || ||***|***| 8 || 8 |***| || | | || ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||1 |1 |***|| 2 | 2 | 2 || |12 |***|| ||4 |4 |*3*|| | | ||4 6| 6|*5*|| || 8 | 8 |***||78 |789|7 9||7 9|7 9|***|| ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ Hidden 5 in row 8 eliminates 2 and 8 from that square, and eliminates 5 in column 4. ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ ||***|1 3|1 || | 3| 3||***|1 3|1 3|| ||*6*|45 |45 ||4 |4 | ||*2*| 5 | || ||***| 8 | 89||78 |78 |7 ||***|7 9|7 9|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ || 3| 23| 2 || 2 |***| 23|| 3|***|***|| || | 5 | 5 || 6|*1*| 6|| 56|*4*|*8*|| || 9| | 9||7 |***|7 ||7 9|***|***|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||1 3|***|12 ||***| 23|***|| 3|1 3|1 3|| ||4 |*7*|4 ||*9*|4 |*5*|| 6| 6| || || 8 |***| 8 ||***| 8 |***|| | | || ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ ||***|1 3|1 || | |***|| 3| 3| 3|| ||*2*|456|456||4 6|45 |*8*||45 | 5 |4 || ||***| | 9||7 |7 9|***||7 9|7 9|7 9|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ || 3| 3|***|| 2 | 2 | 2 ||***| 23| 23|| ||4 |456|*7*||4 6|45 | 6||*1*| 5 |4 || || 89| 8 |***|| | 9| 9||***| 9| 9|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||1 |1 |1 ||***| 2 |12 || | 2 |***|| ||4 |45 |45 ||*3*|45 | ||45 | 5 |*6*|| || 89| 8 | 89||***|7 9|7 9||789|7 9|***|| ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ ||***| 2 | 2 ||***| 3|***|| 3|***| 3|| ||*5*| 6| 6||*1*| |*4*|| |*8*| || ||***| | ||***|7 9|***||7 9|***|7 9|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***|***|1 ||***|***| 23|| 3|123|123|| ||*7*|*9*|4 ||*5*|*6*| ||4 | |4 || ||***|***| 8 ||***|***| || | | || ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||1 |1 |***|| 2 | 2 | 2 || |12 |***|| ||4 |4 |*3*|| | | ||4 6| 6|*5*|| || 8 | 8 |***||78 |789|7 9||7 9|7 9|***|| ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ Hidden 8 in row 8. ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ ||***|1 3|1 || | 3| 3||***|1 3|1 3|| ||*6*|45 |45 ||4 |4 | ||*2*| 5 | || ||***| 8 | 9||78 |78 |7 ||***|7 9|7 9|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ || 3| 23| 2 || 2 |***| 23|| 3|***|***|| || | 5 | 5 || 6|*1*| 6|| 56|*4*|*8*|| || 9| | 9||7 |***|7 ||7 9|***|***|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||1 3|***|12 ||***| 23|***|| 3|1 3|1 3|| ||4 |*7*|4 ||*9*|4 |*5*|| 6| 6| || || 8 |***| ||***| 8 |***|| | | || ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ ||***|1 3|1 || | |***|| 3| 3| 3|| ||*2*|456|456||4 6|45 |*8*||45 | 5 |4 || ||***| | 9||7 |7 9|***||7 9|7 9|7 9|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ || 3| 3|***|| 2 | 2 | 2 ||***| 23| 23|| ||4 |456|*7*||4 6|45 | 6||*1*| 5 |4 || || 89| 8 |***|| | 9| 9||***| 9| 9|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||1 |1 |1 ||***| 2 |12 || | 2 |***|| ||4 |45 |45 ||*3*|45 | ||45 | 5 |*6*|| || 89| 8 | 9||***|7 9|7 9||789|7 9|***|| ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ ||***| 2 | 2 ||***| 3|***|| 3|***| 3|| ||*5*| 6| 6||*1*| |*4*|| |*8*| || ||***| | ||***|7 9|***||7 9|***|7 9|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***|***|***||***|***| 23|| 3|123|123|| ||*7*|*9*|*8*||*5*|*6*| ||4 | |4 || ||***|***|***||***|***| || | | || ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||1 |1 |***|| 2 | 2 | 2 || |12 |***|| ||4 |4 |*3*|| | | ||4 6| 6|*5*|| || | |***||78 |789|7 9||7 9|7 9|***|| ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ Naked pair 14 in squares 91 and 92 eliminates 1 in square 98 and 4 in square 97. ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ ||***|1 3|1 || | 3| 3||***|1 3|1 3|| ||*6*|45 |45 ||4 |4 | ||*2*| 5 | || ||***| 8 | 9||78 |78 |7 ||***|7 9|7 9|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ || 3| 23| 2 || 2 |***| 23|| 3|***|***|| || | 5 | 5 || 6|*1*| 6|| 56|*4*|*8*|| || 9| | 9||7 |***|7 ||7 9|***|***|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||1 3|***|12 ||***| 23|***|| 3|1 3|1 3|| ||4 |*7*|4 ||*9*|4 |*5*|| 6| 6| || || 8 |***| ||***| 8 |***|| | | || ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ ||***|1 3|1 || | |***|| 3| 3| 3|| ||*2*|456|456||4 6|45 |*8*||45 | 5 |4 || ||***| | 9||7 |7 9|***||7 9|7 9|7 9|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ || 3| 3|***|| 2 | 2 | 2 ||***| 23| 23|| ||4 |456|*7*||4 6|45 | 6||*1*| 5 |4 || || 89| 8 |***|| | 9| 9||***| 9| 9|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||1 |1 |1 ||***| 2 |12 || | 2 |***|| ||4 |45 |45 ||*3*|45 | ||45 | 5 |*6*|| || 89| 8 | 9||***|7 9|7 9||789|7 9|***|| ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ ||***| 2 | 2 ||***| 3|***|| 3|***| 3|| ||*5*| 6| 6||*1*| |*4*|| |*8*| || ||***| | ||***|7 9|***||7 9|***|7 9|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***|***|***||***|***| 23|| 3|123|123|| ||*7*|*9*|*8*||*5*|*6*| ||4 | |4 || ||***|***|***||***|***| || | | || ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||1 |1 |***|| 2 | 2 | 2 || | 2 |***|| ||4 |4 |*3*|| | | || 6| 6|*5*|| || | |***||78 |789|7 9||7 9|7 9|***|| ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ Hidden 1 in column 6 and hidden 8 in column 7. ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ ||***|1 3|1 || | 3| 3||***|1 3|1 3|| ||*6*|45 |45 ||4 |4 | ||*2*| 5 | || ||***| 8 | 9||78 |78 |7 ||***|7 9|7 9|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ || 3| 23| 2 || 2 |***| 23|| 3|***|***|| || | 5 | 5 || 6|*1*| 6|| 56|*4*|*8*|| || 9| | 9||7 |***|7 ||7 9|***|***|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||1 3|***|12 ||***| 23|***|| 3|1 3|1 3|| ||4 |*7*|4 ||*9*|4 |*5*|| 6| 6| || || 8 |***| ||***| 8 |***|| | | || ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ ||***|1 3|1 || | |***|| 3| 3| 3|| ||*2*|456|456||4 6|45 |*8*||45 | 5 |4 || ||***| | 9||7 |7 9|***||7 9|7 9|7 9|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ || 3| 3|***|| 2 | 2 | 2 ||***| 23| 23|| ||4 |456|*7*||4 6|45 | 6||*1*| 5 |4 || || 89| 8 |***|| | 9| 9||***| 9| 9|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ || | | ||***| 2 |***||***| 2 |***|| ||4 |45 |45 ||*3*|45 |*1*||*8*| 5 |*6*|| || 9| | 9||***|7 9|***||***|7 9|***|| ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ ||***| 2 | 2 ||***| 3|***|| 3|***| 3|| ||*5*| 6| 6||*1*| |*4*|| |*8*| || ||***| | ||***|7 9|***||7 9|***|7 9|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***|***|***||***|***| 23|| 3|123|123|| ||*7*|*9*|*8*||*5*|*6*| ||4 | |4 || ||***|***|***||***|***| || | | || ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||1 |1 |***|| 2 | 2 | 2 || | 2 |***|| ||4 |4 |*3*|| | | || 6| 6|*5*|| || | |***||78 |789|7 9||7 9|7 9|***|| ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ Naked triplet 459 in squares 61, 62 and 63 eliminates 4, 5 and 9 from square 4 and row 6. ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ ||***|1 3|1 || | 3| 3||***|1 3|1 3|| ||*6*|45 |45 ||4 |4 | ||*2*| 5 | || ||***| 8 | 9||78 |78 |7 ||***|7 9|7 9|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ || 3| 23| 2 || 2 |***| 23|| 3|***|***|| || | 5 | 5 || 6|*1*| 6|| 56|*4*|*8*|| || 9| | 9||7 |***|7 ||7 9|***|***|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||1 3|***|12 ||***| 23|***|| 3|1 3|1 3|| ||4 |*7*|4 ||*9*|4 |*5*|| 6| 6| || || 8 |***| ||***| 8 |***|| | | || ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ ||***|1 3|1 || | |***|| 3| 3| 3|| ||*2*| 6| 6||4 6|45 |*8*||45 | 5 |4 || ||***| | ||7 |7 9|***||7 9|7 9|7 9|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ || 3| 3|***|| 2 | 2 | 2 ||***| 23| 23|| || | 6|*7*||4 6|45 | 6||*1*| 5 |4 || || 8 | 8 |***|| | 9| 9||***| 9| 9|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ || | | ||***| 2 |***||***| 2 |***|| ||4 |45 |45 ||*3*| |*1*||*8*| |*6*|| || 9| | 9||***|7 |***||***|7 |***|| ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ ||***| 2 | 2 ||***| 3|***|| 3|***| 3|| ||*5*| 6| 6||*1*| |*4*|| |*8*| || ||***| | ||***|7 9|***||7 9|***|7 9|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***|***|***||***|***| 23|| 3|123|123|| ||*7*|*9*|*8*||*5*|*6*| ||4 | |4 || ||***|***|***||***|***| || | | || ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||1 |1 |***|| 2 | 2 | 2 || | 2 |***|| ||4 |4 |*3*|| | | || 6| 6|*5*|| || | |***||78 |789|7 9||7 9|7 9|***|| ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ Naked triple 136 in squares 37, 38 and 39. ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ ||***|1 3|1 || | 3| 3||***| | || ||*6*|45 |45 ||4 |4 | ||*2*| 5 | || ||***| 8 | 9||78 |78 |7 ||***|7 9|7 9|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ || 3| 23| 2 || 2 |***| 23|| |***|***|| || | 5 | 5 || 6|*1*| 6|| 5 |*4*|*8*|| || 9| | 9||7 |***|7 ||7 9|***|***|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ || |***| 2 ||***| 2 |***|| 3|1 3|1 3|| ||4 |*7*|4 ||*9*|4 |*5*|| 6| 6| || || 8 |***| ||***| 8 |***|| | | || ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ ||***|1 3|1 || | |***|| 3| 3| 3|| ||*2*| 6| 6||4 6|45 |*8*||45 | 5 |4 || ||***| | ||7 |7 9|***||7 9|7 9|7 9|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ || 3| 3|***|| 2 | 2 | 2 ||***| 23| 23|| || | 6|*7*||4 6|45 | 6||*1*| 5 |4 || || 8 | 8 |***|| | 9| 9||***| 9| 9|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ || | | ||***| 2 |***||***| 2 |***|| ||4 |45 |45 ||*3*| |*1*||*8*| |*6*|| || 9| | 9||***|7 |***||***|7 |***|| ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ ||***| 2 | 2 ||***| 3|***|| 3|***| 3|| ||*5*| 6| 6||*1*| |*4*|| |*8*| || ||***| | ||***|7 9|***||7 9|***|7 9|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***|***|***||***|***| 23|| 3|123|123|| ||*7*|*9*|*8*||*5*|*6*| ||4 | |4 || ||***|***|***||***|***| || | | || ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||1 |1 |***|| 2 | 2 | 2 || | 2 |***|| ||4 |4 |*3*|| | | || 6| 6|*5*|| || | |***||78 |789|7 9||7 9|7 9|***|| ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ Hidden 1 in square 91, leads to naked 4 in square 92. ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ ||***|1 3|1 || | 3| 3||***| | || ||*6*| 5 |45 ||4 |4 | ||*2*| 5 | || ||***| 8 | 9||78 |78 |7 ||***|7 9|7 9|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ || 3| 23| 2 || 2 |***| 23|| |***|***|| || | 5 | 5 || 6|*1*| 6|| 5 |*4*|*8*|| || 9| | 9||7 |***|7 ||7 9|***|***|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ || |***| 2 ||***| 2 |***|| 3|1 3|1 3|| ||4 |*7*|4 ||*9*|4 |*5*|| 6| 6| || || 8 |***| ||***| 8 |***|| | | || ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ ||***|1 3|1 || | |***|| 3| 3| 3|| ||*2*| 6| 6||4 6|45 |*8*||45 | 5 |4 || ||***| | ||7 |7 9|***||7 9|7 9|7 9|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ || 3| 3|***|| 2 | 2 | 2 ||***| 23| 23|| || | 6|*7*||4 6|45 | 6||*1*| 5 |4 || || 8 | 8 |***|| | 9| 9||***| 9| 9|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ || | | ||***| 2 |***||***| 2 |***|| ||4 | 5 |45 ||*3*| |*1*||*8*| |*6*|| || 9| | 9||***|7 |***||***|7 |***|| ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ ||***| 2 | 2 ||***| 3|***|| 3|***| 3|| ||*5*| 6| 6||*1*| |*4*|| |*8*| || ||***| | ||***|7 9|***||7 9|***|7 9|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***|***|***||***|***| 23|| 3|123|123|| ||*7*|*9*|*8*||*5*|*6*| ||4 | |4 || ||***|***|***||***|***| || | | || ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***|***|***|| 2 | 2 | 2 || | 2 |***|| ||*1*|*4*|*3*|| | | || 6| 6|*5*|| ||***|***|***||78 |789|7 9||7 9|7 9|***|| ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ Naked 5 in square 62 ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ ||***|1 3|1 || | 3| 3||***| | || ||*6*| |45 ||4 |4 | ||*2*| 5 | || ||***| 8 | 9||78 |78 |7 ||***|7 9|7 9|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ || 3| 23| 2 || 2 |***| 23|| |***|***|| || | | 5 || 6|*1*| 6|| 5 |*4*|*8*|| || 9| | 9||7 |***|7 ||7 9|***|***|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ || |***| 2 ||***| 2 |***|| 3|1 3|1 3|| ||4 |*7*|4 ||*9*|4 |*5*|| 6| 6| || || 8 |***| ||***| 8 |***|| | | || ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ ||***|1 3|1 || | |***|| 3| 3| 3|| ||*2*| 6| 6||4 6|45 |*8*||45 | 5 |4 || ||***| | ||7 |7 9|***||7 9|7 9|7 9|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ || 3| 3|***|| 2 | 2 | 2 ||***| 23| 23|| || | 6|*7*||4 6|45 | 6||*1*| 5 |4 || || 8 | 8 |***|| | 9| 9||***| 9| 9|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ || |***| ||***| 2 |***||***| 2 |***|| ||4 |*5*|4 ||*3*| |*1*||*8*| |*6*|| || 9|***| 9||***|7 |***||***|7 |***|| ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ ||***| 2 | 2 ||***| 3|***|| 3|***| 3|| ||*5*| 6| 6||*1*| |*4*|| |*8*| || ||***| | ||***|7 9|***||7 9|***|7 9|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***|***|***||***|***| 23|| 3|123|123|| ||*7*|*9*|*8*||*5*|*6*| ||4 | |4 || ||***|***|***||***|***| || | | || ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***|***|***|| 2 | 2 | 2 || | 2 |***|| ||*1*|*4*|*3*|| | | || 6| 6|*5*|| ||***|***|***||78 |789|7 9||7 9|7 9|***|| ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ Forcing chain beginning in square 42 ends in contradiction: if square 42 is a 3, then square 12 must be 1, so square 31 must be 8, so square 51 must be 3, which contradicts the original assumption that square 42 is a 3. Eliminate 3 from square 42. ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ ||***|1 3|1 || | 3| 3||***| | || ||*6*| |45 ||4 |4 | ||*2*| 5 | || ||***| 8 | 9||78 |78 |7 ||***|7 9|7 9|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ || 3| 23| 2 || 2 |***| 23|| |***|***|| || | | 5 || 6|*1*| 6|| 5 |*4*|*8*|| || 9| | 9||7 |***|7 ||7 9|***|***|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ || |***| 2 ||***| 2 |***|| 3|1 3|1 3|| ||4 |*7*|4 ||*9*|4 |*5*|| 6| 6| || || 8 |***| ||***| 8 |***|| | | || ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ ||***|1 |1 || | |***|| 3| 3| 3|| ||*2*| 6| 6||4 6|45 |*8*||45 | 5 |4 || ||***| | ||7 |7 9|***||7 9|7 9|7 9|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ || 3| 3|***|| 2 | 2 | 2 ||***| 23| 23|| || | 6|*7*||4 6|45 | 6||*1*| 5 |4 || || 8 | 8 |***|| | 9| 9||***| 9| 9|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ || |***| ||***| 2 |***||***| 2 |***|| ||4 |*5*|4 ||*3*| |*1*||*8*| |*6*|| || 9|***| 9||***|7 |***||***|7 |***|| ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ ||***| 2 | 2 ||***| 3|***|| 3|***| 3|| ||*5*| 6| 6||*1*| |*4*|| |*8*| || ||***| | ||***|7 9|***||7 9|***|7 9|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***|***|***||***|***| 23|| 3|123|123|| ||*7*|*9*|*8*||*5*|*6*| ||4 | |4 || ||***|***|***||***|***| || | | || ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***|***|***|| 2 | 2 | 2 || | 2 |***|| ||*1*|*4*|*3*|| | | || 6| 6|*5*|| ||***|***|***||78 |789|7 9||7 9|7 9|***|| ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ Naked pair 16 in squares 42 and 43. ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ ||***|1 3|1 || | 3| 3||***| | || ||*6*| |45 ||4 |4 | ||*2*| 5 | || ||***| 8 | 9||78 |78 |7 ||***|7 9|7 9|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ || 3| 23| 2 || 2 |***| 23|| |***|***|| || | | 5 || 6|*1*| 6|| 5 |*4*|*8*|| || 9| | 9||7 |***|7 ||7 9|***|***|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ || |***| 2 ||***| 2 |***|| 3|1 3|1 3|| ||4 |*7*|4 ||*9*|4 |*5*|| 6| 6| || || 8 |***| ||***| 8 |***|| | | || ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ ||***|1 |1 || | |***|| 3| 3| 3|| ||*2*| 6| 6||4 |45 |*8*||45 | 5 |4 || ||***| | ||7 |7 9|***||7 9|7 9|7 9|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ || 3| 3|***|| 2 | 2 | 2 ||***| 23| 23|| || | |*7*||4 6|45 | 6||*1*| 5 |4 || || 8 | 8 |***|| | 9| 9||***| 9| 9|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ || |***| ||***| 2 |***||***| 2 |***|| ||4 |*5*|4 ||*3*| |*1*||*8*| |*6*|| || 9|***| 9||***|7 |***||***|7 |***|| ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ ||***| 2 | 2 ||***| 3|***|| 3|***| 3|| ||*5*| 6| 6||*1*| |*4*|| |*8*| || ||***| | ||***|7 9|***||7 9|***|7 9|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***|***|***||***|***| 23|| 3|123|123|| ||*7*|*9*|*8*||*5*|*6*| ||4 | |4 || ||***|***|***||***|***| || | | || ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***|***|***|| 2 | 2 | 2 || | 2 |***|| ||*1*|*4*|*3*|| | | || 6| 6|*5*|| ||***|***|***||78 |789|7 9||7 9|7 9|***|| ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ Naked pair 38 in squares 51 and 52. ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ ||***|1 3|1 || | 3| 3||***| | || ||*6*| |45 ||4 |4 | ||*2*| 5 | || ||***| 8 | 9||78 |78 |7 ||***|7 9|7 9|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ || 3| 23| 2 || 2 |***| 23|| |***|***|| || | | 5 || 6|*1*| 6|| 5 |*4*|*8*|| || 9| | 9||7 |***|7 ||7 9|***|***|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ || |***| 2 ||***| 2 |***|| 3|1 3|1 3|| ||4 |*7*|4 ||*9*|4 |*5*|| 6| 6| || || 8 |***| ||***| 8 |***|| | | || ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ ||***|1 |1 || | |***|| 3| 3| 3|| ||*2*| 6| 6||4 |45 |*8*||45 | 5 |4 || ||***| | ||7 |7 9|***||7 9|7 9|7 9|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ || 3| 3|***|| 2 | 2 | 2 ||***| 2 | 2 || || | |*7*||4 6|45 | 6||*1*| 5 |4 || || 8 | 8 |***|| | 9| 9||***| 9| 9|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ || |***| ||***| 2 |***||***| 2 |***|| ||4 |*5*|4 ||*3*| |*1*||*8*| |*6*|| || 9|***| 9||***|7 |***||***|7 |***|| ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ ||***| 2 | 2 ||***| 3|***|| 3|***| 3|| ||*5*| 6| 6||*1*| |*4*|| |*8*| || ||***| | ||***|7 9|***||7 9|***|7 9|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***|***|***||***|***| 23|| 3|123|123|| ||*7*|*9*|*8*||*5*|*6*| ||4 | |4 || ||***|***|***||***|***| || | | || ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***|***|***|| 2 | 2 | 2 || | 2 |***|| ||*1*|*4*|*3*|| | | || 6| 6|*5*|| ||***|***|***||78 |789|7 9||7 9|7 9|***|| ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ If square 65 is a 2, then square 68 must be 7, so square 98 would not contain a 7. If square 65 is not a 2, then it is 7, and then only row 9 in box 8 can have 7s, so square 98 cannot have a 7 in that case either. Conclusion is that square 98 may not contain a 7. ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ ||***|1 3|1 || | 3| 3||***| | || ||*6*| |45 ||4 |4 | ||*2*| 5 | || ||***| 8 | 9||78 |78 |7 ||***|7 9|7 9|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ || 3| 23| 2 || 2 |***| 23|| |***|***|| || | | 5 || 6|*1*| 6|| 5 |*4*|*8*|| || 9| | 9||7 |***|7 ||7 9|***|***|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ || |***| 2 ||***| 2 |***|| 3|1 3|1 3|| ||4 |*7*|4 ||*9*|4 |*5*|| 6| 6| || || 8 |***| ||***| 8 |***|| | | || ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ ||***|1 |1 || | |***|| 3| 3| 3|| ||*2*| 6| 6||4 |45 |*8*||45 | 5 |4 || ||***| | ||7 |7 9|***||7 9|7 9|7 9|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ || 3| 3|***|| 2 | 2 | 2 ||***| 2 | 2 || || | |*7*||4 6|45 | 6||*1*| 5 |4 || || 8 | 8 |***|| | 9| 9||***| 9| 9|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ || |***| ||***| 2 |***||***| 2 |***|| ||4 |*5*|4 ||*3*| |*1*||*8*| |*6*|| || 9|***| 9||***|7 |***||***|7 |***|| ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ ||***| 2 | 2 ||***| 3|***|| 3|***| 3|| ||*5*| 6| 6||*1*| |*4*|| |*8*| || ||***| | ||***|7 9|***||7 9|***|7 9|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***|***|***||***|***| 23|| 3|123|123|| ||*7*|*9*|*8*||*5*|*6*| ||4 | |4 || ||***|***|***||***|***| || | | || ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***|***|***|| 2 | 2 | 2 || | 2 |***|| ||*1*|*4*|*3*|| | | || 6| 6|*5*|| ||***|***|***||78 |789|7 9||7 9| 9|***|| ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ Contradiction if square 87 is a 3. If square 87 is a 3, then squares 77 and 79 form a naked pair, such that square 97 must be a 6. Unfortunately, if square 87 is a 3, then square 37 must be a 6, which implies that square 97 cannot be a 6. Therefore square 87 may not be 3. ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ ||***|1 3|1 || | 3| 3||***| | || ||*6*| |45 ||4 |4 | ||*2*| 5 | || ||***| 8 | 9||78 |78 |7 ||***|7 9|7 9|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ || 3| 23| 2 || 2 |***| 23|| |***|***|| || | | 5 || 6|*1*| 6|| 5 |*4*|*8*|| || 9| | 9||7 |***|7 ||7 9|***|***|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ || |***| 2 ||***| 2 |***|| 3|1 3|1 3|| ||4 |*7*|4 ||*9*|4 |*5*|| 6| 6| || || 8 |***| ||***| 8 |***|| | | || ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ ||***|1 |1 || | |***|| 3| 3| 3|| ||*2*| 6| 6||4 |45 |*8*|| 5 | 5 |4 || ||***| | ||7 |7 9|***||7 9|7 9|7 9|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ || 3| 3|***|| 2 | 2 | 2 ||***| 2 | 2 || || | |*7*||4 6|45 | 6||*1*| 5 |4 || || 8 | 8 |***|| | 9| 9||***| 9| 9|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ || |***| ||***| 2 |***||***| 2 |***|| ||4 |*5*|4 ||*3*| |*1*||*8*| |*6*|| || 9|***| 9||***|7 |***||***|7 |***|| ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ ||***| 2 | 2 ||***| 3|***|| 3|***| 3|| ||*5*| 6| 6||*1*| |*4*|| |*8*| || ||***| | ||***|7 9|***||7 9|***|7 9|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***|***|***||***|***| 23||***|123|123|| ||*7*|*9*|*8*||*5*|*6*| ||*4*| | || ||***|***|***||***|***| ||***| | || ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***|***|***|| 2 | 2 | 2 || | 2 |***|| ||*1*|*4*|*3*|| | | || 6| 6|*5*|| ||***|***|***||78 |789|7 9||7 9| 9|***|| ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ Eliminated either way: if square 16 is a 7, then square 19 must be a 9, so square 59 cannot be a 9. If square 16 is a 3, then square 86 must be 2, so square 89 cannot be 2, which leaves a hidden 2 in square 59, which again precludes a 9 being there. Either way, cannot have a 9 in square 59. ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ ||***|1 3|1 || | 3| 3||***| | || ||*6*| |45 ||4 |4 | ||*2*| 5 | || ||***| 8 | 9||78 |78 |7 ||***|7 9|7 9|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ || 3| 23| 2 || 2 |***| 23|| |***|***|| || | | 5 || 6|*1*| 6|| 5 |*4*|*8*|| || 9| | 9||7 |***|7 ||7 9|***|***|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ || |***| 2 ||***| 2 |***|| 3|1 3|1 3|| ||4 |*7*|4 ||*9*|4 |*5*|| 6| 6| || || 8 |***| ||***| 8 |***|| | | || ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ ||***|1 |1 || | |***|| 3| 3| 3|| ||*2*| 6| 6||4 |45 |*8*|| 5 | 5 |4 || ||***| | ||7 |7 9|***||7 9|7 9|7 9|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ || 3| 3|***|| 2 | 2 | 2 ||***| 2 | 2 || || | |*7*||4 6|45 | 6||*1*| 5 |4 || || 8 | 8 |***|| | 9| 9||***| 9| || ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ || |***| ||***| 2 |***||***| 2 |***|| ||4 |*5*|4 ||*3*| |*1*||*8*| |*6*|| || 9|***| 9||***|7 |***||***|7 |***|| ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ ||***| 2 | 2 ||***| 3|***|| 3|***| 3|| ||*5*| 6| 6||*1*| |*4*|| |*8*| || ||***| | ||***|7 9|***||7 9|***|7 9|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***|***|***||***|***| 23||***|123|123|| ||*7*|*9*|*8*||*5*|*6*| ||*4*| | || ||***|***|***||***|***| ||***| | || ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***|***|***|| 2 | 2 | 2 || | 2 |***|| ||*1*|*4*|*3*|| | | || 6| 6|*5*|| ||***|***|***||78 |789|7 9||7 9| 9|***|| ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ Contradiction if square 12 is an 8: implies square 52 is a 3, but also implies that square 31 is 4, square 33 is 2, square 22 is a 3, which contradicts the previous conclusion that square 52 is a 3. So, square 12 cannot be an 8. ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ ||***|1 3|1 || | 3| 3||***| | || ||*6*| |45 ||4 |4 | ||*2*| 5 | || ||***| | 9||78 |78 |7 ||***|7 9|7 9|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ || 3| 23| 2 || 2 |***| 23|| |***|***|| || | | 5 || 6|*1*| 6|| 5 |*4*|*8*|| || 9| | 9||7 |***|7 ||7 9|***|***|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ || |***| 2 ||***| 2 |***|| 3|1 3|1 3|| ||4 |*7*|4 ||*9*|4 |*5*|| 6| 6| || || 8 |***| ||***| 8 |***|| | | || ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ ||***|1 |1 || | |***|| 3| 3| 3|| ||*2*| 6| 6||4 |45 |*8*|| 5 | 5 |4 || ||***| | ||7 |7 9|***||7 9|7 9|7 9|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ || 3| 3|***|| 2 | 2 | 2 ||***| 2 | 2 || || | |*7*||4 6|45 | 6||*1*| 5 |4 || || 8 | 8 |***|| | 9| 9||***| 9| || ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ || |***| ||***| 2 |***||***| 2 |***|| ||4 |*5*|4 ||*3*| |*1*||*8*| |*6*|| || 9|***| 9||***|7 |***||***|7 |***|| ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ ||***| 2 | 2 ||***| 3|***|| 3|***| 3|| ||*5*| 6| 6||*1*| |*4*|| |*8*| || ||***| | ||***|7 9|***||7 9|***|7 9|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***|***|***||***|***| 23||***|123|123|| ||*7*|*9*|*8*||*5*|*6*| ||*4*| | || ||***|***|***||***|***| ||***| | || ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***|***|***|| 2 | 2 | 2 || | 2 |***|| ||*1*|*4*|*3*|| | | || 6| 6|*5*|| ||***|***|***||78 |789|7 9||7 9| 9|***|| ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ Hidden 8 in square 31. ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ ||***|1 3|1 || | 3| 3||***| | || ||*6*| |45 ||4 |4 | ||*2*| 5 | || ||***| | 9||78 |78 |7 ||***|7 9|7 9|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ || 3| 23| 2 || 2 |***| 23|| |***|***|| || | | 5 || 6|*1*| 6|| 5 |*4*|*8*|| || 9| | 9||7 |***|7 ||7 9|***|***|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***|***| 2 ||***| 2 |***|| 3|1 3|1 3|| ||*8*|*7*|4 ||*9*|4 |*5*|| 6| 6| || ||***|***| ||***| |***|| | | || ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ ||***|1 |1 || | |***|| 3| 3| 3|| ||*2*| 6| 6||4 |45 |*8*|| 5 | 5 |4 || ||***| | ||7 |7 9|***||7 9|7 9|7 9|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ || 3| 3|***|| 2 | 2 | 2 ||***| 2 | 2 || || | |*7*||4 6|45 | 6||*1*| 5 |4 || || | 8 |***|| | 9| 9||***| 9| || ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ || |***| ||***| 2 |***||***| 2 |***|| ||4 |*5*|4 ||*3*| |*1*||*8*| |*6*|| || 9|***| 9||***|7 |***||***|7 |***|| ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ ||***| 2 | 2 ||***| 3|***|| 3|***| 3|| ||*5*| 6| 6||*1*| |*4*|| |*8*| || ||***| | ||***|7 9|***||7 9|***|7 9|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***|***|***||***|***| 23||***|123|123|| ||*7*|*9*|*8*||*5*|*6*| ||*4*| | || ||***|***|***||***|***| ||***| | || ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***|***|***|| 2 | 2 | 2 || | 2 |***|| ||*1*|*4*|*3*|| | | || 6| 6|*5*|| ||***|***|***||78 |789|7 9||7 9| 9|***|| ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ Naked 3 in square 51. ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ ||***|1 3|1 || | 3| 3||***| | || ||*6*| |45 ||4 |4 | ||*2*| 5 | || ||***| | 9||78 |78 |7 ||***|7 9|7 9|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ || | 23| 2 || 2 |***| 23|| |***|***|| || | | 5 || 6|*1*| 6|| 5 |*4*|*8*|| || 9| | 9||7 |***|7 ||7 9|***|***|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***|***| 2 ||***| 2 |***|| 3|1 3|1 3|| ||*8*|*7*|4 ||*9*|4 |*5*|| 6| 6| || ||***|***| ||***| |***|| | | || ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ ||***|1 |1 || | |***|| 3| 3| 3|| ||*2*| 6| 6||4 |45 |*8*|| 5 | 5 |4 || ||***| | ||7 |7 9|***||7 9|7 9|7 9|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***| |***|| 2 | 2 | 2 ||***| 2 | 2 || ||*3*| |*7*||4 6|45 | 6||*1*| 5 |4 || ||***| 8 |***|| | 9| 9||***| 9| || ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ || |***| ||***| 2 |***||***| 2 |***|| ||4 |*5*|4 ||*3*| |*1*||*8*| |*6*|| || 9|***| 9||***|7 |***||***|7 |***|| ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ ||***| 2 | 2 ||***| 3|***|| 3|***| 3|| ||*5*| 6| 6||*1*| |*4*|| |*8*| || ||***| | ||***|7 9|***||7 9|***|7 9|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***|***|***||***|***| 23||***|123|123|| ||*7*|*9*|*8*||*5*|*6*| ||*4*| | || ||***|***|***||***|***| ||***| | || ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***|***|***|| 2 | 2 | 2 || | 2 |***|| ||*1*|*4*|*3*|| | | || 6| 6|*5*|| ||***|***|***||78 |789|7 9||7 9| 9|***|| ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ Naked 9 in square 21, naked 8 in square 52. ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ ||***|1 3|1 || | 3| 3||***| | || ||*6*| |45 ||4 |4 | ||*2*| 5 | || ||***| | ||78 |78 |7 ||***|7 9|7 9|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***| 23| 2 || 2 |***| 23|| |***|***|| ||*9*| | 5 || 6|*1*| 6|| 5 |*4*|*8*|| ||***| | ||7 |***|7 ||7 |***|***|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***|***| 2 ||***| 2 |***|| 3|1 3|1 3|| ||*8*|*7*|4 ||*9*|4 |*5*|| 6| 6| || ||***|***| ||***| |***|| | | || ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ ||***|1 |1 || | |***|| 3| 3| 3|| ||*2*| 6| 6||4 |45 |*8*|| 5 | 5 |4 || ||***| | ||7 |7 9|***||7 9|7 9|7 9|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***|***|***|| 2 | 2 | 2 ||***| 2 | 2 || ||*3*|*8*|*7*||4 6|45 | 6||*1*| 5 |4 || ||***|***|***|| | 9| 9||***| 9| || ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ || |***| ||***| 2 |***||***| 2 |***|| ||4 |*5*|4 ||*3*| |*1*||*8*| |*6*|| || |***| 9||***|7 |***||***|7 |***|| ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ ||***| 2 | 2 ||***| 3|***|| 3|***| 3|| ||*5*| 6| 6||*1*| |*4*|| |*8*| || ||***| | ||***|7 9|***||7 9|***|7 9|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***|***|***||***|***| 23||***|123|123|| ||*7*|*9*|*8*||*5*|*6*| ||*4*| | || ||***|***|***||***|***| ||***| | || ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***|***|***|| 2 | 2 | 2 || | 2 |***|| ||*1*|*4*|*3*|| | | || 6| 6|*5*|| ||***|***|***||78 |789|7 9||7 9| 9|***|| ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ Naked 4 in square 61. ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ ||***|1 3|1 || | 3| 3||***| | || ||*6*| |45 ||4 |4 | ||*2*| 5 | || ||***| | ||78 |78 |7 ||***|7 9|7 9|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***| 23| 2 || 2 |***| 23|| |***|***|| ||*9*| | 5 || 6|*1*| 6|| 5 |*4*|*8*|| ||***| | ||7 |***|7 ||7 |***|***|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***|***| 2 ||***| 2 |***|| 3|1 3|1 3|| ||*8*|*7*|4 ||*9*|4 |*5*|| 6| 6| || ||***|***| ||***| |***|| | | || ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ ||***|1 |1 || | |***|| 3| 3| 3|| ||*2*| 6| 6||4 |45 |*8*|| 5 | 5 |4 || ||***| | ||7 |7 9|***||7 9|7 9|7 9|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***|***|***|| 2 | 2 | 2 ||***| 2 | 2 || ||*3*|*8*|*7*||4 6|45 | 6||*1*| 5 |4 || ||***|***|***|| | 9| 9||***| 9| || ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***|***| ||***| 2 |***||***| 2 |***|| ||*4*|*5*| ||*3*| |*1*||*8*| |*6*|| ||***|***| 9||***|7 |***||***|7 |***|| ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ ||***| 2 | 2 ||***| 3|***|| 3|***| 3|| ||*5*| 6| 6||*1*| |*4*|| |*8*| || ||***| | ||***|7 9|***||7 9|***|7 9|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***|***|***||***|***| 23||***|123|123|| ||*7*|*9*|*8*||*5*|*6*| ||*4*| | || ||***|***|***||***|***| ||***| | || ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***|***|***|| 2 | 2 | 2 || | 2 |***|| ||*1*|*4*|*3*|| | | || 6| 6|*5*|| ||***|***|***||78 |789|7 9||7 9| 9|***|| ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ Naked 9 in square 63. ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ ||***|1 3|1 || | 3| 3||***| | || ||*6*| |45 ||4 |4 | ||*2*| 5 | || ||***| | ||78 |78 |7 ||***|7 9|7 9|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***| 23| 2 || 2 |***| 23|| |***|***|| ||*9*| | 5 || 6|*1*| 6|| 5 |*4*|*8*|| ||***| | ||7 |***|7 ||7 |***|***|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***|***| 2 ||***| 2 |***|| 3|1 3|1 3|| ||*8*|*7*|4 ||*9*|4 |*5*|| 6| 6| || ||***|***| ||***| |***|| | | || ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ ||***|1 |1 || | |***|| 3| 3| 3|| ||*2*| 6| 6||4 |45 |*8*|| 5 | 5 |4 || ||***| | ||7 |7 9|***||7 9|7 9|7 9|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***|***|***|| 2 | 2 | 2 ||***| 2 | 2 || ||*3*|*8*|*7*||4 6|45 | 6||*1*| 5 |4 || ||***|***|***|| | 9| 9||***| 9| || ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***|***|***||***| 2 |***||***| 2 |***|| ||*4*|*5*|*9*||*3*| |*1*||*8*| |*6*|| ||***|***|***||***|7 |***||***|7 |***|| ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ ||***| 2 | 2 ||***| 3|***|| 3|***| 3|| ||*5*| 6| 6||*1*| |*4*|| |*8*| || ||***| | ||***|7 9|***||7 9|***|7 9|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***|***|***||***|***| 23||***|123|123|| ||*7*|*9*|*8*||*5*|*6*| ||*4*| | || ||***|***|***||***|***| ||***| | || ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***|***|***|| 2 | 2 | 2 || | 2 |***|| ||*1*|*4*|*3*|| | | || 6| 6|*5*|| ||***|***|***||78 |789|7 9||7 9| 9|***|| ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ Regardless of value in square 65, 4 cannot be in squares 45 or 55. If square 65 is 2, then square 35 will be 4. If it is 7, then square 44 will be 4. Either way, 4 is eliminated from squares 45 and 55. ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ ||***|1 3|1 || | 3| 3||***| | || ||*6*| |45 ||4 |4 | ||*2*| 5 | || ||***| | ||78 |78 |7 ||***|7 9|7 9|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***| 23| 2 || 2 |***| 23|| |***|***|| ||*9*| | 5 || 6|*1*| 6|| 5 |*4*|*8*|| ||***| | ||7 |***|7 ||7 |***|***|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***|***| 2 ||***| 2 |***|| 3|1 3|1 3|| ||*8*|*7*|4 ||*9*|4 |*5*|| 6| 6| || ||***|***| ||***| |***|| | | || ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ ||***|1 |1 || | |***|| 3| 3| 3|| ||*2*| 6| 6||4 | 5 |*8*|| 5 | 5 |4 || ||***| | ||7 |7 9|***||7 9|7 9|7 9|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***|***|***|| 2 | 2 | 2 ||***| 2 | 2 || ||*3*|*8*|*7*||4 6| 5 | 6||*1*| 5 |4 || ||***|***|***|| | 9| 9||***| 9| || ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***|***|***||***| 2 |***||***| 2 |***|| ||*4*|*5*|*9*||*3*| |*1*||*8*| |*6*|| ||***|***|***||***|7 |***||***|7 |***|| ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ ||***| 2 | 2 ||***| 3|***|| 3|***| 3|| ||*5*| 6| 6||*1*| |*4*|| |*8*| || ||***| | ||***|7 9|***||7 9|***|7 9|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***|***|***||***|***| 23||***|123|123|| ||*7*|*9*|*8*||*5*|*6*| ||*4*| | || ||***|***|***||***|***| ||***| | || ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***|***|***|| 2 | 2 | 2 || | 2 |***|| ||*1*|*4*|*3*|| | | || 6| 6|*5*|| ||***|***|***||78 |789|7 9||7 9| 9|***|| ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ 4 occurs only in column 4 in block 5, so it cannot occur elsewhere in column 4. ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ ||***|1 3|1 || | 3| 3||***| | || ||*6*| |45 || |4 | ||*2*| 5 | || ||***| | ||78 |78 |7 ||***|7 9|7 9|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***| 23| 2 || 2 |***| 23|| |***|***|| ||*9*| | 5 || 6|*1*| 6|| 5 |*4*|*8*|| ||***| | ||7 |***|7 ||7 |***|***|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***|***| 2 ||***| 2 |***|| 3|1 3|1 3|| ||*8*|*7*|4 ||*9*|4 |*5*|| 6| 6| || ||***|***| ||***| |***|| | | || ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ ||***|1 |1 || | |***|| 3| 3| 3|| ||*2*| 6| 6||4 | 5 |*8*|| 5 | 5 |4 || ||***| | ||7 |7 9|***||7 9|7 9|7 9|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***|***|***|| 2 | 2 | 2 ||***| 2 | 2 || ||*3*|*8*|*7*||4 6| 5 | 6||*1*| 5 |4 || ||***|***|***|| | 9| 9||***| 9| || ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***|***|***||***| 2 |***||***| 2 |***|| ||*4*|*5*|*9*||*3*| |*1*||*8*| |*6*|| ||***|***|***||***|7 |***||***|7 |***|| ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ ||***| 2 | 2 ||***| 3|***|| 3|***| 3|| ||*5*| 6| 6||*1*| |*4*|| |*8*| || ||***| | ||***|7 9|***||7 9|***|7 9|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***|***|***||***|***| 23||***|123|123|| ||*7*|*9*|*8*||*5*|*6*| ||*4*| | || ||***|***|***||***|***| ||***| | || ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***|***|***|| 2 | 2 | 2 || | 2 |***|| ||*1*|*4*|*3*|| | | || 6| 6|*5*|| ||***|***|***||78 |789|7 9||7 9| 9|***|| ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ Regardless of the value in square 68, square 49 cannot contain a 7. Clearly, if square 68 is 7, then square 49 cannot have a 7. Alternatively, if square 68 is a 2, then square 59 must be a 4, and then column 9 has a hidden 2 in square 89, so square 86 must have a 3, and square 16 must contain a 7, so square 18 cannot contain a 7, which leaves a hidden 7 in square 48, which means there can be no 7 in square 49. ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ ||***|1 3|1 || | 3| 3||***| | || ||*6*| |45 || |4 | ||*2*| 5 | || ||***| | ||78 |78 |7 ||***|7 9|7 9|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***| 23| 2 || 2 |***| 23|| |***|***|| ||*9*| | 5 || 6|*1*| 6|| 5 |*4*|*8*|| ||***| | ||7 |***|7 ||7 |***|***|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***|***| 2 ||***| 2 |***|| 3|1 3|1 3|| ||*8*|*7*|4 ||*9*|4 |*5*|| 6| 6| || ||***|***| ||***| |***|| | | || ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ ||***|1 |1 || | |***|| 3| 3| 3|| ||*2*| 6| 6||4 | 5 |*8*|| 5 | 5 |4 || ||***| | ||7 |7 9|***||7 9|7 9| 9|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***|***|***|| 2 | 2 | 2 ||***| 2 | 2 || ||*3*|*8*|*7*||4 6| 5 | 6||*1*| 5 |4 || ||***|***|***|| | 9| 9||***| 9| || ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***|***|***||***| 2 |***||***| 2 |***|| ||*4*|*5*|*9*||*3*| |*1*||*8*| |*6*|| ||***|***|***||***|7 |***||***|7 |***|| ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ ||***| 2 | 2 ||***| 3|***|| 3|***| 3|| ||*5*| 6| 6||*1*| |*4*|| |*8*| || ||***| | ||***|7 9|***||7 9|***|7 9|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***|***|***||***|***| 23||***|123|123|| ||*7*|*9*|*8*||*5*|*6*| ||*4*| | || ||***|***|***||***|***| ||***| | || ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***|***|***|| 2 | 2 | 2 || | 2 |***|| ||*1*|*4*|*3*|| | | || 6| 6|*5*|| ||***|***|***||78 |789|7 9||7 9| 9|***|| ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ Assuming square 19 is 7 leads to a contradiction. If square 19 is 7, then square 27 must be 5, so square 23 must be 2, so square 33 cannot be a 2, so square 35 must be a 2, so square 65 cannot be a 2, so square 68 must be a 2, so square 59 cannot be a 2, and square 89 must be a 2. Alternatively, if square 19 is a 7, then square 16 must be a 3, so square 86 must be a 2, so square 89 cannot be a 2. Therefore square 19 cannot be 7, which leaves a naked 9 and a hidden 7 in column 9. ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ ||***|1 3|1 || | 3| 3||***| |***|| ||*6*| |45 || |4 | ||*2*| 5 |*9*|| ||***| | ||78 |78 |7 ||***|7 |***|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***| 23| 2 || 2 |***| 23|| |***|***|| ||*9*| | 5 || 6|*1*| 6|| 5 |*4*|*8*|| ||***| | ||7 |***|7 ||7 |***|***|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***|***| 2 ||***| 2 |***|| 3|1 3|1 3|| ||*8*|*7*|4 ||*9*|4 |*5*|| 6| 6| || ||***|***| ||***| |***|| | | || ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ ||***|1 |1 || | |***|| 3| 3| 3|| ||*2*| 6| 6||4 | 5 |*8*|| 5 | 5 |4 || ||***| | ||7 |7 9|***||7 9|7 9| || ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***|***|***|| 2 | 2 | 2 ||***| 2 | 2 || ||*3*|*8*|*7*||4 6| 5 | 6||*1*| 5 |4 || ||***|***|***|| | 9| 9||***| 9| || ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***|***|***||***| 2 |***||***| 2 |***|| ||*4*|*5*|*9*||*3*| |*1*||*8*| |*6*|| ||***|***|***||***|7 |***||***|7 |***|| ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ ||***| 2 | 2 ||***| 3|***|| 3|***|***|| ||*5*| 6| 6||*1*| |*4*|| |*8*|*7*|| ||***| | ||***| 9|***|| 9|***|***|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***|***|***||***|***| 23||***|123|123|| ||*7*|*9*|*8*||*5*|*6*| ||*4*| | || ||***|***|***||***|***| ||***| | || ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***|***|***|| 2 | 2 | 2 || | 2 |***|| ||*1*|*4*|*3*|| | | || 6| 6|*5*|| ||***|***|***||78 |789|7 9|| 9| 9|***|| ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ Hidden pair 57 in boxes 27 and 47 eliminates 3 and 9 from box 47. ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ ||***|1 3|1 || | 3| 3||***| |***|| ||*6*| |45 || |4 | ||*2*| 5 |*9*|| ||***| | ||78 |78 |7 ||***|7 |***|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***| 23| 2 || 2 |***| 23|| |***|***|| ||*9*| | 5 || 6|*1*| 6|| 5 |*4*|*8*|| ||***| | ||7 |***|7 ||7 |***|***|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***|***| 2 ||***| 2 |***|| 3|1 3|1 3|| ||*8*|*7*|4 ||*9*|4 |*5*|| 6| 6| || ||***|***| ||***| |***|| | | || ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ ||***|1 |1 || | |***|| | 3| 3|| ||*2*| 6| 6||4 | 5 |*8*|| 5 | 5 |4 || ||***| | ||7 |7 9|***||7 |7 9| || ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***|***|***|| 2 | 2 | 2 ||***| 2 | 2 || ||*3*|*8*|*7*||4 6| 5 | 6||*1*| 5 |4 || ||***|***|***|| | 9| 9||***| 9| || ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***|***|***||***| 2 |***||***| 2 |***|| ||*4*|*5*|*9*||*3*| |*1*||*8*| |*6*|| ||***|***|***||***|7 |***||***|7 |***|| ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ ||***| 2 | 2 ||***| 3|***|| 3|***|***|| ||*5*| 6| 6||*1*| |*4*|| |*8*|*7*|| ||***| | ||***| 9|***|| 9|***|***|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***|***|***||***|***| 23||***|123|123|| ||*7*|*9*|*8*||*5*|*6*| ||*4*| | || ||***|***|***||***|***| ||***| | || ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***|***|***|| 2 | 2 | 2 || | 2 |***|| ||*1*|*4*|*3*|| | | || 6| 6|*5*|| ||***|***|***||78 |789|7 9|| 9| 9|***|| ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ Digit 9 only appears in box 6 in column 8, so it is eliminated from box 98. ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ ||***|1 3|1 || | 3| 3||***| |***|| ||*6*| |45 || |4 | ||*2*| 5 |*9*|| ||***| | ||78 |78 |7 ||***|7 |***|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***| 23| 2 || 2 |***| 23|| |***|***|| ||*9*| | 5 || 6|*1*| 6|| 5 |*4*|*8*|| ||***| | ||7 |***|7 ||7 |***|***|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***|***| 2 ||***| 2 |***|| 3|1 3|1 3|| ||*8*|*7*|4 ||*9*|4 |*5*|| 6| 6| || ||***|***| ||***| |***|| | | || ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ ||***|1 |1 || | |***|| | 3| 3|| ||*2*| 6| 6||4 | 5 |*8*|| 5 | 5 |4 || ||***| | ||7 |7 9|***||7 |7 9| || ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***|***|***|| 2 | 2 | 2 ||***| 2 | 2 || ||*3*|*8*|*7*||4 6| 5 | 6||*1*| 5 |4 || ||***|***|***|| | 9| 9||***| 9| || ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***|***|***||***| 2 |***||***| 2 |***|| ||*4*|*5*|*9*||*3*| |*1*||*8*| |*6*|| ||***|***|***||***|7 |***||***|7 |***|| ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ ||***| 2 | 2 ||***| 3|***|| 3|***|***|| ||*5*| 6| 6||*1*| |*4*|| |*8*|*7*|| ||***| | ||***| 9|***|| 9|***|***|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***|***|***||***|***| 23||***|123|123|| ||*7*|*9*|*8*||*5*|*6*| ||*4*| | || ||***|***|***||***|***| ||***| | || ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***|***|***|| 2 | 2 | 2 || | 2 |***|| ||*1*|*4*|*3*|| | | || 6| 6|*5*|| ||***|***|***||78 |789|7 9|| 9| |***|| ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ Having 2 in box 56 leads to a contradiction. Box 56 as a 2 means box 86 is a 3, so box 75 is a 9, so box 96 cannot be a 9, but the only other 9 in column 6 was in box 56, so it cannot be a 2. ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ ||***|1 3|1 || | 3| 3||***| |***|| ||*6*| |45 || |4 | ||*2*| 5 |*9*|| ||***| | ||78 |78 |7 ||***|7 |***|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***| 23| 2 || 2 |***| 23|| |***|***|| ||*9*| | 5 || 6|*1*| 6|| 5 |*4*|*8*|| ||***| | ||7 |***|7 ||7 |***|***|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***|***| 2 ||***| 2 |***|| 3|1 3|1 3|| ||*8*|*7*|4 ||*9*|4 |*5*|| 6| 6| || ||***|***| ||***| |***|| | | || ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ ||***|1 |1 || | |***|| | 3| 3|| ||*2*| 6| 6||4 | 5 |*8*|| 5 | 5 |4 || ||***| | ||7 |7 9|***||7 |7 9| || ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***|***|***|| 2 | 2 | ||***| 2 | 2 || ||*3*|*8*|*7*||4 6| 5 | 6||*1*| 5 |4 || ||***|***|***|| | 9| 9||***| 9| || ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***|***|***||***| 2 |***||***| 2 |***|| ||*4*|*5*|*9*||*3*| |*1*||*8*| |*6*|| ||***|***|***||***|7 |***||***|7 |***|| ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ ||***| 2 | 2 ||***| 3|***|| 3|***|***|| ||*5*| 6| 6||*1*| |*4*|| |*8*|*7*|| ||***| | ||***| 9|***|| 9|***|***|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***|***|***||***|***| 23||***|123|123|| ||*7*|*9*|*8*||*5*|*6*| ||*4*| | || ||***|***|***||***|***| ||***| | || ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***|***|***|| 2 | 2 | 2 || | 2 |***|| ||*1*|*4*|*3*|| | | || 6| 6|*5*|| ||***|***|***||78 |789|7 9|| 9| |***|| ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ There are only two 2s left in column 9, but regardless of which is the real 2, square 68 cannot be a 2. First, if square 59 is a 2, then square 68 cannot be a 2. Alternately, if square 89 is a 2, then square 86 must be a 3, so square 16 is a 7, so square 18 cannot be a 7. Returning to square 86 being a 3, square 75 is a 9, so square 45 can't be a 9, which creates a naked pair 57 in squares 45 and 47, so square 48 cannot contain a 7. These two alternatives mean that the 7 in square 68 must be a 7 (not a 2). ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ ||***|1 3|1 || | 3| 3||***| |***|| ||*6*| |45 || |4 | ||*2*| 5 |*9*|| ||***| | ||78 |78 |7 ||***| |***|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***| 23| 2 || 2 |***| 23|| |***|***|| ||*9*| | 5 || 6|*1*| 6|| 5 |*4*|*8*|| ||***| | ||7 |***|7 ||7 |***|***|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***|***| 2 ||***| 2 |***|| 3|1 3|1 3|| ||*8*|*7*|4 ||*9*|4 |*5*|| 6| 6| || ||***|***| ||***| |***|| | | || ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ ||***|1 |1 || | |***|| | 3| 3|| ||*2*| 6| 6||4 | 5 |*8*|| 5 | 5 |4 || ||***| | ||7 |7 9|***|| | 9| || ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***|***|***|| 2 | 2 | ||***| 2 | 2 || ||*3*|*8*|*7*||4 6| 5 | 6||*1*| 5 |4 || ||***|***|***|| | 9| 9||***| 9| || ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***|***|***||***| 2 |***||***|***|***|| ||*4*|*5*|*9*||*3*| |*1*||*8*|*7*|*6*|| ||***|***|***||***| |***||***|***|***|| ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ ||***| 2 | 2 ||***| 3|***|| 3|***|***|| ||*5*| 6| 6||*1*| |*4*|| |*8*|*7*|| ||***| | ||***| 9|***|| 9|***|***|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***|***|***||***|***| 23||***|123|123|| ||*7*|*9*|*8*||*5*|*6*| ||*4*| | || ||***|***|***||***|***| ||***| | || ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***|***|***|| 2 | 2 | 2 || | 2 |***|| ||*1*|*4*|*3*|| | | || 6| 6|*5*|| ||***|***|***||78 |789|7 9|| 9| |***|| ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ Naked 5 in square 18, naked 5 in square 47, naked 2 in square 65. ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ ||***|1 3|1 || | 3| 3||***|***|***|| ||*6*| |4 || |4 | ||*2*|*5*|*9*|| ||***| | ||78 |78 |7 ||***|***|***|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***| 23| 2 || 2 |***| 23|| |***|***|| ||*9*| | 5 || 6|*1*| 6|| |*4*|*8*|| ||***| | ||7 |***|7 ||7 |***|***|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***|***| 2 ||***| |***|| 3|1 3|1 3|| ||*8*|*7*|4 ||*9*|4 |*5*|| 6| 6| || ||***|***| ||***| |***|| | | || ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ ||***|1 |1 || | |***||***| 3| 3|| ||*2*| 6| 6||4 | |*8*||*5*| |4 || ||***| | ||7 |7 9|***||***| 9| || ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***|***|***|| | | ||***| 2 | 2 || ||*3*|*8*|*7*||4 6| 5 | 6||*1*| |4 || ||***|***|***|| | 9| 9||***| 9| || ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***|***|***||***|***|***||***|***|***|| ||*4*|*5*|*9*||*3*|*2*|*1*||*8*|*7*|*6*|| ||***|***|***||***|***|***||***|***|***|| ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ ||***| 2 | 2 ||***| 3|***|| 3|***|***|| ||*5*| 6| 6||*1*| |*4*|| |*8*|*7*|| ||***| | ||***| 9|***|| 9|***|***|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***|***|***||***|***| 23||***|123|123|| ||*7*|*9*|*8*||*5*|*6*| ||*4*| | || ||***|***|***||***|***| ||***| | || ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***|***|***|| 2 | | 2 || | 2 |***|| ||*1*|*4*|*3*|| | | || 6| 6|*5*|| ||***|***|***||78 |789|7 9|| 9| |***|| ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ Naked 7 in square 27 and naked 4 in square 35. ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ ||***|1 3|1 || | 3| 3||***|***|***|| ||*6*| |4 || | | ||*2*|*5*|*9*|| ||***| | ||78 |78 |7 ||***|***|***|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***| 23| 2 || 2 |***| 23||***|***|***|| ||*9*| | 5 || 6|*1*| 6||*7*|*4*|*8*|| ||***| | || |***| ||***|***|***|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***|***| 2 ||***|***|***|| 3|1 3|1 3|| ||*8*|*7*| ||*9*|*4*|*5*|| 6| 6| || ||***|***| ||***|***|***|| | | || ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ ||***|1 |1 || | |***||***| 3| 3|| ||*2*| 6| 6||4 | |*8*||*5*| |4 || ||***| | ||7 |7 9|***||***| 9| || ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***|***|***|| | | ||***| 2 | 2 || ||*3*|*8*|*7*||4 6| 5 | 6||*1*| |4 || ||***|***|***|| | 9| 9||***| 9| || ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***|***|***||***|***|***||***|***|***|| ||*4*|*5*|*9*||*3*|*2*|*1*||*8*|*7*|*6*|| ||***|***|***||***|***|***||***|***|***|| ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ ||***| 2 | 2 ||***| 3|***|| 3|***|***|| ||*5*| 6| 6||*1*| |*4*|| |*8*|*7*|| ||***| | ||***| 9|***|| 9|***|***|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***|***|***||***|***| 23||***|123|123|| ||*7*|*9*|*8*||*5*|*6*| ||*4*| | || ||***|***|***||***|***| ||***| | || ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***|***|***|| 2 | | 2 || | 2 |***|| ||*1*|*4*|*3*|| | | || 6| 6|*5*|| ||***|***|***||78 |789|7 9|| 9| |***|| ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ Naked 2 in square 23, hidden 4 in row 1. ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ ||***|1 3|***|| | 3| 3||***|***|***|| ||*6*| |*4*|| | | ||*2*|*5*|*9*|| ||***| |***||78 |78 |7 ||***|***|***|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***| 3| || 2 |***| 23||***|***|***|| ||*9*| | 5 || 6|*1*| 6||*7*|*4*|*8*|| ||***| | || |***| ||***|***|***|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***|***|***||***|***|***|| 3|1 3|1 3|| ||*8*|*7*|*2*||*9*|*4*|*5*|| 6| 6| || ||***|***|***||***|***|***|| | | || ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ ||***|1 |1 || | |***||***| 3| 3|| ||*2*| 6| 6||4 | |*8*||*5*| |4 || ||***| | ||7 |7 9|***||***| 9| || ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***|***|***|| | | ||***| 2 | 2 || ||*3*|*8*|*7*||4 6| 5 | 6||*1*| |4 || ||***|***|***|| | 9| 9||***| 9| || ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***|***|***||***|***|***||***|***|***|| ||*4*|*5*|*9*||*3*|*2*|*1*||*8*|*7*|*6*|| ||***|***|***||***|***|***||***|***|***|| ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ ||***| 2 | 2 ||***| 3|***|| 3|***|***|| ||*5*| 6| 6||*1*| |*4*|| |*8*|*7*|| ||***| | ||***| 9|***|| 9|***|***|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***|***|***||***|***| 23||***|123|123|| ||*7*|*9*|*8*||*5*|*6*| ||*4*| | || ||***|***|***||***|***| ||***| | || ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***|***|***|| 2 | | 2 || | 2 |***|| ||*1*|*4*|*3*|| | | || 6| 6|*5*|| ||***|***|***||78 |789|7 9|| 9| |***|| ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ Naked 3 in square 22, naked 5 in square 23, hidden 1 in row 1. ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ ||***|***|***|| | 3| 3||***|***|***|| ||*6*|*1*|*4*|| | | ||*2*|*5*|*9*|| ||***|***|***||78 |78 |7 ||***|***|***|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***|***|***|| 2 |***| 2 ||***|***|***|| ||*9*|*3*|*5*|| 6|*1*| 6||*7*|*4*|*8*|| ||***|***|***|| |***| ||***|***|***|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***|***|***||***|***|***|| 3|1 3|1 3|| ||*8*|*7*|*2*||*9*|*4*|*5*|| 6| 6| || ||***|***|***||***|***|***|| | | || ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ ||***| |1 || | |***||***| 3| 3|| ||*2*| 6| 6||4 | |*8*||*5*| |4 || ||***| | ||7 |7 9|***||***| 9| || ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***|***|***|| | | ||***| 2 | 2 || ||*3*|*8*|*7*||4 6| 5 | 6||*1*| |4 || ||***|***|***|| | 9| 9||***| 9| || ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***|***|***||***|***|***||***|***|***|| ||*4*|*5*|*9*||*3*|*2*|*1*||*8*|*7*|*6*|| ||***|***|***||***|***|***||***|***|***|| ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ ||***| 2 | ||***| 3|***|| 3|***|***|| ||*5*| 6| 6||*1*| |*4*|| |*8*|*7*|| ||***| | ||***| 9|***|| 9|***|***|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***|***|***||***|***| 23||***|123|123|| ||*7*|*9*|*8*||*5*|*6*| ||*4*| | || ||***|***|***||***|***| ||***| | || ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***|***|***|| 2 | | 2 || | 2 |***|| ||*1*|*4*|*3*|| | | || 6| 6|*5*|| ||***|***|***||78 |789|7 9|| 9| |***|| ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ Naked 6 in square 42, hidden 1 in row 4, naked 6 in square 73, hidden 2 in row 7, hidden 5 in row 5. ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ ||***|***|***|| | 3| 3||***|***|***|| ||*6*|*1*|*4*|| | | ||*2*|*5*|*9*|| ||***|***|***||78 |78 |7 ||***|***|***|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***|***|***|| 2 |***| 2 ||***|***|***|| ||*9*|*3*|*5*|| 6|*1*| 6||*7*|*4*|*8*|| ||***|***|***|| |***| ||***|***|***|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***|***|***||***|***|***|| 3|1 3|1 3|| ||*8*|*7*|*2*||*9*|*4*|*5*|| 6| 6| || ||***|***|***||***|***|***|| | | || ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ ||***|***|***|| | |***||***| 3| 3|| ||*2*|*6*|*1*||4 | |*8*||*5*| |4 || ||***|***|***||7 |7 9|***||***| 9| || ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***|***|***|| |***| ||***| 2 | 2 || ||*3*|*8*|*7*||4 6|*5*| 6||*1*| |4 || ||***|***|***|| |***| 9||***| 9| || ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***|***|***||***|***|***||***|***|***|| ||*4*|*5*|*9*||*3*|*2*|*1*||*8*|*7*|*6*|| ||***|***|***||***|***|***||***|***|***|| ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ ||***|***|***||***| 3|***|| 3|***|***|| ||*5*|*2*|*6*||*1*| |*4*|| |*8*|*7*|| ||***|***|***||***| 9|***|| 9|***|***|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***|***|***||***|***| 23||***|123|123|| ||*7*|*9*|*8*||*5*|*6*| ||*4*| | || ||***|***|***||***|***| ||***| | || ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***|***|***|| 2 | | 2 || | 2 |***|| ||*1*|*4*|*3*|| | | || 6| 6|*5*|| ||***|***|***||78 |789|7 9|| 9| |***|| ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ There are three 2's in column 8, but regardless of the value found in square 98, there cannot be a 2 in square 88. If square 98 is a 2, then square 88 cannot be a 2. If square 98 is a 6, then square 97 must be a 9, and square 77 must be a 3, and square 75 must be a 9, and square 45 must be a 7, so square 44 must be a 4, so square 54 must be a 6, so square 56 must be a 9, so square 58 must be a 2, and square 88 again cannot be a 2. ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ ||***|***|***|| | 3| 3||***|***|***|| ||*6*|*1*|*4*|| | | ||*2*|*5*|*9*|| ||***|***|***||78 |78 |7 ||***|***|***|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***|***|***|| 2 |***| 2 ||***|***|***|| ||*9*|*3*|*5*|| 6|*1*| 6||*7*|*4*|*8*|| ||***|***|***|| |***| ||***|***|***|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***|***|***||***|***|***|| 3|1 3|1 3|| ||*8*|*7*|*2*||*9*|*4*|*5*|| 6| 6| || ||***|***|***||***|***|***|| | | || ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ ||***|***|***|| | |***||***| 3| 3|| ||*2*|*6*|*1*||4 | |*8*||*5*| |4 || ||***|***|***||7 |7 9|***||***| 9| || ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***|***|***|| |***| ||***| 2 | 2 || ||*3*|*8*|*7*||4 6|*5*| 6||*1*| |4 || ||***|***|***|| |***| 9||***| 9| || ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***|***|***||***|***|***||***|***|***|| ||*4*|*5*|*9*||*3*|*2*|*1*||*8*|*7*|*6*|| ||***|***|***||***|***|***||***|***|***|| ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ ||***|***|***||***| 3|***|| 3|***|***|| ||*5*|*2*|*6*||*1*| |*4*|| |*8*|*7*|| ||***|***|***||***| 9|***|| 9|***|***|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***|***|***||***|***| 23||***|1 3|123|| ||*7*|*9*|*8*||*5*|*6*| ||*4*| | || ||***|***|***||***|***| ||***| | || ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***|***|***|| 2 | | 2 || | 2 |***|| ||*1*|*4*|*3*|| | | || 6| 6|*5*|| ||***|***|***||78 |789|7 9|| 9| |***|| ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ There are three 9s in column 5, but regardless of the value in square 98, 9 cannot appear in square 95. If square 98 is 6, then square 97 must be 9, so square 95 cannot be 9. Alternatively, if square 98 is 2, then square 58 must be 9, so square 56 cannot be 9, so square 45 must be 9 and again square 95 cannot be 9. ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ ||***|***|***|| | 3| 3||***|***|***|| ||*6*|*1*|*4*|| | | ||*2*|*5*|*9*|| ||***|***|***||78 |78 |7 ||***|***|***|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***|***|***|| 2 |***| 2 ||***|***|***|| ||*9*|*3*|*5*|| 6|*1*| 6||*7*|*4*|*8*|| ||***|***|***|| |***| ||***|***|***|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***|***|***||***|***|***|| 3|1 3|1 3|| ||*8*|*7*|*2*||*9*|*4*|*5*|| 6| 6| || ||***|***|***||***|***|***|| | | || ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ ||***|***|***|| | |***||***| 3| 3|| ||*2*|*6*|*1*||4 | |*8*||*5*| |4 || ||***|***|***||7 |7 9|***||***| 9| || ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***|***|***|| |***| ||***| 2 | 2 || ||*3*|*8*|*7*||4 6|*5*| 6||*1*| |4 || ||***|***|***|| |***| 9||***| 9| || ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***|***|***||***|***|***||***|***|***|| ||*4*|*5*|*9*||*3*|*2*|*1*||*8*|*7*|*6*|| ||***|***|***||***|***|***||***|***|***|| ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ ||***|***|***||***| 3|***|| 3|***|***|| ||*5*|*2*|*6*||*1*| |*4*|| |*8*|*7*|| ||***|***|***||***| 9|***|| 9|***|***|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***|***|***||***|***| 23||***|1 3|123|| ||*7*|*9*|*8*||*5*|*6*| ||*4*| | || ||***|***|***||***|***| ||***| | || ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***|***|***|| 2 | | 2 || | 2 |***|| ||*1*|*4*|*3*|| | | || 6| 6|*5*|| ||***|***|***||78 |78 |7 9|| 9| |***|| ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ Regardless of the value in square 98, square 88 cannot contain a 3. First, if square 98 is a 6, then square 97 must be 9, so square 77 must be 3, so square 88 cannot be 3. Alternatively, if square 98 is 6, then square 97 must be 9, square 77 must be 3, square 75 must be 9, square 45 must be 7, square 44 must be 4, square 49 must be 3, square 39 must be 1, and square 38 must be 3 (since the original assumption eliminates 6 from that square), which means that again square 88 cannot be 3. ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ ||***|***|***|| | 3| 3||***|***|***|| ||*6*|*1*|*4*|| | | ||*2*|*5*|*9*|| ||***|***|***||78 |78 |7 ||***|***|***|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***|***|***|| 2 |***| 2 ||***|***|***|| ||*9*|*3*|*5*|| 6|*1*| 6||*7*|*4*|*8*|| ||***|***|***|| |***| ||***|***|***|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***|***|***||***|***|***|| 3| 3|1 3|| ||*8*|*7*|*2*||*9*|*4*|*5*|| 6| 6| || ||***|***|***||***|***|***|| | | || ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ ||***|***|***|| | |***||***| 3| 3|| ||*2*|*6*|*1*||4 | |*8*||*5*| |4 || ||***|***|***||7 |7 9|***||***| 9| || ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***|***|***|| |***| ||***| 2 | 2 || ||*3*|*8*|*7*||4 6|*5*| 6||*1*| |4 || ||***|***|***|| |***| 9||***| 9| || ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***|***|***||***|***|***||***|***|***|| ||*4*|*5*|*9*||*3*|*2*|*1*||*8*|*7*|*6*|| ||***|***|***||***|***|***||***|***|***|| ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ ||***|***|***||***| 3|***|| 3|***|***|| ||*5*|*2*|*6*||*1*| |*4*|| |*8*|*7*|| ||***|***|***||***| 9|***|| 9|***|***|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***|***|***||***|***| 23||***|***| 23|| ||*7*|*9*|*8*||*5*|*6*| ||*4*|*1*| || ||***|***|***||***|***| ||***|***| || ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***|***|***|| 2 | | 2 || | 2 |***|| ||*1*|*4*|*3*|| | | || 6| 6|*5*|| ||***|***|***||78 |78 |7 9|| 9| |***|| ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ Naked pair in squares 37 and 38. ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ ||***|***|***|| | 3| 3||***|***|***|| ||*6*|*1*|*4*|| | | ||*2*|*5*|*9*|| ||***|***|***||78 |78 |7 ||***|***|***|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***|***|***|| 2 |***| 2 ||***|***|***|| ||*9*|*3*|*5*|| 6|*1*| 6||*7*|*4*|*8*|| ||***|***|***|| |***| ||***|***|***|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***|***|***||***|***|***|| 3| 3|***|| ||*8*|*7*|*2*||*9*|*4*|*5*|| 6| 6|*1*|| ||***|***|***||***|***|***|| | |***|| ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ ||***|***|***|| | |***||***| 3| 3|| ||*2*|*6*|*1*||4 | |*8*||*5*| |4 || ||***|***|***||7 |7 9|***||***| 9| || ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***|***|***|| |***| ||***| 2 | 2 || ||*3*|*8*|*7*||4 6|*5*| 6||*1*| |4 || ||***|***|***|| |***| 9||***| 9| || ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***|***|***||***|***|***||***|***|***|| ||*4*|*5*|*9*||*3*|*2*|*1*||*8*|*7*|*6*|| ||***|***|***||***|***|***||***|***|***|| ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ ||***|***|***||***| 3|***|| 3|***|***|| ||*5*|*2*|*6*||*1*| |*4*|| |*8*|*7*|| ||***|***|***||***| 9|***|| 9|***|***|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***|***|***||***|***| 23||***|***| 23|| ||*7*|*9*|*8*||*5*|*6*| ||*4*|*1*| || ||***|***|***||***|***| ||***|***| || ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***|***|***|| 2 | | 2 || | 2 |***|| ||*1*|*4*|*3*|| | | || 6| 6|*5*|| ||***|***|***||78 |78 |7 9|| 9| |***|| ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ Contradiction arises if we assume square 14 contains a 7. If it is 7, then square 16 cannot be 7, which leaves a hidden 7 in square 96, so square 95 must be 8, but we have now surrounded square 15 with a 7, a 3, and an 8, which is impossible, so square 14 must not be 7. ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ ||***|***|***||***| 3| 3||***|***|***|| ||*6*|*1*|*4*||*8*| | ||*2*|*5*|*9*|| ||***|***|***||***|7 |7 ||***|***|***|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***|***|***|| 2 |***| 2 ||***|***|***|| ||*9*|*3*|*5*|| 6|*1*| 6||*7*|*4*|*8*|| ||***|***|***|| |***| ||***|***|***|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***|***|***||***|***|***|| 3| 3|***|| ||*8*|*7*|*2*||*9*|*4*|*5*|| 6| 6|*1*|| ||***|***|***||***|***|***|| | |***|| ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ ||***|***|***|| | |***||***| 3| 3|| ||*2*|*6*|*1*||4 | |*8*||*5*| |4 || ||***|***|***||7 |7 9|***||***| 9| || ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***|***|***|| |***| ||***| 2 | 2 || ||*3*|*8*|*7*||4 6|*5*| 6||*1*| |4 || ||***|***|***|| |***| 9||***| 9| || ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***|***|***||***|***|***||***|***|***|| ||*4*|*5*|*9*||*3*|*2*|*1*||*8*|*7*|*6*|| ||***|***|***||***|***|***||***|***|***|| ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ ||***|***|***||***| 3|***|| 3|***|***|| ||*5*|*2*|*6*||*1*| |*4*|| |*8*|*7*|| ||***|***|***||***| 9|***|| 9|***|***|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***|***|***||***|***| 23||***|***| 23|| ||*7*|*9*|*8*||*5*|*6*| ||*4*|*1*| || ||***|***|***||***|***| ||***|***| || ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***|***|***|| 2 | | 2 || | 2 |***|| ||*1*|*4*|*3*|| | | || 6| 6|*5*|| ||***|***|***||7 |78 |7 9|| 9| |***|| ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ Hidden 8 in row 9. ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ ||***|***|***||***| 3| 3||***|***|***|| ||*6*|*1*|*4*||*8*| | ||*2*|*5*|*9*|| ||***|***|***||***|7 |7 ||***|***|***|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***|***|***|| 2 |***| 2 ||***|***|***|| ||*9*|*3*|*5*|| 6|*1*| 6||*7*|*4*|*8*|| ||***|***|***|| |***| ||***|***|***|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***|***|***||***|***|***|| 3| 3|***|| ||*8*|*7*|*2*||*9*|*4*|*5*|| 6| 6|*1*|| ||***|***|***||***|***|***|| | |***|| ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ ||***|***|***|| | |***||***| 3| 3|| ||*2*|*6*|*1*||4 | |*8*||*5*| |4 || ||***|***|***||7 |7 9|***||***| 9| || ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***|***|***|| |***| ||***| 2 | 2 || ||*3*|*8*|*7*||4 6|*5*| 6||*1*| |4 || ||***|***|***|| |***| 9||***| 9| || ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***|***|***||***|***|***||***|***|***|| ||*4*|*5*|*9*||*3*|*2*|*1*||*8*|*7*|*6*|| ||***|***|***||***|***|***||***|***|***|| ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ ||***|***|***||***| 3|***|| 3|***|***|| ||*5*|*2*|*6*||*1*| |*4*|| |*8*|*7*|| ||***|***|***||***| 9|***|| 9|***|***|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***|***|***||***|***| 23||***|***| 23|| ||*7*|*9*|*8*||*5*|*6*| ||*4*|*1*| || ||***|***|***||***|***| ||***|***| || ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***|***|***|| 2 |***| 2 || | 2 |***|| ||*1*|*4*|*3*|| |*8*| || 6| 6|*5*|| ||***|***|***||7 |***|7 9|| 9| |***|| ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ Regardless of the value in square 86, square 96 cannot contain a 7. If square 86 is a 2, then square 94 must be 7, so square 96 cannot be 7. Alternatively, if square 86 is 3, then square 16 must be 7, and again square 96 cannot be 7. ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ ||***|***|***||***| 3| 3||***|***|***|| ||*6*|*1*|*4*||*8*| | ||*2*|*5*|*9*|| ||***|***|***||***|7 |7 ||***|***|***|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***|***|***|| 2 |***| 2 ||***|***|***|| ||*9*|*3*|*5*|| 6|*1*| 6||*7*|*4*|*8*|| ||***|***|***|| |***| ||***|***|***|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***|***|***||***|***|***|| 3| 3|***|| ||*8*|*7*|*2*||*9*|*4*|*5*|| 6| 6|*1*|| ||***|***|***||***|***|***|| | |***|| ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ ||***|***|***|| | |***||***| 3| 3|| ||*2*|*6*|*1*||4 | |*8*||*5*| |4 || ||***|***|***||7 |7 9|***||***| 9| || ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***|***|***|| |***| ||***| 2 | 2 || ||*3*|*8*|*7*||4 6|*5*| 6||*1*| |4 || ||***|***|***|| |***| 9||***| 9| || ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***|***|***||***|***|***||***|***|***|| ||*4*|*5*|*9*||*3*|*2*|*1*||*8*|*7*|*6*|| ||***|***|***||***|***|***||***|***|***|| ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ ||***|***|***||***| 3|***|| 3|***|***|| ||*5*|*2*|*6*||*1*| |*4*|| |*8*|*7*|| ||***|***|***||***| 9|***|| 9|***|***|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***|***|***||***|***| 23||***|***| 23|| ||*7*|*9*|*8*||*5*|*6*| ||*4*|*1*| || ||***|***|***||***|***| ||***|***| || ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***|***|***|| 2 |***| 2 || | 2 |***|| ||*1*|*4*|*3*|| |*8*| || 6| 6|*5*|| ||***|***|***||7 |***| 9|| 9| |***|| ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ Hidden 7 in row 9. ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ ||***|***|***||***| 3| 3||***|***|***|| ||*6*|*1*|*4*||*8*| | ||*2*|*5*|*9*|| ||***|***|***||***|7 |7 ||***|***|***|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***|***|***|| 2 |***| 2 ||***|***|***|| ||*9*|*3*|*5*|| 6|*1*| 6||*7*|*4*|*8*|| ||***|***|***|| |***| ||***|***|***|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***|***|***||***|***|***|| 3| 3|***|| ||*8*|*7*|*2*||*9*|*4*|*5*|| 6| 6|*1*|| ||***|***|***||***|***|***|| | |***|| ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ ||***|***|***|| | |***||***| 3| 3|| ||*2*|*6*|*1*||4 | |*8*||*5*| |4 || ||***|***|***|| |7 9|***||***| 9| || ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***|***|***|| |***| ||***| 2 | 2 || ||*3*|*8*|*7*||4 6|*5*| 6||*1*| |4 || ||***|***|***|| |***| 9||***| 9| || ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***|***|***||***|***|***||***|***|***|| ||*4*|*5*|*9*||*3*|*2*|*1*||*8*|*7*|*6*|| ||***|***|***||***|***|***||***|***|***|| ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ ||***|***|***||***| 3|***|| 3|***|***|| ||*5*|*2*|*6*||*1*| |*4*|| |*8*|*7*|| ||***|***|***||***| 9|***|| 9|***|***|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***|***|***||***|***| 23||***|***| 23|| ||*7*|*9*|*8*||*5*|*6*| ||*4*|*1*| || ||***|***|***||***|***| ||***|***| || ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***|***|***||***|***| 2 || | 2 |***|| ||*1*|*4*|*3*||*7*|*8*| || 6| 6|*5*|| ||***|***|***||***|***| 9|| 9| |***|| ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ Naked 4 in square 44. ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ ||***|***|***||***| 3| 3||***|***|***|| ||*6*|*1*|*4*||*8*| | ||*2*|*5*|*9*|| ||***|***|***||***|7 |7 ||***|***|***|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***|***|***|| 2 |***| 2 ||***|***|***|| ||*9*|*3*|*5*|| 6|*1*| 6||*7*|*4*|*8*|| ||***|***|***|| |***| ||***|***|***|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***|***|***||***|***|***|| 3| 3|***|| ||*8*|*7*|*2*||*9*|*4*|*5*|| 6| 6|*1*|| ||***|***|***||***|***|***|| | |***|| ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ ||***|***|***||***| |***||***| 3| 3|| ||*2*|*6*|*1*||*4*| |*8*||*5*| | || ||***|***|***||***|7 9|***||***| 9| || ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***|***|***|| |***| ||***| 2 | 2 || ||*3*|*8*|*7*|| 6|*5*| 6||*1*| |4 || ||***|***|***|| |***| 9||***| 9| || ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***|***|***||***|***|***||***|***|***|| ||*4*|*5*|*9*||*3*|*2*|*1*||*8*|*7*|*6*|| ||***|***|***||***|***|***||***|***|***|| ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ ||***|***|***||***| 3|***|| 3|***|***|| ||*5*|*2*|*6*||*1*| |*4*|| |*8*|*7*|| ||***|***|***||***| 9|***|| 9|***|***|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***|***|***||***|***| 23||***|***| 23|| ||*7*|*9*|*8*||*5*|*6*| ||*4*|*1*| || ||***|***|***||***|***| ||***|***| || ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***|***|***||***|***| 2 || | 2 |***|| ||*1*|*4*|*3*||*7*|*8*| || 6| 6|*5*|| ||***|***|***||***|***| 9|| 9| |***|| ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ Naked 6 in square 54, naked 3 in square 49. ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ ||***|***|***||***| 3| 3||***|***|***|| ||*6*|*1*|*4*||*8*| | ||*2*|*5*|*9*|| ||***|***|***||***|7 |7 ||***|***|***|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***|***|***|| 2 |***| 2 ||***|***|***|| ||*9*|*3*|*5*|| 6|*1*| 6||*7*|*4*|*8*|| ||***|***|***|| |***| ||***|***|***|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***|***|***||***|***|***|| 3| 3|***|| ||*8*|*7*|*2*||*9*|*4*|*5*|| 6| 6|*1*|| ||***|***|***||***|***|***|| | |***|| ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ ||***|***|***||***| |***||***| |***|| ||*2*|*6*|*1*||*4*| |*8*||*5*| |*3*|| ||***|***|***||***|7 9|***||***| 9|***|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***|***|***||***|***| ||***| 2 | 2 || ||*3*|*8*|*7*||*6*|*5*| ||*1*| |4 || ||***|***|***||***|***| 9||***| 9| || ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***|***|***||***|***|***||***|***|***|| ||*4*|*5*|*9*||*3*|*2*|*1*||*8*|*7*|*6*|| ||***|***|***||***|***|***||***|***|***|| ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ ||***|***|***||***| 3|***|| 3|***|***|| ||*5*|*2*|*6*||*1*| |*4*|| |*8*|*7*|| ||***|***|***||***| 9|***|| 9|***|***|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***|***|***||***|***| 23||***|***| 2 || ||*7*|*9*|*8*||*5*|*6*| ||*4*|*1*| || ||***|***|***||***|***| ||***|***| || ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***|***|***||***|***| 2 || | 2 |***|| ||*1*|*4*|*3*||*7*|*8*| || 6| 6|*5*|| ||***|***|***||***|***| 9|| 9| |***|| ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ Naked 9s in squares 56 and 48, and naked 2 in column 9, and hidden 7s in row 4 and column 6, and hidden 4 in row 5. ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ ||***|***|***||***| 3|***||***|***|***|| ||*6*|*1*|*4*||*8*| |*7*||*2*|*5*|*9*|| ||***|***|***||***| |***||***|***|***|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***|***|***|| 2 |***| 2 ||***|***|***|| ||*9*|*3*|*5*|| 6|*1*| 6||*7*|*4*|*8*|| ||***|***|***|| |***| ||***|***|***|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***|***|***||***|***|***|| 3| 3|***|| ||*8*|*7*|*2*||*9*|*4*|*5*|| 6| 6|*1*|| ||***|***|***||***|***|***|| | |***|| ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ ||***|***|***||***|***|***||***|***|***|| ||*2*|*6*|*1*||*4*|*7*|*8*||*5*|*9*|*3*|| ||***|***|***||***|***|***||***|***|***|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***|***|***||***|***|***||***| 2 |***|| ||*3*|*8*|*7*||*6*|*5*|*9*||*1*| |*4*|| ||***|***|***||***|***|***||***| |***|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***|***|***||***|***|***||***|***|***|| ||*4*|*5*|*9*||*3*|*2*|*1*||*8*|*7*|*6*|| ||***|***|***||***|***|***||***|***|***|| ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ ||***|***|***||***| 3|***|| 3|***|***|| ||*5*|*2*|*6*||*1*| |*4*|| |*8*|*7*|| ||***|***|***||***| 9|***|| 9|***|***|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***|***|***||***|***| 23||***|***| 2 || ||*7*|*9*|*8*||*5*|*6*| ||*4*|*1*| || ||***|***|***||***|***| ||***|***| || ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***|***|***||***|***| 2 || | 2 |***|| ||*1*|*4*|*3*||*7*|*8*| || 6| 6|*5*|| ||***|***|***||***|***| || 9| |***|| ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ Naked 3 in row 1, naked 2 in row 5 and column 9 and square 96. ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ ||***|***|***||***|***|***||***|***|***|| ||*6*|*1*|*4*||*8*|*3*|*7*||*2*|*5*|*9*|| ||***|***|***||***|***|***||***|***|***|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***|***|***|| 2 |***| ||***|***|***|| ||*9*|*3*|*5*|| 6|*1*| 6||*7*|*4*|*8*|| ||***|***|***|| |***| ||***|***|***|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***|***|***||***|***|***|| 3| 3|***|| ||*8*|*7*|*2*||*9*|*4*|*5*|| 6| 6|*1*|| ||***|***|***||***|***|***|| | |***|| ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ ||***|***|***||***|***|***||***|***|***|| ||*2*|*6*|*1*||*4*|*7*|*8*||*5*|*9*|*3*|| ||***|***|***||***|***|***||***|***|***|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***|***|***||***|***|***||***|***|***|| ||*3*|*8*|*7*||*6*|*5*|*9*||*1*|*2*|*4*|| ||***|***|***||***|***|***||***|***|***|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***|***|***||***|***|***||***|***|***|| ||*4*|*5*|*9*||*3*|*2*|*1*||*8*|*7*|*6*|| ||***|***|***||***|***|***||***|***|***|| ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ ||***|***|***||***| |***|| 3|***|***|| ||*5*|*2*|*6*||*1*| |*4*|| |*8*|*7*|| ||***|***|***||***| 9|***|| 9|***|***|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***|***|***||***|***| 3||***|***|***|| ||*7*|*9*|*8*||*5*|*6*| ||*4*|*1*|*2*|| ||***|***|***||***|***| ||***|***|***|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***|***|***||***|***|***|| | |***|| ||*1*|*4*|*3*||*7*|*8*|*2*|| 6| 6|*5*|| ||***|***|***||***|***|***|| 9| |***|| ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ Naked 9 in square 75, naked 3 in square 86, and naked 6s in square 98 and square 26. ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ ||***|***|***||***|***|***||***|***|***|| ||*6*|*1*|*4*||*8*|*3*|*7*||*2*|*5*|*9*|| ||***|***|***||***|***|***||***|***|***|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***|***|***|| 2 |***|***||***|***|***|| ||*9*|*3*|*5*|| |*1*|*6*||*7*|*4*|*8*|| ||***|***|***|| |***|***||***|***|***|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***|***|***||***|***|***|| 3| 3|***|| ||*8*|*7*|*2*||*9*|*4*|*5*|| 6| |*1*|| ||***|***|***||***|***|***|| | |***|| ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ ||***|***|***||***|***|***||***|***|***|| ||*2*|*6*|*1*||*4*|*7*|*8*||*5*|*9*|*3*|| ||***|***|***||***|***|***||***|***|***|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***|***|***||***|***|***||***|***|***|| ||*3*|*8*|*7*||*6*|*5*|*9*||*1*|*2*|*4*|| ||***|***|***||***|***|***||***|***|***|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***|***|***||***|***|***||***|***|***|| ||*4*|*5*|*9*||*3*|*2*|*1*||*8*|*7*|*6*|| ||***|***|***||***|***|***||***|***|***|| ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ ||***|***|***||***|***|***|| 3|***|***|| ||*5*|*2*|*6*||*1*|*9*|*4*|| |*8*|*7*|| ||***|***|***||***|***|***|| 9|***|***|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***|***|***||***|***|***||***|***|***|| ||*7*|*9*|*8*||*5*|*6*|*3*||*4*|*1*|*2*|| ||***|***|***||***|***|***||***|***|***|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***|***|***||***|***|***|| |***|***|| ||*1*|*4*|*3*||*7*|*8*|*2*|| |*6*|*5*|| ||***|***|***||***|***|***|| 9|***|***|| ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ Naked 2 in square 24, naked 3 in square 38, and naked 9 in square 97, and hidden 6 in row 3, and hidden 3 in row 7. ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ ||***|***|***||***|***|***||***|***|***|| ||*6*|*1*|*4*||*8*|*3*|*7*||*2*|*5*|*9*|| ||***|***|***||***|***|***||***|***|***|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***|***|***||***|***|***||***|***|***|| ||*9*|*3*|*5*||*2*|*1*|*6*||*7*|*4*|*8*|| ||***|***|***||***|***|***||***|***|***|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***|***|***||***|***|***||***|***|***|| ||*8*|*7*|*2*||*9*|*4*|*5*||*6*|*3*|*1*|| ||***|***|***||***|***|***||***|***|***|| ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ ||***|***|***||***|***|***||***|***|***|| ||*2*|*6*|*1*||*4*|*7*|*8*||*5*|*9*|*3*|| ||***|***|***||***|***|***||***|***|***|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***|***|***||***|***|***||***|***|***|| ||*3*|*8*|*7*||*6*|*5*|*9*||*1*|*2*|*4*|| ||***|***|***||***|***|***||***|***|***|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***|***|***||***|***|***||***|***|***|| ||*4*|*5*|*9*||*3*|*2*|*1*||*8*|*7*|*6*|| ||***|***|***||***|***|***||***|***|***|| ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++ ||***|***|***||***|***|***||***|***|***|| ||*5*|*2*|*6*||*1*|*9*|*4*||*3*|*8*|*7*|| ||***|***|***||***|***|***||***|***|***|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***|***|***||***|***|***||***|***|***|| ||*7*|*9*|*8*||*5*|*6*|*3*||*4*|*1*|*2*|| ||***|***|***||***|***|***||***|***|***|| ++---+---+---++---+---+---++---+---+---++ ||***|***|***||***|***|***||***|***|***|| ||*1*|*4*|*3*||*7*|*8*|*2*||*9*|*6*|*5*|| ||***|***|***||***|***|***||***|***|***|| ++===+===+===++===+===+===++===+===+===++