This puzzle has stumped me. If anyone can direct me toward a solution, much appreciated.
I don't know what kind of notation you use on this forum, but I've set out below the original puzzle as well as the point at which I got stuck.
This is a six-star puzzle from the Globe & Mail (Toronto) on January 5, 2021
Starting Grid:
Code:
. . . | 9 5 1 | . . .
. 2 . | . 6 . | 5 . 1
. . . | . . 4 | . . .
==============|================|=============
. . 3 | . . . | . . 6
. . 6 | . 4 . | 7 . .
7 . . | . . . | 8 . .
==============|================|=============
. . . | 6 . . | . . .
2 . 5 | . 3 . | . 1 .
8 . . | 2 7 5 | . . .
Here’s where I got to, (with pencil marks):
346 347 478 | 9 5 1 | 346 234678 23478
349 2 4789 | 378 6 37 | 5 34789 1
13569 13579 1789 | 378 2 4 | 369 36789 3789
=================|================|===================
459 459 3 | 57 8 27 | 1 2459 6
159 8 6 | 135 4 23 | 7 2359 2359
7 145 2 | 135 9 6 | 8 345 345
=================|================|===================
349 3479 479 | 6 1 89 | 2 578 578
2 679 5 | 4 3 89 | 69 1 78
8 169 19 | 2 7 5 | 3469 3469 349