tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16647241507681782492011-04-21T21:29:19.725-07:00Jotsna Iyernoreply@blogger.comBlogger11100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1664724150768178249.post-6270463438502465272008-08-06T02:14:00.000-07:002008-08-06T03:37:58.854-07:00I discovered this game in Times Bangalore and it has got me addicted since. To those who r addicted to sudoku...its time to change loyalties. <div></div><div><br /></div><div>The 1st puzzle I solved took quite a lot of time as I had to discover number combos and rules to fill in the squares. But from the second puzzle,I improved steadily.I've listed a few things I worked out.Hope it helps those who r new.A set of puzzles can be downloaded frm <a href="http://www.yoogi.com/">http://www.yoogi.com/</a> where they start with trivial squares and gradually proceed to monsters.</div><div><br /></div><div></div><div>The basics 1st : U fill in numbers ( from 1 to 9 without repitition for 1 each sum ) so that they add up to the sum indicated.</div><div><br /></div><div></div><div>Some numbers have unique combos: 4 in 2 squares can only be 3+ 1 ( 2+2 not allowed ). 3 in 2 is always 2+1, 5 in 2 is either 1+4 or 3+2, 6 in 3 : 1+2+3, 7 in 3 : 1+2+4, 8 in 3 always has 1 with either 4+3 or 5+2, 10 in 4 : 1+2+3+4, 15 in 5 is 1+2+3+4+5, 16 in 2 : 9 + 7, 17 in 2 is 9+8, 23 in 3 is 9+8+6, 24 is 9+8+7 , 28 in 7 is 1+2+3+4+5+6+7 and so on. These u'll remember automatically with practice.</div><div><br /></div><div></div><div>U can fill in the common numbers of 2 sums in their common blocks- when 3 and 4 overlap, 1 comes in the common square.16 and 17 share 9 and so on.</div><div><br /></div><div></div><div>Then u can do sudoku kind of elimination eliminating numbers that are already in the sum or a common block of a cross sum.</div><div><br /></div><div></div><div>Minima and Maxima: its useful to remember the smallest and the largest sum that can be filled in a certain number of boxes: In 3 spaces,the smallest sum is 6 ( 1+2+3 ) and the largest is 24 ( 9+8+7 ). In 4 blanks its 10 ( 1+2+3+4 ) and 30 ( 9+8+7+6 ) respectively. And so on.</div><div></div><div><br /></div><div>U can use the minimum and maximum concept to eliminate options. Where the sums 4(in 2) and 12 (in 2) cross,the common number is 3 ( If 1 is filled in,u need to put in 11 to make 12). If 10 in 4(1+2+3+4) crosses 13 in 2 or 21 in 3, the common block can only be 4 so that 9 can be filled in to make 13 and 9+8 (maximum in 2 blocks) can be put in to make 21. If 14 has to be filled in 4 spaces,the largest number possible in 1 block is 8 as the smallest in 3 blocks can only be 6. So,if this overlaps with 16 in 2, the common number has to be 7 as 14 wont take 9. Where 8 in 3 and 14 in 2 overlap,8 can be 4+3+1 or 5+2+1 but 14 can handle a least value of 5 only, so the common number has to be 5.<br /></div><div></div><div>U can also get the right combo of numbers using their difference with 45. 45 has all 9 numbers ( 1+2+3+4+5+6+7+8+9 ). 44 in 8 has 1 number missing, which can only be 1. 43 in 8 cannot have 2, 42 in 7 excludes 2 and 1 ( 45-42=2+1 ) (so, where 42 and 7 cross,the common number can only be 4), 41 - 3 and 1, 39 - 1,2,3 ( 39=4+5+6+7+8+9 ), 38 excludes 4,2 and 1 and so on..</div><div><br />More interesting combos pop out when u keep playing the game and u can automatically fill in numbers without much thought. Hope u enjoy it.</div><div></div><div>Happy kakuroing.</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1664724150768178249-627046343850246527?l=seriouslyjo.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jotsna Iyernoreply@blogger.com0