I just lifted a sudoku puzzle from "Brain Age" for the DS. In sudoku, you fill in the whole 9x9 grid using the following rule: every row, column and 3x3 square have to end up with all the digits from 1 through 9, each only used once.

The x's need to be replaced with numbers from 1 to 9.

Copy and paste the whole puzzle. To fill in spots, replace the x with the correct number. Each person who posts gets to fill in at most three spots on the grid (just one or two is okay too.) Double posts are acceptable if they are at least 12 hours between.

edit: Hooray for Karppa's bold, size=14 look for the puzzles! Let's keep using that look.

edit: Actually, sudoku puzzles tend to lag on and on doing endless busywork once they're almost solved, so ...

As soon as there are 24 or less x's left, people can start filling in up to 6 spaces instead of 3.





--------------
16x 4x9 8xx
42x xx1 5xx
xx5 8xx x43

5x2 7x8 x91
xxx x9x xxx
87x 1x3 2x6

93x xx5 6xx
xx1 9xx x32
xx4 6x7 x15
--------------

--------------
16x 4x9 8xx
42x xx1 5xx
xx5 8xx x43

5x2 7x8 x91
xxx x9x xxx
879 143 256

93x xx5 6xx
xx1 9xx x32
xx4 6x7 x15
--------------

im better at sudoku when i have a pencil and paper, but ill give it a shot....

--------------
16x 4x9 8xx
42x xx1 5xx
xx5 8xx x43

542 768 391
xxx x9x xxx
879 143 256

93x xx5 6xx
xx1 9xx x32
xx4 6x7 x15
--------------

This is a simple enough puzzle that we probably won't need pencil and paper.

I only just discovered sudoku recently myself (and to be honest I don't really like it all that much, plus I suck at it).

---------------
16x 4x9 8xx
42x xx1 5xx
xx5 8xx 143

542 768 391
x1x x9x xxx
879 143 256

93x x15 6xx
xx1 9xx x32
xx4 6x7 x15
---------------

Is bigger the better?

Ones are done

nice ...


---------------
16x 4x9 8xx
42x xx1 5xx
795 8xx 143

542 768 391
x1x x9x xxx
879 143 256

93x x15 6xx
xx1 9xx x32
xx4 6x7 x15
---------------


Looks like I play more randomly than Karppa or Yoda.

---------------
16x 4x9 82x
42x xx1 5xx
795 82x 143

542 768 391
x1x x92 xxx
879 143 256

93x x15 6xx
xx1 9xx x32
2x4 6x7 x15
---------------


BTW: websudoku.com is a great site

---------------
16x 4x9 82x
42x xx1 5xx
795 82x 143

542 768 391
x1x x92 xxx
879 143 256

93x x15 6xx
xx1 9xx x32
284 637 915
---------------

We're down to 24 x's left, so you can fill in six spaces at a time if you want.

---------------
168 459 827
423 xx1 5xx
795 82x 143

542 768 391
316 592 xxx
879 143 256

93x x15 6xx
xx1 9xx x32
284 637 915
---------------

Then why did you start a topic for it? :lol Personally, I don't mind it that much. I think it's fun to do every once in a while, but I'm not crazy about it. It's not like the higher difficulty puzzles require that much intelligence, just a lot of trial and error. I really have no idea why it's become such a fad lately. I was in Barnes & Noble the other day and they had an entire shelf dedicated to books of sudoku puzzles. That's ridiculous!

---------------
168 459 827
423 371 5xx
795 82x 143

542 768 391
316 592 xxx
879 143 256

937 215 6xx
651 9xx x32
284 637 915
---------------

I LOOOOOVE sudoku!! And Arrow, there really is a method to the madness. In a true sudoku there is only one answer and trial and error won't reliably get you there. There's a lot of logic theory involved, a lot of "if yes/no then" stuff which normally scares me, but I'm hooked.

Anyway...we can't finish this puzzle because there's already a mistake. Row two (423 371 5xx) has 2 3's in it :(

We could start again, or try a new one.

Trial and error problems were the downfall of adventure games (try every inventory item on everywhere), sudokus can be solved logically, and the challenge and reward lie therein.

Anyways, seems that there were only 2 numbers in wrong places, here's a corrected one
---------------
163 459 827
428 371 5xx
795 82x 143

542 768 391
316 592 xxx
879 143 256

937 215 6xx
651 9xx x32
284 637 915
---------------

---------------
163 459 827
428 371 5xx
795 82x 143

542 768 391
316 592 xxx
879 143 256

937 215 6xx
651 984 732
284 637 915
---------------

Wow, good save, Karppa.

Why did I start this? I have no good answer :shrug Hopefully it will work as a forum game.
---------------
163 459 827
428 371 56x
795 82x 143

542 768 391
316 592 xxx
879 143 256

937 215 68x
651 984 732
284 637 915
---------------
Who wants to finish it off :D

edit: Does anybody here know the game of picross? There was a 1995 Game Boy game called Mario's Picross. Personally I like picross more than sudoku. But then again I have never yet tried a super-hard sudoku puzzle, so I can't judge it yet.

---------------
163 459 827
428 371 569
795 826 143

542 768 391
316 592 478
879 143 256

937 215 684
651 984 732
284 637 915
---------------

I hate checking out every row/column/box, I trust someone else will point out possible mistakes :D

I'll post a new one soon, and a hard one so you'll be happy if you have even one number to add...

---------------
xx4 x9x x71
xxx xx1 x5x
xxx 4x7 x2x

x31 xxx xxx
xx6 x2x 8xx
xxx xxx 63x

x9x 7x3 xxx
x6x 8xx xxx
17x x6x 2xx
---------------

---------------
xx4 x9x 371
xxx xx1 45x
xxx 4x7 92x

x31 xxx xxx
xx6 x2x 8xx
xxx xxx 63x

x9x 7x3 xxx
x6x 8xx xxx
17x x6x 2xx
---------------

Arrow, I don't care if you solved this puzzle beforehand or just found a solver program, but could you at least try to put in only those numbers that can be solved right now.

You put in 349 in the 7th column, top box, and NONE of those are solvable now unless you're psychic or trying to pretend to be.

Yay, I found one number I could add :)

---------------
xx4 x9x 371
xxx xx1 45x
xxx 4x7 92x

x31 xxx xxx
xx6 32x 8xx
xxx xxx 63x

x9x 7x3 xxx
x6x 8xx xxx
17x x6x 2xx
---------------

I did one of these once recently and spent two days pulling my hair out trying to make it work. Turns out I copied it down wrong :doh I could never have finished it.

---------------
xx4 x9x 371
xxx xx1 458
1xx 4x7 926

x31 xxx xxx
xx6 32x 8xx
xxx xxx 63x

x9x 7x3 x6x
x6x 8xx xxx
17x x6x 2xx
---------------

I <3 sudoku. :) I'm in a rush though so I only found one 8.


---------------
xx4 x9x 371
xxx xx1 458
1xx 4x7 926

x31 xxx xxx
xx6 32x 8xx
xxx xxx 63x

x9x 7x3 x6x
x6x 8xx xxx
17x x6x 28x
---------------

Uh, I didn't solve it before hand or use any sort of program to cheat. The place where I put the 3 could only be a 3 - no guessing required. 1, 4, 7, and 9 are in the same row, 2, 6, and 8 are in the same column, and 1, 2, 5, and 7 are in the same box... the only option is 3. The remaining four spaces in the box are 4, 6, 8, and 9. The two spaces below the 3 could not be 6 or 8 because they are both in that same column, so they had to be 4 and 9. There's a 4 in one of those two rows, so that's how I was able to determine which was which.

PS: The reason it says I edited your post was because I accidently clicked the edit button when I meant to press the quote button >_< I didn't change anything in it.

Arrow, I'm stunned. Humble apologies for doubting you :china

Your method has no trial and error after all, just pure cool deducing. Are you sure that doesn't count as intelligence ? :rolleyes

I consider it to be more along the lines of logic. Some people can deduce the answers more quickly than others... that's where intelligence plays a role. Anyway, I didn't mean to imply that doing sudoku doesn't require any intelligence, just that it's kind of overrated in that regard. And what I meant by trial and error mainly applies to extremely difficult puzzles (harder than the one you posted) where one is expected to determine large groups of numbers in which multiple combinations of answers could appear to be possible. But only by trying each set and working around them will you be able to find which one is the true answer. I don't know if I explained that very well, but it's not that important anyway :P Also, I hope I didn't give you the impression that I don't like sudoku... I do. I think it's a fun diversion. Anyway, let's just get back to the game :heh I hate to say it, but kickstart made a mistake and added a 1 in a column that already had one. This makes two of his other numbers possibly wrong, so I removed them as well (until we can be certain about them).

---------------
xx4 x9x 371
xxx xx1 45x
x1x 4x7 92x

x31 xxx xxx
xx6 32x 81x
xxx xxx 63x

x9x 7x3 x6x
x6x 8x2 xxx
17x x6x 28x
---------------

---------------
xx4 x9x 371
xxx xx1 45x
x1x 4x7 92x

x31 xxx xxx
xx6 32x 81x
xxx 1xx 63x

x9x 7x3 x6x
x6x 8x2 xxx
17x x6x 28x
---------------

Just one 1... (bottom middle box has room for a 1 only in the middle column, so the center box has to have it in the left column)

Are the rules okay, or should a person be allowed to add more than three numbers at a time, to make the puzzle more possible to solve?

( :lol I just stared at the puzzle several minutes and couldn't find a single number I could add.)

How about max 3 numbers every 6 hours, like a 6h quarantine between posts, but then double or triple posts would be ok if nobody else could add anything.

And this puzzle IS hard, grabbed it from websudoku.com's evil puzzles (very hard wasn't enough :evil )

---------------
xx4 x9x 371
xxx xx1 45x
x1x 4x7 92x

x31 xxx xxx
xx6 32x 81x
xxx 1xx 63x

x9x 7x3 x6x
46x 8x2 xxx
17x x6x 28x
---------------

That 4 could be placed in the bottom-left box since the two top row positions are reserved for 2 and 8 (they can't go anywhere else), and there's already a 4 in the right column.
_{MENTAL NOTE: Bottom-left box: 2 and 8 to top row, 3 and 5 to middle and bottom of right column :rolleyes}

I kinda hate sudokus that need brute-force solving, IE: jot down all possible numbers to every square, and then go thru all columns, rows and boxes to see if there's only one occurrence of a number. There IS something that makes that approach easier: if there are two numbers that can be in only 2 places in a box, then they can't be anywhere else in that box or row/column. Like the 7th row: x9x 7x3 x6x : 2 and 8 have to be beside that 9, so that leaves 1, 4 and 5 for the remaining 3 places. So the 7th row has to be 2/8 9 2/8 7 1/4/5 3 1/5 6 4/5

Auugh, gotta get some sleep, 1:20AM here... :dead

:eek So sorry I screwed up on that 1! Thanks Arrow for catching my mistake. :notworthy One should never rush a Sudoku, that's when dumb mistakes get made. Anyway, here's my contribution. Column 8: 752 413 698. 9 and 4 were the only numbers missing from C8, but 4 was already in R8, so 9. 4 then goes into the remaining spot in C8 R4.

---------------
xx4 x9x 371
xxx xx1 45x
x1x 4x7 92x

x31 xxx x4x
xx6 32x 81x
xxx 1xx 63x

x9x 7x3 x6x
46x 8x2 x9x
17x x6x 28x
---------------

---------------
xx4 x9x 371
xxx xx1 45x
x18 4x7 92x

x31 xxx x4x
xx6 32x 81x
xxx 1xx 63x

x9x 7x3 x6x
46x 8x2 x9x
17x x6x 28x
---------------

OK, as I was figuring out the 3rd row, C3R3 has to be either 3,5 or 8. As 3 and 5 are already reserved for the bottom box in 3rd column, that leaves only 8.

That should help to put down a number or three now.

I changed the rules. 12 hours and you can double-post.

LOL, that's the only approach I know to solve sudoku. :shrug

---------------
xx4 x9x 371
xxx xx1 45x
x18 4x7 92x

x31 xxx x4x
xx6 32x 81x
x8x 1xx 63x

892 7x3 x6x
46x 8x2 x9x
17x x6x 28x
---------------

Hope I didn't make any mistakes ...

I mostly use splicing and dicing, that means, I don't try to fill boxes or rows or columns, I take a number and try to see if I can put it in every box (by eliminating rows and columns where it CAN'T go). Like I can now put in the rest of the 8's. First one in the top-right box (can't be on bottom row), then one in the top-middle box (can't be on bottom or middle row, and not on left column) and the last in the center box (can't be on bottom or middle row, nor left or right column).

---------------
xx4 x98 371
xxx xx1 458
x18 4x7 92x

x31 x8x x4x
xx6 32x 81x
x8x 1xx 63x

892 7x3 x6x
46x 8x2 x9x
17x x6x 28x
---------------

---------------
x54 x98 371
x2x xx1 458
x18 4x7 92x

x31 x8x x4x
x46 32x 81x
x8x 1xx 63x

892 7x3 x6x
46x 8x2 x9x
17x x6x 28x
---------------

edit: rofl, Winsite still has the picross game I made in 1997. http://www.winsite.com/bin/Info?500000017007

---------------
654 x98 371
x2x xx1 458
x18 4x7 926

x31 x8x x4x
x46 32x 81x
x8x 17x 63x

892 7x3 x6x
46x 8x2 x9x
17x x6x 28x
---------------

---------------
654 298 371
927 xx1 458
x18 4x7 926

x31 x8x x4x
x46 32x 81x
x8x 17x 63x

892 7x3 x6x
46x 8x2 x9x
17x x6x 28x
---------------

---------------
654 298 371
927 631 458
318 4x7 926

x31 x8x x4x
x46 32x 81x
x8x 17x 63x

892 7x3 x6x
46x 8x2 x9x
17x x6x 28x
---------------

24 x's, yayy...

---------------
654 298 371
927 631 458
318 4x7 926

x31 x8x x4x
x46 32x 81x
x8x 174 63x

892 743 x6x
46x 8x2 793
173 x6x 284
---------------

---------------
654 298 371
927 631 458
318 457 926

x31 x8x x4x
x46 32x 81x
x89 174 63x

892 743 165
465 812 793
173 x6x 284
---------------

Sudoku is now my favorite paper game. I used to really love crossword puzzles, but sudoku is smaller and easier to tote around. I'm thinking of getting the DS-Lite just for the sudoku.

---------------
654 298 371
927 631 458
318 457 926

x31 x8x 54x
x46 32x 81x
x89 174 632

892 743 165
465 812 793
173 x6x 284
---------------

just so you know, theres a psp sudoku game around...

---------------
654 298 371
927 631 458
318 457 926

x31 x8x 54x
746 325 819
589 174 632

892 743 165
465 812 793
173 569 284
---------------

Who wants to finish it off? :)

And I ask the person who does finish it off, do you want an easy puzzle next or another head-scratcher? If you want an easy one then I'll take one from Brain Age. If you want a hard one I think someone else will have to post it.