SudokuSolver Forum

There are four difficulties to choose from.
All four puzzles have the same solution.

A) Apprentice (mainstream edition).
B) Master (30 Intersections, 2 Naked Pairs, 2 Y-Wings). The 2 Y-Wings can be replaced with: 2 XY-Wings + 1 Uniqueness Test 4.
C) Guru (30 Intersections, 1 Naked Pair, 1 Naked Triplet, 1 Naked Quad, 1 Finned X-Wing, 2 XY-Wings, 3 Y-Wings, 1 long XY-Chain, 1 XY-X-Chain up to 3 links, 4 longer XY-X-Chains). The Finned X-Wing can be replaced with an Empty Rectangle.
D) Wizard.



Regular Samurai #12A (Apprentice)

Rating based on required solving techniques:  Barely Tough

300010002009000000000020930020037008000000500510080090100006007006001000005000009
000000000082000700400000901007000235000001000960020070000000000000005400003400602
007900000000070000009000003000000000000620000096000540000800000000003000063790000
000001000950070000002400063890000000000000700030980000209500000000000407075040030
000090004000000000000007600006000001000539070000000200007000908020003000000270010



Regular Samurai #12B (Master)

Rating based on required solving techniques:  Super Hard

300010002009000000000020930020037008000000500510080090100006000006001000005000000
000000000082000700400000901007000235000001000960020070000000000009005400003400602
000900000000070009000000003000000000000620000096000540000800000000003000000790000
000001000900070000002400000890000000000000700030980000209500000000000407075040030
000090004000000000000007600006000001000539070000000200007000908020003000000270010



Regular Samurai #12C (Guru)

Rating based on required solving techniques:  Ultra Hard

300010002009000000000020930020037008000000500510080090100006000006001000005000000
001000000082000700400000901007000235000001000960020070000000000000005400000400602
000906000000070000000000000000000100000620030096000540000800000000003000000790000
000001000900070000002400000890000000000000700030980000209500000000000407075040030
000090004000000000000007600006000001000539070000000200007000908020003000000270010



Regular Samurai #12D (Wizard)

Rating based on required solving techniques:  Nightmare

300010002009000000000020930020037008000000500510080090100006000006001000005000000
000000000082000700400000901007000235000001000960020070000000000000005400003400602
000900000000070000000000003000000000000620000096000540000800000000003000000790000
000001000950070000002400000890000000000000700030980000209500000000000407075040030
000090004000000000000007600006000001000539070000000200007000908020003000000270010

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Here some information, especially for Jean-Christophe and Richard:

SudokuSolver cannot solve Regular Samurai #12D (Wizard) .
Using the solver techniques’ sequence listed in “Børge’s Corner”, JSudoku 1.4b2 reports that the following techniques are required (hopefully correct English):

195 Naked Singles
80 Hidden Singles
35 Intersections
4 Naked Pairs
4 Naked Triplets
1 Naked Quads
1 Hidden Pairs
1 Swordfish
1 Two String Kites
1 Empty Rectangles
2 Finned X-Wing
1 Finned Jellyfish
1 XYZ-Wings
1 Y-Wings
3 XY-Chains up to 5 links
8 XY-Chains
3 XY-X-Chains up to 3 links
1 XY-X-Chains
2 Grouped XY-Chains up to 3 links
3 Grouped XY-Chains
2 ALS-XZ up to 5 cells



SudokuSolver is however capable of solving next week’s Regular Samurai #13F (Chief Wizard), which JSudoku can solve using Brute Force only.

Regular Samurai #13F (Chief Wizard)

6 Naked Singles
39 Hidden Singles
30 Intersections
1 Naked Triplets
1 Hidden Pairs
1 Y-Wings
1 XY-X-Chains up to 3 links
5 XY-X-Chains
1 Grouped XY-Chains up to 3 links
5 Grouped XY-Chains
3 ALS-XZ
1 Recursively Solve: Unique solution found with 11 guesses, 1668 nodes traversed

Rating based on required solving techniques:  Hellish Nightmare   Solvable using logic only?

400080900002000071700000800000940000030000010020000300060507000200010000001009000
060005000001000643000000000400000080002001000003560010000010470000700001000400209
000003000000001000000000000000010000700400800080079001000907000000000000000006000
020030000000000000830001000200007040000604100001002003015090000007000004000000900
000008900000007000000000052000300010000000500006700400070000390020905060400630020


Using SodukuSolver's default solving techniques' sequence with "All On", the Score option reports:

Puzzle Completed.  Step Analysis:
197	Naked Singles
7	Naked Pairs
4	Naked Triples
3	Naked Quads
70	Hidden Singles
4	Hidden Pairs
36	Locked Candidates (Box/Line)
1	Strong Wing	4
1	Bowmans Bingo Simple (Lite)	2
27	Bowmans Bingo Simple (Lite)	1
1	Bowmans Bingo Extended (Lite)	2
1	X Chain	2
1	XY Chain	6
1	XY Chain	5
1	XY Chain	4
2	XY Chain	3
2	Empty Rectangle	5
1	Empty Rectangle	4
2	Empty Rectangle	3
1	Empty Rectangle	2
5	Almost Locked Sets	6
2	Almost Locked Sets	5
6	Almost Locked Sets	4
1	Almost Locked Sets	3
3	Almost Locked Sets	2
Total solving time (seconds):		30,11
Calculated score:		4,47

**** Uses Extended Trial and Error Steps ****

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Børge

#12D could be pushed through by various forcing moves in the centre grid, but JSudoku is coping with this one without such a drastic technique. Though it is much harder than #5D or #5E.

For #13F As regards Bowman's Bingo this is a T&E technique (Richard say Extended T&E), so it isn't easy to describe the logic that leads to the eliminations. So I think it's draw between the two programs here, both are really using Brute Force.

_________________
I have 81 brain cells left, I think.

I am glad it is, since this was my design goal. #12D is the first Wizard level Samurai I have created. Next week there is both a Wizard and a Chief Wizard level Samurai.
The Chief Wizard level you have of course already seen.

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I have just run Ronin through JSudoku and Sudoku Solver: both fail to solve it pretty much as I expected. It is considerably harder even than #13F, Bowmans Bingo makes no real impact.

_________________
I have 81 brain cells left, I think.

I do this with every new release of JSudoku and SudokuSolver.

I will do my best to make more difficult Samurais
I think it is easier to make a very difficult X-Samurai than a plain Samurai.

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