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Difficulty: Expert Sunday, February 25, 2007

Not Completed Play This Puzzle

CHAT LOG for Sunday, February 25, 2007

12:44 am
derfasaurus

go
1:04 am
derfasaurus

done
1:06 am
h

go
1:09 am
WHB

Done
1:10 am
derfasaurus

darn, that was yesterdays, now its time for todays
1:10 am
derfasaurus

go
1:20 am
h

13 filled going autofill green
1:21 am
Python Taz

cheat cheat cheat
1:22 am
h

jealous much?
1:22 am
derfasaurus

i still dont understand what is cheating about autofill
1:23 am
Python Taz

you dont do all the work
1:23 am
derfasaurus

if nothing else i find autofill to be a pain, cause you have to spend forever just to identify ones that you know can't be there
1:23 am
Python Taz

I mean ALL
1:25 am
Python Taz

if you manually put the greens in, thats fine . you still do all the work
1:25 am
derfasaurus

i guess i just dont see it as cheating
1:26 am
Python Taz

the computer did part of it, so that means you did not do all the work
1:27 am
h

i could argue that using the board online is cheating. in case youve never done these on paper, we are getting a "cheat" when the system flags a repeat.
1:27 am
Python Taz

okay
1:28 am
derfasaurus

what, you dont just ignore those?
1:28 am
Python Taz

explain the autofil
1:28 am
h

to an even more-extreme, we are getting a cheat by "knowing" that the sudoku is unique.
1:29 am
h

or how about using ANY kind of flagging of the numbers. you should just be able to memorize them all and put in the final solution without using the "cheat" of filling them in part-way thru.
1:29 am
Python Taz

h you got confused somewhere
1:30 am
h

morality is a slippery slope... im ok with my morality - you can have your own. but name-calling seems inappropriate.
1:31 am
Python Taz

autofil, who puts the numbers in? you or the computer
1:31 am
derfasaurus

i guess i was under the impression that sudoku was your own puzzle for you to challenge yourself with by completing it with whatever method you want to.
1:31 am
drwho

Cheating is breaking the rules. The rules here are not spelled out anywhere, so it seems that whatever the majority accepts as fair is fair.
1:31 am
h

bingo
1:32 am
Python Taz

its like cheating on a school test
1:33 am
derfasaurus

how?
1:33 am
h

calculators are now "accepted" for the sat. rules change.
1:33 am
Python Taz

computer and classmate is the same
1:33 am
derfasaurus

you're not being graded or being watched by anyone as a superior and you have no expectation of you except the expectation of your self
1:34 am
Python Taz

school are getting to lazy
1:34 am
derfasaurus

its so far away from cheating at school its not even funny
1:34 am
Python Taz

just a point
1:34 am
derfasaurus

god i hope that was a joke
1:35 am
mab

they is, python
1:35 am
Python Taz

its they are
1:35 am
derfasaurus

you talk good american
1:36 am
Python Taz

lol
1:37 am
Python Taz

when you use autofill its like saying "I can't do this on my own"
1:37 am
derfasaurus

im sorry, but i just can't get on-board with you saying having "cheating" at sudoku is anything like cheating at school. there is nothing at stake.
1:37 am
derfasaurus

no its mostly saying, i dont have time / i don't want to put in the effort to do this on my own
1:37 am
derfasaurus

i use autofill when i do these at work a lot of the time
1:38 am
Python Taz

lol your job
1:38 am
h

for you - "its like saying...". i have a different morality - so do not try imposing YOUR morals on others. proselytizer...
1:38 am
Python Taz

are you getting paid to play
1:38 am
derfasaurus

my job is mostly a very boring job
1:38 am
derfasaurus

yes i am
1:39 am
Python Taz

so you cheat that company out of money
1:39 am
derfasaurus

i sit there for most of the day waiting for something to go wrong so i can do work. when nothing is going wrong the best i can do is call companies to follow up on items that ive distributed.
1:39 am
Python Taz

lol do that
1:40 am
h

going red...
1:40 am
Python Taz

how do you go red
1:40 am
derfasaurus

its not cheating them out of money, they know i have plenty of free time while at work (ive told them multiple times), but im a salaried employee and unless they give me work to do, i dont have work to do
1:41 am
derfasaurus

by holding alt
1:41 am
Python Taz

ok
1:41 am
mab

I'm with you, h. (although I do hope you're not taking sudoku-performance-meds such as cortisone) (I joke)
1:41 am
Python Taz

thanks
1:42 am
h

actually, i take kc-masterpiece-lays-chips for performance-enhancement... ;)
1:42 am
mab

performance-enhancing, i meant to say
1:42 am
Python Taz

the Grease Factor
1:42 am
Python Taz

lol
1:43 am
h

its all about the bbq
1:43 am
mab

cheater
1:43 am
h

ppppthhhh.
1:44 am
Python Taz

you know its really bad when schooling costs more than your house
1:44 am
derfasaurus

oh crap, i did already do today's, now im doing yesterday's, im so confused
1:45 am
Python Taz

der what difficulty
1:45 am
mab

bbq chips for derf, stat!
1:45 am
derfasaurus

i did the expert one (which i think was today's) now im doing an easy (which was for sat
1:45 am
derfasaurus

sleep for derf, stat
1:46 am
derfasaurus

i told my gf i'd be to bed about 2 hours ago
1:46 am
Python Taz

liar
1:46 am
Python Taz

cheater and a liar
1:46 am
Python Taz

lol
1:46 am
derfasaurus

all this started because i was stitching together photos from our hike and it was running in the background but kept freezing, finally its done
1:47 am
h

derf must finish the doku, his gf will understand...
1:47 am
derfasaurus

a liar and a cheater who has no trouble sleeping at night
1:47 am
derfasaurus

meh, shes asleep, what does she care anyways
1:47 am
Python Taz

lol
1:49 am
derfasaurus

ah crap, i messed up the easy one
1:50 am
derfasaurus

phew! just put a 3 where i should have put a 9
1:50 am
Python Taz

I wanted wanted to gouge out my eyes today on that one
1:51 am
derfasaurus

yeah, a kinda rough easy
1:51 am
derfasaurus

who wants the answers to today's expert
1:51 am
derfasaurus

would that be cheating? (ponders)
1:51 am
Python Taz

not me
1:52 am
drwho

Just tell us the digits in each row, in no particular order.
1:52 am
h

heh
1:52 am
Python Taz

lol
1:52 am
derfasaurus

oh man, friday's was an expert too
1:52 am
derfasaurus

ill never get to sleep
1:53 am
Python Taz

see ya laterz cheaters
1:53 am
h

cu
1:53 am
derfasaurus

it really doesn't bug me
1:53 am
derfasaurus

have a good one
1:54 am
Python Taz

it's my deal
1:55 am
derfasaurus

are you playing poker?
1:55 am
Python Taz

I do
1:55 am
Python Taz

on full tilt
1:56 am
derfasaurus

is that cheating?
1:56 am
h

done
1:57 am
derfasaurus

up, up, down, down, left, right, left, right, b, a, b, start
1:57 am
Python Taz

hell no or I'd be a millionare
1:57 am
derfasaurus

sweet, that filled it all in
1:57 am
derfasaurus

so you would cheat if it would make you a millionaire?
1:59 am
Python Taz

that's getting ahead in life
1:59 am
Python Taz

lmao
1:59 am
derfasaurus

your morals seem a little loose
2:00 am
Python Taz

who's morals
2:01 am
Python Taz

the ones shoved down our throats
2:01 am
derfasaurus

yours, willing to cheat if it would make you a millionaire but busting everyone elses balls over a game of sudoku
2:01 am
Python Taz

the ones shoved down our throats
2:01 am
Python Taz

but thats cheating our self
2:01 am
Python Taz

lol
2:02 am
derfasaurus

is that really possible?
2:02 am
Python Taz

gotta go ,bye continue this another day
2:03 am
derfasaurus

have a good one
2:05 am
itzie

Oh wow. This is much harder than that last expert one.
2:06 am
derfasaurus

to each his own, tonights didn't give me much trouble at all, but fridays is slowing me down a little
2:07 am
itzie

That's funny. Friday's was cake for me - I didn't even have to use greens, I don't think. This one... i have about eleven filled in and I'm stuck.
2:08 am
derfasaurus

i think i just concentrated on the right area, i did it with no greens, i just started greens on fridays
2:08 am
derfasaurus

with 25 filled in i got nothing jumping out at me
2:10 am
itzie

I think on Friday's you had to force a chain or something... I think that's what you soduku-jargon-speakers call it anyway.
2:11 am
derfasaurus

i hate that sudoku jargon
2:12 am
derfasaurus

i still haven't figured out what kicked off the feb 13th expert, i had to guess and it aggravated me so much
2:12 am
itzie

I odn't remember that one.
2:16 am
derfasaurus

done
2:16 am
derfasaurus

im going to bed
2:16 am
itzie

g'night
2:19 am
itzie

done. Finally. Sheesh.
2:58 am
sprite

lol, I am glad I am not the only one not knowing all the jargon. I usually just mess around until I have the thing solved, no idea which name goes with which tecnique.
2:59 am
sprite

*technique
3:00 am
Slaal

That's what I do too. I tried learning what was what, but that wasn't as fun, so I gave up on that...
3:02 am
sprite

same here. Still, sometimes when I really cannot solve one without guessing, I would like to know where the trick was to really solve it.
4:05 am
augurus

Bah, my eyes have turned into that unsightly and cloudy vanilla that Issac has formed from all that precognition. Glad I finished minus the guessing finally.
4:05 am
sprite

yay augurus!
4:11 am
augurus

Thank you. Have you completed your attack on today's Sudoku?
4:22 am
peternl

Another expert?
5:09 am
spreadeagle

11 filled in without greens. stuck....
5:11 am
peternl

hmm
5:12 am
peternl

12 filled in wiht lots of green and stuck for the moment
5:13 am
spreadeagle

12 now, going green
5:18 am
spreadeagle

Greens helped with 1 more number. Nothing else obvious.
5:25 am
spreadeagle

Staring at this puzzle reminds me of a line I saw in a joke once: "Sometimes I sits and thinks, and sometimes I just sits"
5:26 am
peternl

grin
5:26 am
peternl

I think it is time for a forced chain (aka, guess and check)
5:29 am
spreadeagle

I'm afraid you're right. I don't see anything else.
5:42 am
spreadeagle

I can't even guess correctly
5:46 am
peternl

I'm noticing that. Two tries and they dont get anywhere
5:47 am
spreadeagle

I must have something screwed up. Starting over.
5:54 am
peternl

aha, guessed right and it all fell out
5:54 am
spreadeagle

I'm back to 13 filled, using greens this time, and it looks the same.
7:29 am
spreadeagle

Done, finally. I don't know why this puzzle was hard for me. I had to quit for a while and come back. Still had to guess. Oh well....
8:00 am
sandbox74

done... only needed one forcing chain at the lower right hand 3 x 3
8:00 am
hokie carla

okay, I'm starting, but not optimistic after reading the chatterbox.
8:07 am
yul

hello everybody
8:26 am
hokie carla

alright, done. on to yesterday's.
8:28 am
NonoNanette

12 filled without green...... dont see anything else
8:31 am
NonoNanette

make that 13
8:35 am
hokie carla

bye, all!
8:35 am
yul

bye
8:40 am
NonoNanette

done
8:41 am
NonoNanette

back to the archives
8:59 am
andy99

from the sound of these remarks, it's a bit more expert than that one the other day
9:12 am
ShadeEagle

up to 11 filled right now ... this one is slow going.
9:13 am
ShadeEagle

okay, 13
9:18 am
andy99

it's very odd - now maybe I see what people mean by forcing chains - once you commit to one guess, it's all over in only a couple of minutes
9:19 am
ShadeEagle

and amazingly nailed it on only one guess. yeah, I think that's what they're talking about (I call them cascades, personally)
9:22 am
andy99

maybe it wasn't a guess at all, some kind of intuition
9:22 am
ShadeEagle

nah, I'm not that cognizant. I just got lucky this time
9:27 am
andy99

well, we both had only one guess ... but of course we mustn't check if it's the same one
9:30 am
spazzy

why do i always guess wrong?
9:39 am
Minski

Done! Easy! No guesses. Just greenies.
9:40 am
spazzy

that wasan ugly one
9:49 am
yul

i thought I am good at sudoku...
10:08 am
yul

finally
10:20 am
smooth_pappa

good morning good morning!
10:26 am
mamabear

good morning smooth!
10:27 am
smooth_pappa

mambear!
10:28 am
smooth_pappa

how did the storm treat you guys last night?
10:28 am
mamabear

it was rough - lost power a few times
10:29 am
smooth_pappa

I think we were spared. They had predicted about 24 inches up here, but I don't think we got more than 5 or 6. But the thunderstorm part of it was really cool. I'd never seen a "snowthunder" before
10:30 am
mamabear

yes those are very cool! As long as you are indoors!
10:30 am
katmama

we got nearly nothing over here...but last year, we had what i termed a "thicerstorm" which was thunder, lightning, ice and snow - we lost power for 3 days
10:30 am
katmama

it was pretty sweet
10:30 am
smooth_pappa

yeah, and not stuck in a ditch.
10:30 am
smooth_pappa

where are you katmama?
10:30 am
mamabear

where are you katmama?
10:31 am
katmama

west michigan
10:31 am
mamabear

psyche, papa
10:31 am
katmama

we were supposed to get 8 inches
10:31 am
smooth_pappa

ahhh.
10:31 am
katmama

i think we got a scattered 1-2
10:31 am
smooth_pappa

yeah, they had a severe blizzard warning issued until 6:00 tonight. but cancelled that at about 3 this morning.
10:31 am
mamabear

we only got a few inches of snow - was more raining ice
10:32 am
smooth_pappa

I was a little sad... I had really been hoping for one BIG snowfall this year
10:32 am
katmama

smooth, where are you at?
10:32 am
mamabear

what's BIG? a few feet?
10:33 am
mamabear

I don't really mind the snow - it's the severe cold that gets to me
10:33 am
smooth_pappa

yeah... Haven't had a dumping like that in a years... you know... 2 feet would be a good start
10:33 am
mamabear

hmmm I greened this puppy up and I'm not seeing a darn thing
10:34 am
smooth_pappa

i think i'm going green in a second, too
10:34 am
mamabear

think I'll use the WAG method in a minute
10:35 am
smooth_pappa

???
10:35 am
smooth_pappa

walgreens? lol that's their stock symbol
10:35 am
mamabear

Wild A$$ Guess
10:35 am
smooth_pappa

HA!
10:41 am
mamabear

cool - first guess was a winner - 5 minutes for an Expert.... go me....
10:41 am
smooth_pappa

nice! good jopb!
10:41 am
mamabear

no wait, 10 minutes..... or maybe 12
10:42 am
mamabear

whatever
10:42 am
smooth_pappa

lol
10:42 am
mamabear

that's what I like about sudoku vs. babble - much less of a time commitment LOL
10:42 am
smooth_pappa

oh yeah. But less chat over here
10:43 am
mamabear

true, much less..... no cluing going on in here
10:43 am
smooth_pappa

yeah. lol how do you clue sudoku?
10:44 am
smooth_pappa

oooh! I'm almost there, myself
10:44 am
mamabear

I've given a clue about maybe a hidden pair or triple in a certain row - but that's about it...
10:44 am
mamabear

good going, pappa!
10:45 am
mamabear

in here, there isn't alot of chat, just sometimes IK (intermittent k'bitzing)
10:46 am
smooth_pappa

and done!
10:47 am
mamabear

ta da!
10:47 am
mamabear

*applause*
10:47 am
smooth_pappa

I was stuck there for a second, then a glaring 7 jumped out at me. lol
10:48 am
mamabear

I just took a guess and it turned out to be a good one. I don't like to do that, but hey, all's well that ends well!
10:49 am
smooth_pappa

I hate to do that, too. Because I know that if I make a wrong turn, more thn likely I'll have to start all the way over
10:49 am
Wolfrick

Go
10:50 am
mamabear

I save it to checkpoint right before I guess - then only go back to that point if I am wrong. I use the greenies, the checkpoints - all crutches available! Saves some brain cells to use on another day!
10:52 am
smooth_pappa

do you have to be pro to use save points?
10:54 am
smooth_pappa

err checkpoints
10:54 am
mamabear

yes
10:54 am
mamabear

well worth the investment in my opinion
10:55 am
mamabear

and it supports Dr. God and the site
10:55 am
smooth_pappa

I'm pro over on babble, but I don't know if I'll do both
10:56 am
mamabear

that's cool
10:56 am
Wolfrick

My trial ran out today, so I just went Pro.
10:58 am
mamabear

hey wolfrick! welcome to pro-dom.... or something along those lines
10:58 am
Wolfrick

So, does the upgrade come with magical Expert-solving abilities?
10:59 am
mamabear

LOL - in your profile, your icon looks like it is built out of Lego Blocks!
10:59 am
mamabear

t'would be nice....
10:59 am
Wolfrick

Maybe I am built of Lego. ;)
11:01 am
mamabear

well, I'm off to try and do something productive... have a good day, y'all
12:49 pm
miller da killer

hey everyone!!! back for another sudoku or two or three or four...
12:55 pm
miller da killer

grr...messed up on an easy from the other day!!!
12:57 pm
miller da killer

does anyone else out there (if there is anyone out there) enjoy the music from the lord of the rings movies?
12:59 pm
pabtrek

love the music miller
1:00 pm
miller da killer

i'm glad to see i'm not the only sudokuer on a saturday morning/noontime...i especially like the one when the ents march on isengard..."isengard unleashed" or something
1:01 pm
pabtrek

yes very powerful
1:02 pm
miller da killer

it inspires me to do something...i just don't know what the inspiration is yet!!!
1:08 pm
Krys10

I'm surprised that one was an "expert" - came together really easily! easy five points...
1:08 pm
miller da killer

i'm glad to hear it because i haven't even started it yet!!! still finishing some archives
1:09 pm
Krys10

i got all caught up in the archives yesterday - nice way to while away a weekend :)
1:09 pm
Krys10

see ya
1:10 pm
miller da killer

bye
1:22 pm
miller da killer

well...off to clean the house :( bye all!
2:10 pm
drwho

Difficulty score 58.
3:43 pm
davekingpt

spent wayyyyyyy too much time on that one.
4:13 pm
dinoshadow

I agree with Krys' message at 1:08- pretty darn easy. Maybe I just got lucky with that bottom right number
5:08 pm
davekingpt

Now I've done it. I just upgraded to "pro user". My life is over. *LOL*
5:09 pm
LeslieAnn

welcome to the madhouse, dave. have fun in the archives :)
5:10 pm
davekingpt

Exactly where I went first.
5:41 pm
LeslieAnn

bah, stuck.
6:11 pm
davekingpt

Funny how you can stare for a long time and see nothing. Then you walk away and return an hour later and numbers jump right out at you.
6:12 pm
OrangeSlice

It's called "resting the mind"
6:15 pm
davekingpt

I wonder if beer would help
6:15 pm
OrangeSlice

Though in my case it didn't work. hah
6:22 pm
adquilt

dinoshadow - thanks for the tip about the lower right corner. I had been stuck for hours, but used checkpoint and worked using that corner.
6:25 pm
adquilt

Anyone have any tips for Feb. 3? I can't tell you how many times I have tried to complete it - both from checkpoints and from the beginning. My son helped me complete Feb. 7 last night, but this one is still beyond me.
6:26 pm
OrangeSlice

I have that one completed, but I can't remember anything specific about it.
6:27 pm
OrangeSlice

My general strategy if I get completely stuck is to start searching for hidden pairs/triples and fixed chains.
6:37 pm
adquilt

On Feb. 3 puzzle seems to get stuck way to early - seems like way too many blanks.
6:37 pm
davekingpt

I remember a puzzle awhile back bringing folks to a halt around 12. That may have been the one.
6:38 pm
adquilt

Wish I could get that far - try 6!
6:38 pm
hurshy

let me know if you want a SDCHC
6:39 pm
adquilt

Hurshy - what's a "SDCHC"?
6:39 pm
hurshy

a Super Duper Coded Hurshy Clue
6:39 pm
OrangeSlice

ah, finally completed today's.
6:39 pm
hurshy

it enables a puzzle doer to get help without revealing anything to anyone else who does not choose to solve the clue
6:40 pm
davekingpt

You mean..... "When in doubt, eat chocolate"?
6:40 pm
davekingpt

That would work for me!!!
6:40 pm
OrangeSlice

I prefer "when in doubt, drink coffee"
6:40 pm
hurshy

no no, you select a box in any grid that you want to know which number goes in it, and then i concoct you a clue
6:40 pm
davekingpt

Beer makes the brain more efficient y'know.
6:48 pm
brittlefish.com

howdy.
6:48 pm
hurshy

fish on sudoku now too??
6:49 pm
brittlefish.com

indeed
6:56 pm
brittlefish.com

hmmm. a toughy
7:19 pm
LeslieAnn

lower-right hand corner? hmm, still can't find it.
7:23 pm
adquilt

Could be 1 of 4 numbers. For me, it was the one I least expected....
7:27 pm
brittlefish.com

and done
7:30 pm
brittlefish.com

after 13 #s used G+r autofill, and still had to guess once. a little tricky but not bad.
7:37 pm
adquilt

Brittlefish - I have code for G auto, but not R. Do you find it helpful to have both?
7:38 pm
brittlefish.com

it's not the suggested R strategy where Rs indicate impossibilities, but rather where two (or one) possibility exists.
7:38 pm
brittlefish.com

so, yes, it helps save some more time.
7:40 pm
brittlefish.com

give it a whirl if you want. it's the third script at brfsh.com/2007/02/07/make-ironsudoku-javascri
pt-magic
7:40 pm
adquilt

OK - might give it a try. Thanks!
7:41 pm
brittlefish.com

np
7:44 pm
dorens

not bad.....
8:09 pm
adquilt

Brittlefish - gave the G&R a try but Feb. 3 is still being difficult. Just have to keep trying.
8:53 pm
adquilt

Still can't get past 11 on Feb. 3 - grrrr!
8:58 pm
LeslieAnn

i completed it, but i'm going to try it on paper to get to that point, ad
8:59 pm
adquilt

I was thinking of putting it on paper - I've tried just about everything else. My son couldn't even see a move and he can usually complete any puzzle in a few minutes.
9:03 pm
brittlefish.com

adquitt - G+r doesn't solve anything... just helps you mark it quicker. :-)
9:05 pm
adquilt

Brittlefish - I realize that, but it still didn't help point out anything I'm missing - not complaining, just frustrated. I've been going back & forth to that puzzle for several days now. I know the problem is me.
9:05 pm
LeslieAnn

ha, i tried to mark a checkpoint on paper
9:06 pm
adquilt

Paper checkpoints are only available with Scanner or copier :)
9:19 pm
ShadeEagle

you said 2/3? I haven't tried that one yet, maybe I'll give it a shot after I rifle through another one (just started 9/23 from last year)
9:22 pm
adquilt

Yes, 2/3. I can usually come back to them and see what the problem is, but this one has me frustrated. I've put it aside again and completing a few others in archives. Helpls rebuild my confidence.
9:22 pm
ShadeEagle

well, I can certainly see why this one would be difficult. yikes.
9:23 pm
adquilt

And it's only rated as Hard, not Expert!
9:23 pm
ShadeEagle

sometimes I've been totally stumped on Mediums and gotten Experts right off
9:23 pm
ShadeEagle

I don't think the ratings have anything to do with the difficulty ;)
9:23 pm
LeslieAnn

ok, i think i completed it, adquilt. my sticking points were a naked double or triple in the 4th row, 8th row and 7th column
9:24 pm
LeslieAnn

two of them, i think the 8th row and 7th column, both had a naked 1/7/8 combo
9:35 pm
ShadeEagle

what do you mean by a naked double/triple?
9:36 pm
LeslieAnn

i mean there's three squares where the possibilities are only 1, 7 or 8 (or a combination of those). so therefore, you can delete 1, 7 and 8 from every other box in that column
9:36 pm
ShadeEagle

okay
9:37 pm
ShadeEagle

just got it! I didn't use the naked triples, although I guess I used a variant of it .... kind of a naked cross in the middle square
9:37 pm
LeslieAnn

it's the only sudoku technique i know the real name of (although i think even that one was made up here one day)
9:38 pm
LeslieAnn

where's adquilt? any of this helping?
9:38 pm
adquilt

LeslieAnn - that's what I had too. I think I deleted the other possibilities. Maybe I'll go back to that one if I can get 12/26 finished soon.
9:39 pm
ShadeEagle

yeah, I don't know what it was that I did (if there's an actual ascribed technique), but it's the same kind of idea. in the middle square, the 2/5 combo is confined to only a couple of squares. that was the key for me
9:39 pm
LeslieAnn

well the other one i had was a hidden 5/8 in the 4th row. hope it helps.
9:39 pm
ShadeEagle

you had a 5/8?
9:40 pm
LeslieAnn

yeah, there were only two squares that could have been 5/8, although they had lots of other numbers in there to make it look confusing
9:40 pm
LeslieAnn

although, we could have used different logic to get to the same place
9:41 pm
ShadeEagle

actually, I'm pretty sure I totally bypassed it. because of that aforementioned 2/5, I could place the 8 in the 4th row immediately based on what I already had, which pretty much started the chain of events
9:42 pm
LeslieAnn

ah i see.
9:42 pm
ShadeEagle

I can't really accurately explain what I did, but I used it on today's puzzle and it worked great. it's powerful, if I could only figure out what it was
9:43 pm
LeslieAnn

the curse of the sudoku player :)
9:44 pm
ShadeEagle

the more annoying part was figuring out if the idea I had was actually valid
9:44 pm
adquilt

That's the problem. The solution is the same for everyone, but we might all take different paths. Unfortunately, someone put up detour signs to steer me in the wrong direction.
9:46 pm
LeslieAnn

sometimes when i'm stuck i review the rows, columns etc. to see if I forgot to delete a possibility. sometimes that'll clear something right up.
9:47 pm
adquilt

I swear I have a sudoku grimlin working on this one!
9:48 pm
ShadeEagle

Figuring out where to place that 8 was what did it for me, even though it was still tedious
9:49 pm
OrangeSlice

You need to use a couple advanced solving techniques, but thankfully the puzzle opens up after that.
9:50 pm
LeslieAnn

hey orange, we are talking about the Feb. 3 puzzle
9:50 pm
OrangeSlice

oh.
9:50 pm
adquilt

I may have passed a previous road block. I think I've placed the 2, 5, & 8 in the center.
9:51 pm
LeslieAnn

adquilt has a sudoku gremlin working against her in that one ;)
9:51 pm
OrangeSlice

I don't remember how I solved feb. 3.
9:51 pm
LeslieAnn

you should be able to place the 8 in the fourth row then... you've done that too?
9:52 pm
OrangeSlice

Always keep your eyes open for hidden sets, and if you have a chain of pairs you can't solve, look for a guardian.
9:52 pm
adquilt

3rd position?
9:52 pm
LeslieAnn

yup
9:52 pm
ShadeEagle

I actually placed the middle box 8 well after the 4th row 8
9:52 pm
moedog

wow
9:53 pm
moedog

tried this one earlier today, hit the same roadblock that everyone else ran into
9:53 pm
moedog

tried it tonight, breezed through it
9:53 pm
moedog

dodged a bullet :)
9:53 pm
LeslieAnn

argh, wish you could post a screen shot somewhere, adquilt
9:53 pm
adquilt

Knowing to look for the 2/5 helped with placing it.
9:53 pm
OrangeSlice

try imageshack.us
10:04 pm
LeslieAnn

phew, that's enough for me today. good night folks, and good luck adquilt :)
10:04 pm
adquilt

2/3 has been conquered. Thanks LeslieAnn, ShadeEagle & Brittlefish for your help!!
10:04 pm
LeslieAnn

oh hoooray! and congrats to adquilt :)
10:13 pm
brittlefish.com

congrats!
10:14 pm
ShadeEagle

congrats!
11:35 pm
helenkeller

go
11:44 pm
NatLT

LA you still here?