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Andrew

Post subject: Archive Part E. Assassins 126-150, variants, other puzzles

Posted: Sun Jul 31, 2011 4:18 am

Grand Master

Joined: Wed Apr 23, 2008 6:04 pm
Posts: 1895
Location: Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada

Puzzle rating table, with links to archive entries; each of these has a link to the puzzle thread.

Abbreviations used in Rating Table:

+------------------------+-----------+-------+-------+-------+-----------------------+-------+
| Puzzle                 |  Made By  |  Est  | Afmob | Andrew|     Other Raters      | Score |
+------------------------+-----------+-------+-------+-------+-----------------------+-------+
| Tetris Killer          |   tarek   |       |  1.25 | H1.25 |                       |  1.75 |
| Tetris KillerV2        |   tarek   |       |       | H1.25 |                       |  1.20 |
| Assassin 146           |   manu    |       | H1.25 | H1.25 |                       |  3.50 |
| JFFK4                  |   manu    |       | E1.50 |  1.50 |                       |  1.65 |
| Assassin 147           |   tarek   |       | H1.00 |  1.25 |                       |  1.15 |
| Assassin 148           |   Afmob   |  1.25 |   **  |  1.25 | (Ed) E1.50            |  1.35 |
| JFFK5                  |   manu    |       |  1.25 | E1.50 |                       |  1.40 |
| Assassin 149           |   manu    |       | H1.25 | H1.50 | (Ed) E1.50            |  1.70 |
| Assassin 149V2         |   manu    |       | H1.50 | H1.50 |                       |  2.15 |
+------------------------+-----------+-------+-------+-------+-----------------------+-------+

Some of the selected quotes in the puzzle entries have been edited to remove "spoilers"; the full rating comments are included with the walkthroughs. In some cases the puzzle makers gave hints; these are included in tiny text in the selected quotes.

Last edited by Andrew on Thu Aug 04, 2011 1:32 am, edited 4 times in total.

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Andrew

Post subject: Archive Part E. Assassins 126-150, variants, other puzzles

Posted: Sun Jul 31, 2011 4:57 am

Grand Master

Joined: Wed Apr 23, 2008 6:04 pm
Posts: 1895
Location: Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada

Tetris Killer by tarek (March 2009) here

Puzzle Diagram:

Images with "udosuk style Killer Cages" by Børge:

Code: Select, Copy & Paste into solver:

Solution:

+-------+-------+-------+
| 4 3 6 | 7 8 2 | 9 5 1 |
| 9 1 8 | 5 3 6 | 2 4 7 |
| 7 2 5 | 9 1 4 | 6 8 3 |
+-------+-------+-------+
| 1 6 7 | 4 2 3 | 5 9 8 |
| 8 9 4 | 6 7 5 | 3 1 2 |
| 3 5 2 | 8 9 1 | 7 6 4 |
+-------+-------+-------+
| 2 4 9 | 3 5 8 | 1 7 6 |
| 5 8 3 | 1 6 7 | 4 2 9 |
| 6 7 1 | 2 4 9 | 8 3 5 |
+-------+-------+-------+

Quote:

tarek: I'm not sure if this qualifies as an Assassin, it should prove difficult with an SSS=1.73 .... It follows the Tetris theme (I didn't have time to colour it :brickwall:

, I'll be tempted if you like it :whistle:

) ...
Enjoy

rcbroughton: This thread gave rise to a great discussion on the nature of Assassins versus regular Killers - by popular demand, I've moved that portion of the discussion to a "sticky" topic here What is an Assassin

Andrew: It's good to see that you've now posted some puzzles with SS scores below two. Maybe next time you produce puzzles at this level you could sign up to post as Assassins. IMHO, just from glancing at the puzzles before I try them, the easier one could have been posted as an Assassin with the harder one as a V2 provided that there was already a volunteer for the following week's Assassin.
Maybe it's a good thing that you didn't colour it. I've just done that on my Excel worksheet and it immediately highlights the hole in the middle.
It was also interesting to note that the first puzzle has four cages which are immediately naked quads but the lighter version doesn't have any. Despite that, the lighter version is definitely the easier of the two.

Afmob: I have to agree with Andrew that it would have been better to use these Killers as Assassins. By the way, you might want to use the recent SudokuSolver version (3.3.0) for the ratings.
Rating: 1.25.

tarek: So I missed my chance for an Assassin :brickwall:

I would probably want to sign up for 1 assassin & then disappear to improve Generated puzzles design before returning :cheesey:

So ,, where should I sign up ?!

manu: I won't post any WT for this "V1" because there are many steps similar to Afmob. On the other hand, I 'd like to point out a decisive move that enables me to crack this puzzle in a different way.

Andrew (in 2010): Here is another puzzle from my unsolved backlog; I managed to solve the Lite version when it was active but had got stuck on the original Tetris Killer. Having gone through Afmob's walkthrough it looks as if some parts of the solving path are fairly narrow but my key breakthrough ... was very different.
I'll rate my walkthrough for Tetris Killer at least Hard 1.25.

Walkthrough by Afmob:

manu's decisive move:

Walkthrough by Andrew (in 2010):

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Andrew

Post subject: Archive Part E. Assassins 126-150, variants, other puzzles

Posted: Sun Jul 31, 2011 5:12 am

Grand Master

Joined: Wed Apr 23, 2008 6:04 pm
Posts: 1895
Location: Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada

Tetris Killer V2 by tarek (March 2009) here

Puzzle Diagram:

Images with "udosuk style Killer Cages" by Børge:

Code: Select, Copy & Paste into solver:

Solution:

+-------+-------+-------+
| 9 7 1 | 6 2 5 | 4 8 3 |
| 5 6 8 | 4 1 3 | 2 7 9 |
| 4 2 3 | 7 9 8 | 1 6 5 |
+-------+-------+-------+
| 8 5 6 | 1 3 2 | 9 4 7 |
| 2 3 4 | 9 7 6 | 5 1 8 |
| 1 9 7 | 5 8 4 | 3 2 6 |
+-------+-------+-------+
| 6 4 2 | 3 5 7 | 8 9 1 |
| 7 1 5 | 8 4 9 | 6 3 2 |
| 3 8 9 | 2 6 1 | 7 5 4 |
+-------+-------+-------+

Quote:

tarek: Here is a lighter version. SSS=1.22.

manu: This V2 seems really hard : I have used ... I might have missed something since this puzzle seems to be as difficult as many 1.5 I have solved (not able to rate exactly)

Andrew: I finished Tetris Killer v2 over a week ago, soon after Manu's walkthrough was posted, but waited until Richard had moved the interesting What is an Assassin? discussion to its own thread.
I'll rate Tetris Killer v2 at 1.25 to Hard 1.25 the way I solved it.

Walkthrough by manu:

Walkthrough by Andrew:

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Andrew

Post subject: Archive Part E. Assassins 126-150, variants, other puzzles

Posted: Sun Jul 31, 2011 5:29 am

Grand Master

Joined: Wed Apr 23, 2008 6:04 pm
Posts: 1895
Location: Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada

Assassin 146 by manu (March 2009) here

Puzzle Diagram:

Images with "udosuk style Killer Cages" by Børge:

Code: Select, Copy & Paste into solver:

Solution:

+-------+-------+-------+
| 3 7 1 | 4 5 9 | 8 6 2 |
| 4 5 9 | 2 6 8 | 7 1 3 |
| 6 2 8 | 1 7 3 | 4 9 5 |
+-------+-------+-------+
| 2 3 6 | 7 4 5 | 1 8 9 |
| 8 5 4 | 3 9 1 | 6 2 7 |
| 9 1 7 | 8 2 6 | 5 3 4 |
+-------+-------+-------+
| 1 9 3 | 5 8 4 | 2 7 6 |
| 5 6 2 | 9 1 7 | 3 4 8 |
| 7 8 4 | 6 3 2 | 9 5 1 |
+-------+-------+-------+

Quote:

manu: I had much hesitations about the choice of the puzzle between two of them (the other one will be sent as an extra killer for JFF4 EDIT : Have talked about this with Andrew and have finally decided to post it for further Assassin).
SSolver rating is 3.50, but fall down to 1.19 after a single step not seen by the solver.
The solving path is narrow, but no doubt that you will be able to find the right way

: must not be added to Tarek unsolvables :brickwall:

Afmob: Rating: 1.25 - Hard 1.25.

Andrew:

manu wrote:

The solving path is narrow, but no doubt that you will be able to find the right way

Yes it is. My key moves were the mostly the same as Afmob's but sometimes for different reasons ...
I'll rate A146 at Hard 1.25.

Walkthrough by Afmob:

Walkthrough by Andrew:

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Andrew

Post subject: Archive Part E. Assassins 126-150, variants, other puzzles

Posted: Wed Aug 03, 2011 12:41 am

Grand Master

Joined: Wed Apr 23, 2008 6:04 pm
Posts: 1895
Location: Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada

Just For Fun Killer 4 by manu (March 2009) here

Puzzle Diagram:

Images with "udosuk style Killer Cages" by Børge:

Code: Select, Copy & Paste into solver:

Solution:

+-------+-------+-------+
| 2 4 7 | 6 3 8 | 5 1 9 |
| 9 6 8 | 5 1 2 | 4 7 3 |
| 5 1 3 | 9 4 7 | 2 8 6 |
+-------+-------+-------+
| 8 2 4 | 3 9 5 | 1 6 7 |
| 3 7 6 | 4 2 1 | 9 5 8 |
| 1 9 5 | 8 7 6 | 3 2 4 |
+-------+-------+-------+
| 4 8 1 | 7 5 3 | 6 9 2 |
| 6 3 2 | 1 8 9 | 7 4 5 |
| 7 5 9 | 2 6 4 | 8 3 1 |
+-------+-------+-------+

Quote:

manu: Hi, not able to provide a V2 for A146. I will have a look to the WTs posted for that puzzle. Waiting for Tarek's puzzle, here is another one. Not planned for a future Assassin because this one is a blank cells killer. BTW, I would need to know if such puzzles can be accepted for Assassins ? I have never seen this kind of puzzle in our Assassins archive ; what is the position of the others participants ? Blank cells can offer some spices to killer puzzles. I feel much difficulties to make blank cells killers because either they are too hard, either the solving path is too apparent from the cages pattern.
For this one, I have chosen to make few blank cells ; with regard to the solving path, this puzzle is very similar to classical killer puzzles. I had to use technicals moves to solve it (...) but it feel not to be so difficult....
SSscore : 1.65.

Afmob: Your cage pattern reminded me of this (Archive Note. Link to Ruud's former site; not now accessible. The link may have been to Centre Dot Killer, here). I think V1 Assassins should have no holes but otherwise you can do as you please on V2 or non-Assassin Killers as you can see in the Human Solvable series.
Rating: Hard 1.25 - Easy 1.5.

Andrew: I've got no problem with Assassins having blank cells provided they are in the right range of difficulty. Assassins have developed significantly since Ruud started them. Diagonally-linked cages and Killer-Xs started in variants and forum puzzles and are now accepted for Assassins.
I'll be interested to see what views other forum members have.
My solving path for JFFK4 started with it being another fun puzzle, then I got bogged down ... and then it became fun again when I found steps 25 and 26.
I'll rate my walkthrough for JFFK4 at 1.5.

Walkthrough by Afmob:

Walkthrough by Andrew:

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Andrew

Post subject: Archive Part E. Assassins 126-150, variants, other puzzles

Posted: Wed Aug 03, 2011 2:24 am

Grand Master

Joined: Wed Apr 23, 2008 6:04 pm
Posts: 1895
Location: Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada

Assassin 147 by tarek (March 2009) here

Puzzle Diagram:

Images with "udosuk style Killer Cages" by Børge:

Code: Select, Copy & Paste into solver:

Solution:

+-------+-------+-------+
| 6 8 4 | 5 3 9 | 7 2 1 |
| 5 2 9 | 1 7 8 | 3 4 6 |
| 1 3 7 | 4 6 2 | 9 8 5 |
+-------+-------+-------+
| 3 5 2 | 6 8 4 | 1 7 9 |
| 4 9 8 | 7 5 1 | 2 6 3 |
| 7 1 6 | 9 2 3 | 8 5 4 |
+-------+-------+-------+
| 8 7 1 | 3 4 6 | 5 9 2 |
| 9 4 5 | 2 1 7 | 6 3 8 |
| 2 6 3 | 8 9 5 | 4 1 7 |
+-------+-------+-------+

Quote:

tarek: Here is my 1st ASSASSIN, completely computer generated but verified also using independent software.
SSS=1.13.

Afmob: Thanks for the new Assassin! The solving path was pretty straightforward, I think.
Rating: Hard 1.0.

Andrew: Thanks Tarek for your first Assassin.
I found this more challenging than I'd expected. I'll accept that it's straightforward if one finds both of Afmob's key steps easily but it took me a long time to find the second one, in fact I left this puzzle to try other ones and only came back to it this week.
I'll rate A147 the way I solved it at Easy 1.25 to 1.25.

Walkthrough by Afmob:

Walkthrough by Andrew:

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Andrew

Post subject: Archive Part E. Assassins 126-150, variants, other puzzles

Posted: Wed Aug 03, 2011 3:11 am

Grand Master

Joined: Wed Apr 23, 2008 6:04 pm
Posts: 1895
Location: Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada

Assassin 148 by Afmob (March 2009) here

Puzzle Diagram:

Images with "udosuk style Killer Cages" by Børge:

Code: Select, Copy & Paste into solver:

Solution:

+-------+-------+-------+
| 8 7 9 | 3 4 2 | 1 5 6 |
| 6 4 3 | 1 9 5 | 7 2 8 |
| 1 2 5 | 8 6 7 | 4 9 3 |
+-------+-------+-------+
| 7 8 1 | 5 3 6 | 2 4 9 |
| 9 3 2 | 4 7 1 | 8 6 5 |
| 5 6 4 | 9 2 8 | 3 7 1 |
+-------+-------+-------+
| 2 1 8 | 7 5 9 | 6 3 4 |
| 4 5 6 | 2 1 3 | 9 8 7 |
| 3 9 7 | 6 8 4 | 5 1 2 |
+-------+-------+-------+

Quote:

Afmob: Despite the hurry, I took my time to create this Killer because I wanted to make one like I did in the beginning: Generate a random sudoku and transform it into a Killer. The good thing about this approach is that the solution path is a bit broader since you don't focus on an unusual cage pattern but on getting the uniqueness right.
SS Score: 1.33. Estimated rating: Easy 1.25 - 1.25.

manu: Thanks Afmob for a new Assassin.
I had to work hard ... to solve this puzzle. I have seen an interesting particularity of the cage pattern (see PS remark), but I could not use it effectively...

Ed: This solution is "a Para" - got so caught up in ...! Presumably, there is a simpler solution. Very enjoyable puzzle. Thanks Afmob!
This walkthrough has a number of crucial steps that, on their own, I would put in the 1.25 rating range ... I'll make this solution an Easy 1.50 rating.

Afmob: Great ... find in your step 10, Ed!

Andrew: Another Assassin where I'd got stuck and came back to it later, then finding the breakthrough as I've commented under step 16.
My solving path was much more like Afmob's one than the other two ...
I'll rate A148 at Easy 1.25 to 1.25 since, although longer, it's about the same difficulty level as Afmob's walkthrough; that is, of course, ignoring the fact that I got stuck.

Walkthrough by manu:

Walkthrough by Ed:

Walkthrough by Afmob:

Walkthrough by Andrew:

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Andrew

Post subject: Archive Part E. Assassins 126-150, variants, other puzzles

Posted: Wed Aug 03, 2011 3:26 am

Grand Master

Joined: Wed Apr 23, 2008 6:04 pm
Posts: 1895
Location: Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada

Just For Fun Killer 5 by manu (March 2009) here

Puzzle Diagram:

Images with "udosuk style Killer Cages" by Børge:

Code: Select, Copy & Paste into solver:

Solution:

+-------+-------+-------+
| 6 2 1 | 5 3 7 | 4 9 8 |
| 3 4 7 | 1 9 8 | 5 6 2 |
| 8 9 5 | 4 6 2 | 3 7 1 |
+-------+-------+-------+
| 9 5 8 | 7 1 3 | 2 4 6 |
| 1 7 2 | 6 4 9 | 8 3 5 |
| 4 3 6 | 2 8 5 | 9 1 7 |
+-------+-------+-------+
| 7 1 3 | 8 2 4 | 6 5 9 |
| 5 8 4 | 9 7 6 | 1 2 3 |
| 2 6 9 | 3 5 1 | 7 8 4 |
+-------+-------+-------+

Quote:

manu: I won't post a V2 for the next assassin (would be happy if someone do it); here is a puzzle to keep you busy.
There are more blank cells than the previous JFFK, and 45 Rule becomes difficult to use here. Anyway, there is still a logical path and I whish you to have pleasure with solving it. Blank cells killers I have tried to make before are often tedious (too much combos), but this one is quite straightforward (seems to be easier than a 1.4 puzzle)
This is not a X-killer
SSolver : 1.41.

Afmob: I agree with manu that JFF5 isn't that hard though some moves might be hard to spot. But the cage design hints where you have to take a closer look so that lowers the difficulty a bit.
Rating: 1.25.

Andrew: Thanks manu for another fun puzzle in this series.

Afmob wrote:

... though some moves might be hard to spot.

Yes some were hard to spot. I got stuck for a while until I found step 10.
I'll rate JFFK5 at Easy 1.5.

Walkthrough by Afmob:

Walkthrough by Andrew:

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Andrew

Post subject: Archive Part E. Assassins 126-150, variants, other puzzles

Posted: Wed Aug 03, 2011 3:45 am

Grand Master

Joined: Wed Apr 23, 2008 6:04 pm
Posts: 1895
Location: Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada

Assassin 149 by manu (April 2009) here

Puzzle Diagram:

Images with "udosuk style Killer Cages" by Børge:

Code: Select, Copy & Paste into solver:

Solution:

+-------+-------+-------+
| 4 2 9 | 8 1 6 | 7 5 3 |
| 8 5 6 | 9 3 7 | 4 2 1 |
| 7 3 1 | 4 2 5 | 9 8 6 |
+-------+-------+-------+
| 2 6 8 | 7 9 4 | 1 3 5 |
| 5 9 3 | 1 6 8 | 2 4 7 |
| 1 7 4 | 3 5 2 | 6 9 8 |
+-------+-------+-------+
| 9 8 5 | 2 7 1 | 3 6 4 |
| 6 1 2 | 5 4 3 | 8 7 9 |
| 3 4 7 | 6 8 9 | 5 1 2 |
+-------+-------+-------+

Quote:

manu: This is a quite hard Assassin : I have had to use many little steps and the whole cage pattern before cracking it.
I have no V2, but I think this one will resist enough to keep you busy ...
SS (V3.3.0) Score : 1.71.

Afmob: That was different! :lol:

My original walkthrough was twice as long and I had some trouble getting into the puzzle and finding some place to start. But after that there were ... which made the solving really enjoyable. Thanks for this fun killer, manu!
Rating: 1.25 - (Hard) 1.25.

Ed: I missed Afmob's neat step 1f. so took a slightly longer route to do the beginning. Did his step 2 ....differently. I'll give this puzzle a 1.5 rating since, as manu says, you have to consider the big picture of the puzzle (NOT a hint).
Really great puzzle. Thanks very much manu!

manu: Thanks for these very different but elegant walkthroughs, Afmob and Ed ! I have followed another (slightly different) approach, so other WTs are yet possible

Reading Afmob's and Ed's, I have finally wanted to re-try to make a V2 with the same cage pattern, and got the following. (See next archive entry)

Andrew: A149 was the third successive Assassin that I went back to after being stuck at the time.
Even then I missed Afmob's first two ! steps, the third one follows from the second one. I also missed the key step 15 in Ed's walkthrough which I'm more annoyed that I missed.
On the basis that I'd rate both Afmob's and Ed's walkthroughs as Hard 1.25, I'll rate my walkthrough at 1.5 to Hard 1.5.

Walkthrough by Afmob:

Walkthrough by Ed:

Walkthrough by Andrew:

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Andrew

Post subject: Archive Part E. Assassins 126-150, variants, other puzzles

Posted: Wed Aug 03, 2011 4:20 am

Grand Master

Joined: Wed Apr 23, 2008 6:04 pm
Posts: 1895
Location: Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada

Assassin 149 V2 by manu (April 2009) here

Puzzle Diagram:

Images with "udosuk style Killer Cages" by Børge:

Code: Select, Copy & Paste into solver:

Solution:

+-------+-------+-------+
| 9 2 4 | 3 7 5 | 1 6 8 |
| 3 6 5 | 4 8 1 | 9 2 7 |
| 1 8 7 | 9 2 6 | 4 3 5 |
+-------+-------+-------+
| 2 5 3 | 1 4 9 | 7 8 6 |
| 6 4 8 | 7 5 3 | 2 9 1 |
| 7 1 9 | 8 6 2 | 5 4 3 |
+-------+-------+-------+
| 4 3 6 | 2 1 7 | 8 5 9 |
| 5 7 2 | 6 9 8 | 3 1 4 |
| 8 9 1 | 5 3 4 | 6 7 2 |
+-------+-------+-------+

Quote:

manu: Thanks for these very different but elegant walkthroughs, Afmob and Ed ! I have followed another (slightly different) approach, so other WTs are yet possible

Reading Afmob's and Ed's, I have finally wanted to re-try to make a V2 with the same cage pattern, and got the following. It might to be felt not much more difficult than V1 ; my solving path for V2 is shorter but however implies harder moves (a forcing chain, an ALS and killer subsets) which could explain the higher SSrating. See by yourself...
SS Score : 2.16.

Afmob: It took me some time to find the important steps (...), so I decided to rate this Killer "hard 1.5" but I think the moves are probably in the 1.5 territory.

manu: Here is how I have solved V2 :

Andrew (in 2010): A149 V2 was the next puzzle that I went back to in my backlog. I see from that I'd found the original A149 hard and hadn't tried V2 until a few days ago.
My solving path is different from both Afmob's and manu's walkthroughs. I was struggling until ...
I'll agree with Afmob's rating of Hard 1.5 for A149 V2.

Walkthrough by Afmob:

Walkthrough by manu:

Walkthrough by Andrew (in 2010):

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