SudokuSolver Forum

3x3::k:4096:4096:4096:6915:3076:4869:3078:3078:3078:4105:6915:6915:6915:3076:4869:4869:4869:4113:4105:6163:4429:4429:3076:4940:4940:5401:4113:4105:6163:4429:4429:2847:4940:4940:5401:4113:5668:6163:4646:4646:2847:3625:3625:5401:5676:5668:6163:6163:4646:3889:3625:5401:5401:5676:5668:5668:2360:2360:3889:3387:3387:5676:5676:3135:2368:2360:5186:5186:5186:3387:5446:2375:3135:2368:2368:2891:2891:2891:5446:5446:2375:

Thanks JC for posting another variant! My wt is for the first one (with the picture). I might tackle V2 (SS Rating 1.88) but I certainly won't battle the V3 since it needs lots of T&E.

But I don't know about posting so many variants. There was a discussion started by Ed about this before in the A53 thread.

UA97 V1.5 Walkthrough:

1. N8
a) Innies C1234 = 10(2) <> 5; R9C4 <> 8
b) Innies C5 = 7(2) = [34/43/52/61]
c) Innies C6789 = 14(2) = [68/86/95]
d) 11(3): R9C4 <> 6,7 because R9C6 >= 5
e) Innies C1234 = 10(2): R8C4 <> 3,4
f) Hidden Killer triple (345) in R8C5 for 20(3) -> R8C5 <> 6
g) Innies C5 = 7(2) <> 1

2. R789 !
a) Innies R89 = 8(2) <> 4,8,9; R8C7 <> 1
b) Innies+Outies N7: -15 = R7C4 - R7C12 -> R7C4 = (12)
-> R7C12 = 9{7/8} -> 9 locked for R7+N7+22(4)
c) 12(2) <> 3
d) Outies N7 = 7(2+1) -> R56C1 <> 6,7,8
e) 15(2): R6C5 <> 6
f) Innies N8 = 14(3): R7C6 <> 1,2,3,8 because 7 <= R7C45 <= 10
g) Innies N8 = 14(3) <> 4 because {248} blocked by Killer pair (24) of 11(3)
h) ! Innies N8 = 7{16/25} because {158} blocked by Killer pair (58) of Innies C6789
-> 7 locked for R7+N8
i) Innies+Outies N7: -15 = R7C4 - R7C12 -> R7C4 = 2
j) Innies N8 = 14(3) = {257} -> R7C5 = 7, R7C6 = 5
k) 11(3) = {146} -> R9C4 = 1, R9C5 = 4, R9C6 = 6

3. R789
a) Innies C1234 = 10(2) = {19} -> R8C4 = 9
b) R8C6 = 8, R8C5 = 3
c) Naked pair {89} locked in R7C12 for R7+N7
d) 12(2) = {57} locked for C1+N7
e) 9(3) @ R8C2 = {234} because R9C23 = (23) -> R8C2 = 4, {23} locked for R9+N7
f) 21(3) = 7{59/68} -> 7 locked for N9
g) 13(3) = {256} -> R7C7 = 6, R8C7 = 2
h) 9(2) = {18} -> R8C9 = 1, R9C9 = 8
i) 22(4) @ N9 = {3469} because R7C89 = (34) -> {69} locked for C9+N6

4. C19
a) Innies+Outies C9: 2 = R7C8 - R1C9 -> R1C9 = 2, R7C8 = 4
b) 12(3) = 2{19/37/46} <> 5,8
b) Innies+Outies C1: 5 = R7C2 - R1C1 -> R1C1 = (34)
c) Killer pair (34) locked in R1C1 + 22(4) for C1
d) 16(3) @ R1 <> 1 because R1C1 = (34)
e) 12(3) <> 3,7 because (37) is a Killer pair 16(3) @ R1
f) 16(3) @ R1 <> 9 because (49) is a Killer pair of 12(3)
g) 16(3) @ R1 must have 3 xor 4 and R1C1 = (34) -> R1C23 <> 3,4

5. N25
a) 15(2) = {78} -> R6C5 = 8
b) 1 locked in R123C5 for N2
c) R8C3 = 6 -> R7C3 = 1
d) 17(4) = 2{348/357/456} <> 9 -> 2 locked for C3
e) R9C3 = 3, R9C2 = 2
f) 18(3): R5C3 <> 4 because R56C4 <= 13

6. R123
a) Innies R1 = 17(3) <> {359} since it's a Killer pair of 16(3)
b) Innies R1 = 17(3): R1C5 <> 9 because 1 only possible there
c) 27(4) = 9{378/468/567} -> 9 locked for R2+N1
d) R2C23 <> 8 because it sees all 8 of R1

7. C1234 !
a) ! Innies+Outies C12: 6 = R16C3 - R2C2
-> R6C3 <> 9 because R1C3 <> 6 since 9 in R6C3 forces 9 in R2C2 (step 6c)
b) Killer pair (89) locked in 24(5) + R7C2 for C2
c) Hidden Single: R2C3 = 9 @ N1
d) Killer pair (36) locked in 18(3) + 17(4) for C4
e) Hidden Killer pair (36) in R2C2 for 27(4) -> R2C2 = (36)
f) 16(3) @ R1 = 5{38/47} since {367} blocked by R2C2 = (36) -> 5 locked for R1+N1
g) ! Innies+Outies N1: -4 = R4C1 - (R23C2+R3C3) -> R4C1 <> 6 since there is no 10(3) combo for R23C2+R3C3
h) 16(3) @ R2C1 = 6{19/28} -> 6 locked for N1
i) R2C2 = 3, R1C1 = 4

8. R123
a) 16(3) @ R1 = {457} -> 7 locked for R1+N1
b) 12(3) @ N3 = {129} -> 1,9 locked for R1+N3
c) R1C5 = 6 -> 12(3) @ N1 = {156} -> {15} locked for C5+N2
d) Hidden Single: R3C6 = 9 @ N2, R2C6 = 2 @ N2
e) R1C6 = 3 -> 19(4) @ R1 = {2368} -> R2C7 = 8, R2C8 = 6
f) 19(4) @ R3 = {1459} -> 1 locked R4, 5 locked for C7
g) 27(4) = {3789} -> R2C4 = 7, R1C4 = 8

9. N5
a) 14(3) = {347} -> R5C7 = 3, {47} locked
b) 18(3) = 7{38/56} -> R5C3 = 7

10. Rest is singles.

Rating: (Hard?) 1.25. I used Killer pairs and some Innies+Outies analysis.

I enjoyed 97 v1.5 too.


As for v1 it was relatively straightforward to show that in N8 the numbers are;
275
938
146

After this it got tricky.Could place r1c1=3/4 and r1c9=2
In N2 1 is in the 12(3) cage ..nowhere else in c5
The 27(4) cage N12must contain a 9 so in N1 9 is at r2c23
Also in N1 1 is in r2/3
By using x-wings on the 1s in r123 can now show that in N2 9<>12(3) cage.So 11(2) cage N5={29}.
Still some work to do but it's cracked now.Took me some while to see the x-wing
so I'ld rate it about 1.25.

Regards

Gary

uA97 V1.5 was a nice variant. Thanks J-C. Smile

There is a lot of similarity between Afmob's walkthrough and mine but we took significantly different paths to break this puzzle open after an easy opening. It was surprising that the early stages were, in fact, easier than for Afmob's original puzzle. This variant didn't need clashes between cages and hidden cages in N8 which were used in the quickest start for the original puzzle. I must admit I was disappointed that I was unable to use the overlap of R7C3467 and R7C456; maybe it will be needed for J-C's V2 if I try it.

It looks as if a very short forcing chain, Afmob's step 7a, my step 30, is one of the key moves in this puzzle.

I must admit I couldn't follow Gary's "By using x-wings on the 1s in r123 can now show that in N2 9<>12(3) cage.So 11(2) cage N5={29}". I couldn't see any x-wings on those 1s. There is a forcing chain for R1 where either R1C5 must be 1 or R1C78 must be {19). That still leaves 9 to be eliminated from R3C5; in my walkthrough 9 was eliminated from R2C5 by CPE.

Afmob's step 7d is the sort of step that's probably more easily seen by those using software solvers than by me using an Excel worksheet and only looking up combinations in Ruud’s Combination Calculator or when previously included in my partial walkthrough.

After reading Afmob's walkthrough, I checked whether that step could have been used in my solving path but it couldn't. I still had {459} in 18(3) cage at R5C7. I made the same eliminations in my more complicated step 34.

I'll go slightly higher than Afmob and rate uA97 V1.5 as an Easier 1.5. Most of my steps 29 to 34 were fairly difficult to find. Maybe it's a Hard 1.25 for those using software solvers and an Easier 1.5 for those of us who don't. Still I've got no immediate plans to change my solving method.

Here is my walkthrough for uA97 V1.5.

Prelims

a) R45C5 = {29/38/47/56}, no 1
b) R67C5 = {69/78}
c) R89C1 = {39/48/57}, no 1,2,6
d) R89C9 = {18/27/36/45}, no 9
e) 9(3) cage at R7C3 = {126/135/234}, no 7,8,9
f) 9(3) cage at R8C2 = {126/135/234}, no 7,8,9
g) R8C456 = {389/479/569/578}, no 1,2
h) R9C456 = {128/137/146/236/245}, no 9
i) 21(3) cage in N9 = {489/579/678}, no 1,2,3
j) 27(4) cage at R1C4 = {3789/4689/5679}, no 1,2, CPE no 9 in R2C56

1. 45 rule on C1234 2 innies R89C4 = 10 = {37/46}/[82/91], no 5, no 8 in R9C4

2. 45 rule on C6789 2 innies R89C6 = 14 = {68}/[95], no 1,2,3,4,7, no 5 in R8C6

3. 45 rule on C5 2 innies R89C5 = 7 = {34}/[52/61], no 7,8,9, no 5,6 in R9C5

4. R9C456 = {128/146/236/245} (cannot be {137} because R9C6 only contains 5,6,8), no 7, clean-up: no 3 in R8C4 (step 1)
4a. R9C6 = {568} -> no 6 in R9C4, clean-up: no 4 in R8C4 (step 1)

5. R8C456 = {389/479/569/578}
5a. 3,4,5 only in R8C5 -> R8C5 = {345}, clean-up: no 1 in R9C5 (step 3)

6. 1 in C5 locked in R123C5, locked for C5
6a. R123C5 = 1{29/38/47/56}

7. 45 rule on N7 2 innies R7C12 = 1 outie R7C4 + 15, R7C12 = 16,17, R7C4 = {12}
7a. R7C12 = {79/89}, 9 locked for R7, N7 and 22(4) cage, clean-up: no 6 in R6C5, no 3 in R89C1

8. 9 in N8 locked in R8C46, locked for R8
8a. 9 in N9 locked in 21(3) cage = {489/579}, no 6

9. R9C456 (step 4) = {146/236/245} (cannot be {128} which clashes with R7C4), no 8, clean-up: no 6 in R8C4 (step 2)
9a. Killer pair 1,2 in R7C4 and R9C45, locked for N8

10. R8C456 must contain 9 (step 8) = {389/479} (cannot be {569} which clashes with R9C6), no 5,6, clean-up: no 4 in R9C4 (step 1), no 2 in R9C5 (step 3)

11. Naked pair {34} in R89C5, locked for C5 and N8, clean-up: no 7,8 in R123C5 (step 6a), no 7,8 in R45C5, no 7 in R8C4 (step 1)
11a. Naked pair {12} in R79C4, locked for C4

12. Naked pair {89} in R8C46, locked for R8 and N8, R8C5 = 3 (step 10), R9C5 = 4, clean-up: no 7 in R6C5, no 5 in R8C9, no 1,6 in R9C9

13. R67C5 = [87] (hidden pair in C5)
13a. Naked pair {56} in R79C6, locked for C6

14. Naked pair {89} in R7C12, locked for R7, N7 and 22(4) cage, clean-up: no 4 in R8C1

15. R7C12 = 17 -> R7C4 = 2 (step 7), R9C4 = 1, R9C6 = 6 (step 9), R7C6 = 5, R8C4 = 9 (step 1), R8C6 = 8

16. 27(4) cage at R1C4 = {3789/4689/5679}, 9 locked in R2C23, locked for R2 and N1

17. Naked pair {57} in R89C1, locked for C1 and N7

18. Naked pair {23} in R9C23, locked for R9 and N7, R8C2 = 4 (cage sum), clean-up: no 6,7 in R8C9, no 5 in R9C9

19. 21(3) cage in N9 = {579} (only remaining combination), locked for N9 -> R89C9 = [18], R78C3 = [16], R8C7 = 2, R7C7 = 6 (cage sum)

20. R7C89 = {34} = 7 -> R56C9 = 15 = {69}, locked for C9 and N6

21. R234C9 = {457} (only remaining combination), locked for C9 -> R7C89 = [43], R1C9 = 2
21a. R1C78 = 10 = {19/37}/[46], no 5,8

22. 17(4) cage at R3C3 = {2348/2357/2456}, no 9
22a. 2 locked in R34C3, locked for C3 -> R9C23 = [23]

23. 45 rule on C1 1 outie R7C2 = 1 innie R1C1 + 5, R1C1 = {34}
23a. R1C123 = {358/367/457} (cannot be {178} because R1C1 only contains 3,4), no 1
23b. R1C1 = {34} -> no 3 in R1C2, no 4 in R1C3
23c. R1C78 (step 21a) = {19}/[46] (cannot be {37} which clashes with R1C123), no 3,7

24. R7C12 = {89} = 17 -> R56C1 = 5 = {14/23}
24a. Killer pair 3,4 in R1C1 and R56C1, locked for C1

25. R234C1 = {169/268}
25a. 9 of {169) must be in R4C1 -> no 1 in R4C1

26. 45 rule on R1 3 innies R1C456 = 17 = {179/368/458/467} (cannot be {359} which clashes with R1C123)
26a. 1 of {179} must be in R1C5 -> no 9 in R1C5
26b. 8 of {368} must be in R1C4 -> no 3 in R1C4
26c. 5,6 of {368/458/467} must be in R1C5 -> no 5,6 in R1C4

27. R123C5 (step 6a) = 1{29/56}
27a. 9 of {129} must be in R3C5 -> no 2 in R3C5

28. 18(3) cage at R5C3 = {369/378/459/468/567}
28a. 8,9 of {459/468} must be in R5C3 -> no 4 in R5C3

29. 2 in C8 locked in R456C8 -> 21(4) cage at R3C8 must contain 2
29a. Hidden killer pair 3,8 in R2C8 and R3456C8 for C8 -> R3456C8 must contain at least one of 3,8
29b. 21(5) cage at R3C8 = {12378/12468} (cannot be {12369} because 6,9 only in R3C8, cannot be {12459/12567} because they don’t contain 3 or 8, cannot be {23457} which clashes with R8C8 because 4 must be in R6C7), no 5,9
29c. 8 locked in R345C8, locked for C8

30. 45 rule on C12 2 remaining outies R16C3 = 1 innie R2C2 + 6
30a. 9 in R2 must be in R2C23 -> R6C3 can only be 9 when R2C2 is 9
30b. If R2C2 = 9 => R16C3 = 15 = [87]
30c. Combining steps 30a and 30b -> no 9 in R6C3

31. Hidden killer pair 1,3 in R456C2 and R56C1 for N4 -> R456C2 must have one, and only one, of 1,3
31a. 24(5) cage at R3C2 = {13479/13569/13578/14568}
31b. Killer pair 8,9 in R3456C2 and R7C2, locked for C2
31c. R3C2 of {13479/13578} must contain 1 or 3 (step 31) -> no 7 in R3C2

32. R2C3 = 9 (hidden single in R2)

33. 27(4) cage at R1C4 = {3789/4689/5679}
33a. 3 of {3789} must be in R2C2 (cannot be in R2C4 when 7 or 8 of {3789} clashes with R1C123), no 3 in R2C4
33b. 3 of {3789} must be in R2C2, 7 of {5679} must be in R1C4 -> no 7 in R2C2

34. Hidden killer pair 5,6 in R123C5 and R23C4 -> either R123C5 or R23C4 must contain both of 5,6 because R123C5 cannot contain only one of 5,6
34a. 27(4) cage at R1C4 = {3789/4689/5679}
34b. If {5679} => R1C4 = 7, R2C24 = {56} => R3C4 = {56} (step 34) => no place for 8 in C4 -> cannot be {5679}
34c. -> 27(4) cage at R1C4 = {3789/4689}, no 5
34d. 6 of {4689} must be in R2C2 -> no 6 in R2C4, clean-up: no 5,6 in R3C4 (step 34)
34e. 8 locked in R12C4, locked for C4

35. 5,6 in N2 locked in R123C5 = {156}, locked for C5
35a. Naked pair {29} in R45C5, locked for N5

36. 14(3) cage at R5C6 = {347} (only remaining combination, cannot be {158} because 5,8 only in R5C7), CPE no 3,4,7 in R5C4

37. R4C6 = 1 (hidden single in C6)
37a. 1 in N6 locked in R5C8 + R6C78, locked for 21(5) cage -> no 1 in R3C8
37b. 5 in N6 locked in R4C79, locked for R4

38. 5 in C4 locked in R56C4, locked for 18(3) cage at R5C3 -> no 5 in R5C3
38a. 18(3) cage at R5C3 = {567} (only remaining combination) -> R5C3 = 7
38b. Naked pair {56} in R56C4, locked for C4

39. Naked pair {34} in R5C67, locked for R5 and 14(3) cage -> R6C6 = 7, clean-up: no 1,2 in R6C1 (step 24)

40. 17(4) cage at R3C3 (step 22) = {2348/2357}
40a. 3,4 of {2348} must be in R34C4 -> no 4 in R34C3

41. R6C3 = 4 (hidden single in C3), R6C1 = 3, R5C1 = 2 (step 24), R1C1 = 4, R45C5 = [29], R56C9 = [69], R56C4 = [56], R4C3 = 8, R1C3 = 5, R1C2 = 7 (step 23a), R3C3 = 2, R56C2 = [15], R6C78 = [12], R5C8 = 8, R1C7 = 9, R1C8 = 1 (step 23c), R1C456 = [863], R5C67 = [43], R4C4 = 3, R4C8 = 7, R89C8 = [59], R9C7 = 7, R89C1 = [75], R23C6 = [29], R2C8 = 6, R3C8 = 3, R2C2 = 3, clean-up: no 8 in R23C1 (step 25)

42. R3C4 = 4 (cage sum)

and the rest is naked singles

3x3::k:5376:5376:5376:4099:4356:4357:3334:3334:3334:3337:4099:4099:4099:4356:4357:4357:4357:4369:3337:6675:5197:5197:4356:5964:5964:5913:4369:3337:6675:5197:5197:3103:5964:5964:5913:4369:4900:6675:3878:3878:3103:2601:2601:5913:6188:4900:6675:6675:3878:2609:2601:5913:5913:6188:4900:4900:3384:3384:2609:4411:4411:6188:6188:2111:4416:3384:4674:4674:4674:4411:2630:2887:2111:4416:4416:3915:3915:3915:2630:2630:2887:

This Killer was truly devilish. It took me really long to find the important moves.

I think that UA97 V2 can be solved in a "normal" 1.75 way but I think my step 6a (the most difficult one) is more a contradiction chain than combo analysis, so I tend to rate this Assassin 2.0.

I'll take a rest (in solving) this week , 3 Killers is more than enough.

UA97 V2 Walkthrough:

1. R789
a) Innies C1234 = 12(2) <> 1,2,6
b) Innies C5 = 6(2) = {15/24}
c) Innies C6789 = 15(2) = {69/78}
d) 15(3) <> 9 because 9{15/24} clashes with Innies C5
e) Innies C1234 = 12(2): R8C4 <> 3
f) Innies C6789 = 15(2): R8C6 <> 6
g) 18(3) = 9{18/27/45} -> 9 locked for R8+N8
h) Innies R89 = 11(2) <> 1,2
i) 11(2): R9C9 <> 2
j) 10(2): R6C5 <> 1

2. C19 + N789
a) Innies+Outies C1: -5 = R7C2 - R1C1 -> R1C1 <> 4,5; R7C2 = (1234)
b) Innies+Outies C9: 7 = R7C8 - R1C9 -> R1C9 = (12), R7C8 = (89)
c) 13(3) @ C9: R1C78 <> 1,2 because R1C9 = (12)
d) Innies+Outies N7: -7 = R7C4 - R7C12
- R7C1 <> 7 and R7C1 <> 1,2,3,4 because R7C2 <= 4
- R7C4 <> 7,8 because R7C12 <= 13
e) Innies+Outies N9: -7 = R7C6 - R7C89
- R7C9 <> 7 and R7C9 <> 8,9 because R7C6 <= 8
- R7C6 <> 1 because R7C89 >= 9
f) 17(3) @ N9 <> 1 because 9 only possible @ R7C7
g) Innies N89 = 19(4): R7C5 <> 8 because R7C8 = (89)
h) 10(2): R6C5 <> 2

3. R1+C45
a) Innies R1 = 11(3) <> 9
b) Innies R1 = 11(3) <> 8 because R1C9 = (12) blocks {128}
c) Innies C5 = 6(2) + 12(2) = h18(4) = {1359/1458/2349/2457}
d) 17(3) <> 5 because 5{39/48} blocked by Killer pairs (35,45) of h18(4)
e) 17(3) <> 1 because (179) is a Killer triple of h18(4)
f) 1 locked in R789C5 for N8
g) 13(3) @ N8 <> 9 because 1 only possible @ R7C3

4. R789 !
a) Hidden Killer pair (36) in Innies N8 + 15(3) for N8 since none of them can have both
-> 15(3) <> {258} and Innies N8 = 12(3) <> {147}
b) ! Innies = 26(5): R7C5 <> 1 because
- <> 17{369/459/468} because 7 only possible @ R7C5
- <> 189{26/35} since they clash with Innies N8 = 12(3) = 1{38/56}
c) 1 locked in Innies C5 = 6(2) = {15} locked for C5+N8
d) 18(3) = 9{18/45}
e) Innies C1234 = 12(2) <> 7
f) Innies C6789 = 15(2): R9C6 <> 8
g) 2 locked in Innies N8 = 2{37/46} -> 2 locked for R7
h) 10(2) <> 9

5. C15
a) 12(2) <> 7
b) 17(3) <> 3 because {368} blocked by Killer pair (38) of 12(2)
c) Innies+Outies C1: -5 = R7C2 - R1C1 -> R1C1 <> 7

6. R789 + C5 !
a) ! Innies R789 = 26(5) <> 2 since
- <> 27{359/368/458} because 7 only possible @ R7C5
- <> {23489} since it clashes with Innies N8 = 2{37/46}
- <> {12689} because it forces Innies N8 = [327] -> Using Innies+Outies N7
Innies R789 = [91286] -> no combo for 17(3) @ N9
- <> {24569} because it forces Innies N8 = [327] -> 17(3) @ N9 = 7{46}
-> Innies R789 not possible since R7C7 would have no 4,6

b) 10(2) <> 8
c) 2 locked in 17(3) @ C5 = 2{69/78} locked for N2
d) ! Innies R789 = 26(5): R7C5 <> 4,6 because
- 7 of 17{369/459/468} must be @ R7C5
- {13589} -> R7C5 can only be 3
- {34568} -> Innies N8 <> {246} because it can't have 4 without 6 and vice versa

7. C5 + R789
a) 10(2) = {37} locked
b) 12(2) = {48} locked for C5+N5
c) 17(3) @ C5 = {269} locked for N2
d) Innies N8 = {237} because R7C5 = (37) -> 3,7 locked for R7+N8
e) Innies C1234 = 12(2) = {48} locked for C4+N8
f) R8C6 = 9, R9C6 = 6
g) 8(2): R8C1 <> 2
h) 11(2): R8C9 <> 5

8. R123 !
a) Innies R1 = 11(3) = [164/524]
-> R1C6 = 4, R1C4 <> 3,7
b) 21(3) = 7{59/68} -> 7 locked for R1+N1
c) 3 locked in 13(3) @ R1 for N3 -> 13(3) = 3{19/28}
d) 17(4): R2C6 <> 8 because 3 only possible there
e) Hidden Single: R3C6 = 8 @ N2
f) ! 16(4): R1C4 <> 5 because
- 5{128/146/236} blocked by Killer pairs (56,58) of 21(3)
- {1357} blocked by R2C6 = (1357)
g) R1C4 = 1, R1C9 = 2, R1C5 = 6
h) 21(3) = {579} -> R1C1 = 9; 5 locked for N1
i) 13(3) @ R1 = {238} -> 8 locked for N3
j) 17(4) = 14{39/57} -> 1 locked for R2+N3

9. R789
a) 2 locked in 10(3) = 2{17/35}
b) 9 locked in 17(3) @ N7 for R9 = 9{17/26/35} <> 4,8
c) Hidden pair (48) in R9C49 for R9 -> R9C9 = (48)
d) 11(2) = [38/74]
e) Killer pair (37) locked in 10(3) + R8C9 for N9
f) Innies R89 = 11(2): R8C3 <> 4,8
g) Hidden pair (48) locked in R8C47 for R8 -> R8C7 <> 5,6
h) Innies R89 = 11(2) = [38/74]
i) Naked pair (48) locked in R8C7+R9C9 for N9
j) R7C8 = 9

10. N9
a) 17(3) <> 5 because (48) only possible @ R7C7
b) R7C7 = 6
c) 17(3) = 6{38/47}
d) 24(4) = 69{18/45} because 39{48/57} blocked by R8C9 = (37) and R9C9 = (48)
-> 6 locked for C9+N6; R56C9 <> 1,5

11. N36
a) 9 locked in 17(3) = 9{17/35} -> R4C9 = (13)
b) Hidden Single: R3C8 = 6 @ N3, R3C7 = 4 @ N3
c) 23(4) = {2489} -> R4C6 = 2, R4C7 = 9
d) 17(4) = {1457} -> {57} locked for R2
e) 10(3) = 2{17/35} -> R5C7 = 2
f) Hidden Killer pair (78) in 24(4) for N6 since 23(5) can't have both
-> 24(4) = {1689} -> R7C9 = 1, 8 locked for R9+N6

12. N79
a) 17(3) @ N9 = {368} -> R7C6 = 3, R8C7 = 8
b) R7C2 = 4
c) 13(3) = {238} -> R7C3 = 8, R7C4 = 2, R8C3 = 3
d) R7C1 = 5
e) 19(4) = 45{28/37}; R6C1 <> 8

13. N14
a) 16(4) = {1348} -> R2C4 = 3, R2C3 = 4, R2C2 = 8
b) 15(3) = {159} -> R5C3 = 1, {59} locked for C4+N5
c) R3C4 = 7

14. Rest is singles.


Rating: (Hard) 1.75 - 2.0. I used some heavy Innies/Outies combo analysis.

Edit: As shown by JC, this Killer can be solved in an easier way, so my rating is way off (though it fits my wt)

UA97 V2 is not that hard if you spot the right In/outies:


1. n8
a. Innies @ c5 -> r89c5 = 6 = {15|24}
b. Innies @ c6789 -> r89c6 = 15 = {69|78}
c. Max r8c56 = {59} = 14; 18/3 -> Min r8c4 = 4
d. Innies @ c1234 -> r89c4 = 12 = [93] | {48|57}
e. h6/2 @ r89c5 -> r9c45 <> 6/2 -> r9c6 <> 9 = {678}
f. h15/2 @ r89c6 -> r8c6 = {789}
g. 18/3 @ r8c456 = {9(18|27|45)} -> 9 locked for n8, r8
h. Innies @ r89 -> r8c37 = 11 = {38|47|56}

2. n789: Three In/outies with 7 on r7!
a. In/outies @ n9 -> r7c89-r7c6 = 7
b. r7c6 <> r7c8 -> r7c9 <> 7, r7c6 <> r7c9 -> r7c8 <> 7
Explanation: since all 3 cells are in the same row, neither r7c8 nor r7c9 may hold 7 because it would force the other 2 cells to hold the same value, which is not possible.
c. In/outies @ n7 -> r7c12-r7c4 = 7 -> r7c12 <> 7 (same reason)
d. In/outies @ n8 (using h11/2 @ r8c37) -> r7c37-r7c5 = 7 -> r7c37 <> 7 (same reason again)

3. r7, n8
a. 7 @ r7 locked @ r7c456 -> locked for n8
b. -> h15/2 @ r89c6 = [96]
c. Innies @ n8 -> r7c456 = 12 = {7(14|23)}
d. h6/2 @ r89c5 = {1|4..} -> h12/3 @ r7c456 <> {147} = {237} (NT @ r7, n8)
e. h6/2 @ r89c5 = {15} (NP @ c5, n8)
f. h12/2 @ r89c4 = {48} (NP @ c4)

4. c5
a. 10/2 @ r67c5 = {37} | [82] = {3|8..}
b. 12/2 in r45c5 = {39|48} = {3|8..}
c. 10/2 & 12/2 = Killer NP {38} @ c5
d. 6 @ c5 locked @ r123c5 -> locked for n2, 12/3 = {6(29|47)}
e. 8 @ n2 locked @ r123c6 -> locked for c6

5. c19
In/outies @ c9 -> r7c8-r1c9 = 7 -> r7c8 = {89}, r1c9 = {12}
In/outies @ c1 -> r1c1-r7c2 = 5 -> r7c2 = {14}, r1c1 = {69}

6. Three In/outies with 7 again
a. Since r7c456 = {237} -> r7c12 = 9|10|14
b. Max r7c12 = [94] = 13 -> r7c4 <> 7 = {23}
c. 13/3 @ n78 = {238|247|256|346} (no {19}) -> r7c3 = {4568}, r8c3 = {34567}
d. h11/2 @ r8c37 -> r8c7 = {45678}
e. r7c89 = 9|10|14 = [81|91|95|86] -> r7c9 = {156}
f. Innies @ n9 -> r7c89+r78c7 = 24 = {69(18|45)} ({4578} can't work with r7c89)
g. -> r7c9 = {15}, r8c7 = {468}
h. 9 locked @ r7c78 for n9, r7
i. 6 locked @ r78c7 for n9, c7
j. 11/2 @ r89c9 = {38|47}
k. 2 @ n9 locked @ 10/3 = {2(17|35)}

7a. h11/2 @ r8c37 -> r8c3 = {357}
b. 13/3 @ n78 = {2(38|47|56)} -> r7c4 = 2, r78c3 = [83|47|65]
c. r7c12 = 9/2 = [81|54]
d. Since r7c6 = {37} -> r7c89 = 10|14 = [91|95] -> r7c8 = 9, r7c9 = {15}
e. In/outies @ c9 -> r1c9 = 2

8a. 10/2 @ r67c5 = {37} (NP @ c5)
b. 12/2 @ r45c5 = {48} (NP @ n5, c5)
c. 17/3 @ r123c5 = {269} (NT @ n2)
d. Innies @ r1 -> r1c456 = 11 = [164]
e. r1c1 = 9, 21/3 -> r1c23 = {57} (NP @ r1, n1), r1c78 = NP {38} @ n3
f. In/outies @ c1 -> r7c12 = [54], r7c9 = 1, r7c6 = 3
g. 10/2 @ r67c5 = [37]
h. 13/3 @ n78 -> r78c3 = [83], r78c7 = [68], r89c4 = [48], r89c5 = [51]
i. 11/2 @ r89c9 = [74], r8c8 = 2
j. r1c78 = [38], r9c78 = [53]
k. 24/4 @ c9 -> r56c9 = {68} (NP @ n6, c9), r4c9 = 3 (HS @ c9), r23c9 = {59} (NP @ n3)
l. 17/4 @ n23 = {1457}, r2c6 = 5, r2c78 = NP {17} @ r2, n3, r23c9 = [95], r3c78 = [46], r23c5 = [29]
...

Edit: continued WT

Thanks J-C for uA97 V2. That was really neat to create a puzzle with 3 IOUs in R7, all with a difference of 7, so that 7 is locked for R7 and N8!

I must admit that I'd seen J-C's step 2d before I managed to solve this puzzle but, as explained in the comment before step 16, I hope I would have found it anyway. IMHO the overlap of R7C3467 and R7C456 is easier to spot than J-C's way. I was also prepared to do combination analysis on R7C3467 and R7C456, using the fact that R7C46 are common cells for both hidden cages, but that wasn't necessary.

After he had gone through J-C's walkthrough, Afmob suggested that this puzzle should be rated Hard 1.25. However, having solved it myself with help on that one step, I felt that it had a long solution and a fairly narrow solving path with many of my key steps the same as those used by J-C, so I'll rate uA97 V2 at 1.5.

Here is my walkthrough.

Prelims

a) R45C5 = {39/48/57}, no 1,2,6
b) R67C5 = {19/28/37/46}, no 5
c) R89C1 = {17/26/35}, no 4,8,9
d) R89C9 = {29/38/47/56}, no 1
e) R1C123 = {489/579/678}, no 1,2,3
f) 10(3) cage at R5C6 = {127/136/145/235}, no 8,9
g) 10(3) cage in N9 = {127/136/145/235}, no 8,9

1. 45 rule on C1234 2 innies R89C4 = 12 = {39/48/57}, no 1,2,6

2. 45 rule on C6789 2 innies R89C6 = 15 = {69/78}

3. 45 rule on C5 2 innies R89C5 = 6 = {15/24}

4. R8C456 = {189/279/459/468/567} (cannot be {369/378} because R8C5 only contains 1,2,4,5), no 3, clean-up: no 9 in R9C4 (step 1)

5. 45 rule on N8 3 innies R7C456 = 12 = {138/156/237/246} (cannot be {129/147/345} which clash with R89C5), no 9, clean-up: no 1 in R6C5
[I probably ought to have looked at R9C456 next and found that it cannot be {159/249} because of clashes between R89C5 and R9C45, thus locking 9 in R8C46. However I don’t think it makes much difference missing it. Not much more progress can be made in N8 until R7C456 is reduced to one combination.]

6. 45 rule on R89 2 innies R8C37 = 11 = {29/38/47/56}, no 1

7. 45 rule on C1 1 innie R1C1 = 1 outie R7C2 + 5, R1C1 = {6789}, R7C2 = {1234}

8. 45 rule on C9 1 outie R7C8 = 1 innie R1C9 + 7, R1C9 = {12}, R7C8 = {89}

9. R1C789 = {139/148/157/238/247/256} (cannot be {346} because R1C9 only contains 1,2)
9a. R1C9 = {12}, no 1,2 in R1C78

10. 45 rule on R1 3 innies R1C456 = 11 = {137/146/236/245} (cannot be {128} which clashes with R1C9), no 8,9

11. 45 rule on N7 2 innies R7C12 = 1 outie R7C4 + 7, IOU no 7 in R7C1
11a. Max R7C12 = 13 -> max R7C4 = 6
11b. Min R7C4 = 1 -> min R7C12 = 8, min R7C1 = 5 because R7C12 cannot be [44]

12. 45 rule on N9 2 innies R7C89 = 1 outie R7C6 + 7, IOU no 7 in R7C9
12a. Min R7C89 = 9 -> min R7C6 = 2
12b. Max R7C6 = 8 -> max R7C89 = 15, no 8,9 in R7C9

13. Hidden killer quad 6,7,8,9 in R123C5, R45C5 and R67C5 for C5 -> R123C5 must contain two of 6,7,8,9
13a. R123C5 = {179/269/278/368/467} (cannot be {359/458} which only contain one of 6,7,8,9), no 5

14. Combined cage R4589C5 = 18 = {1359/1458/2349/2457} (cannot be {1278/2358} which clash with R89C5)

15. R123C5 (step 13a) = {269/278/368/467} (cannot be {179} which clashes with R4589C5), no 1
15a. 1 in C5 locked in R789C5, locked for N8

[The next step was helped by J-C’s walkthrough (step 2d). I’d already made notes about the overlap of R7C3467 and R7C456. I just hadn’t yet(?) spotted the key point that it gives another IOU in R7. It may be harder to spot this because in both the original puzzle and V1.5, R7C37 = R7C5 which doesn’t give an IOU.]

16. 45 rule on R89 4 outies R7C3467 = 19, R7C456 = 12 (step 5) -> R7C37 = R7C5 + 7, IOU no 7 in R7C37

17. 7 in R7 locked in R7C56, locked for N8, clean-up: no 5 in R89C4 (step 1) , no 8 in R89C6 (step 2)
17a. R7C456 (step 5) = {237} (only remaining combination), locked for R7 and N8, clean-up: no 7,8 in R1C1 (step 7), no 2,4,6,9 in R6C5, no 9 in R8C4 (step 1), no 4 in R89C5 (step 3)

18. R8C456 (step 4) = {189/459} (cannot be {468} because 4,8 only in R8C4) -> R8C6 = 9, R9C6 = 6, clean-up: no 2 in R8C1, no 2 in R8C37 (step 6), no 5 in R8C9, no 2 in R9C9

19. Naked pair {15} in R89C5, locked for C5, clean-up: no 7 in R45C5
19a. 10(3) cage in N9 = {127/136/145/235}
19b. 4 of {145} must be in R9C78 (R9C78 cannot be {15} which clashes with R9C5), no 4 in R8C8

20. Naked pair {48} in R89C4, locked for C4

21. Killer pair 3,8 in R45C5 and R67C5, locked for C5

22. 6 in C5 locked in R123C5, locked for N2
22a. R123C5 = {269/467}

23. R1C456 (step 10) = {137/146/236/245}
23a. 7 of {137} must be in R1C5 -> no 7 in R1C46

24. 17(3) cage at R7C6 = {269/278/359/368/467} (cannot be {179} because 1,9 only in R7C7, cannot be {458} because R7C6 only contains 2,3,7), no 1
24a. 3 of {359/368} must be in R7C6 -> no 3 in R8C7, clean-up: no 8 in R8C3 (step 6)
24b. 9 of {359} must be in R7C7 -> no 5 in R7C7

25. 13(3) cage at R7C3 = {238/247/256/346} (cannot be {139} because 1,9 only in R7C3, cannot be {148/157} because R7C4 only contains 2,3), no 1,9

26. R1C123 = {489/579/678}
26a. R1C1 = {69} -> no 6,9 in R1C23

27. R7C89 = R7C6 + 7 (step 12)
27a. R7C6 = {237} -> R7C89 = 9,10,14 = [81/91/86/95], no 4 in R7C9

28. 17(3) cage at R7C6 (step 24) = {269/278/359/368/467}
28a. 45 rule on N9 4 innies R7C789 + R8C7 = 24 = {1689/4569} (cannot be {4578} because R78C7 cannot be [47] since there is no 6 in R7C6), no 7, clean-up: no 4 in R8C3 (step 6)
28b. 6,9 locked in R7C789 + R8C7, locked for N9, 9 locked for R7, clean-up: no 2 in R8C9, no 5 in R9C9
28c. 1 of {1689} must be in R7C9, 6 of {4569} must be in R78C7 because 17(3) cage doesn’t contain both 4 and 5 -> no 6 in R7C9
28d. 6 in N9 locked in R78C7, locked for C7
28e. 17(3) cage at R7C6 must contain 6 in R78C7 = {269/368/467}, no 5, clean-up: no 6 in R8C3 (step 6)
28f. 2 in N9 locked in 10(3) cage = {127/235}, no 4

29. 9 in R9 locked in R9C23
29a. 17(3) cage in N7 = {179/269/359}, no 4,8
29b. 6 of {269} must be in R8C2 -> no 2 in R8C2

30. R8C8 = 2 (hidden single in R8)

31. 4,8 in N7 locked in R7C123 + R8C3
31a. 45 rule on N7 4 innies R7C123 + R8C3 = 20 = {1478/3458}, no 6
31b. 3,7 only in R8C3 -> R8C3 = {37}, clean-up: no 6 in R8C7 (step 6)
31c. 8 of {3458} must be in R7C3 or cannot make total for 13(3) cage at R7C3 -> no 5 in R7C3
31d. R78C3 = [47/83] = 11 -> R7C4 = 2, clean-up: no 8 in R6C5

32. R7C7 = 6 (hidden single in R7), R7C8 = 9 (hidden single in R7)
32a. Naked pair {48} in R8C47, locked for R8, clean-up: no 3,7 in R9C9
32b. Naked pair {37} in R8C39, locked for R8, clean-up: no 1,5 in R9C1

33. Naked pair {37} in R67C5, locked for C5, clean-up: no 4 in R123C5 (step 22a), no 9 in R45C5
33a. Naked triple {269} in R123C5, locked for N2
33b. Naked pair {48} in R45C5, locked for N5

34. Hidden killer pair 6,9 in R4C4 and R56C4 for C4, R56C4 cannot contain both 6 and 9 -> R4C4 = {69}, R56C4 must contain 6 or 9
34a. 15(3) cage at R5C3 = {159/168/249/267/456} (cannot be {258/348/357} which don’t contain 6 or 9), no 3
34b. 6 or 9 must be in R56C4 -> no 6,9 in R5C3

35. R1C456 (step 10) = {146/245} (cannot be {236} because 2,6 only in R1C5) -> R1C6 = 4, R1C45 = [16/52], no 3 in R1C4

36. 3 in R1 locked in R1C78, locked for N3
36a. R1C789 (step 9) = {139/238}, no 5,6,7
36b. 7 in R1 locked in R1C23, locked for N1

37. 17(4) cage in R1C6 = {1349/1457/2348/2456}
37a. 3 of {2348} must be in R2C6 -> no 8 in R2C6

38. R3C6 = 8 (hidden single in C6)

39. 9 in C9 locked in R234C9 = {179/269/359}, no 4,8

40. Hidden killer pair 4,8 in R56C9 and R9C9 -> R56C9 must contain 4 or 8
40a. 24(4) cage at R5C9 = {1689/2589/4569} (cannot be {2679/3579} which don’t contain 4 or 8, cannot be {3489} because R7C9 only contains 1,5), no 3,7
40b. R7C9 = {15} -> no 1,5 in R56C9

41. Hidden killer pair 3,7 in R234C9 and R89C9 -> R234C9 must contain one of 3,7
41a. R234C9 (step 39) = {179/359} (cannot be {269} which doesn’t contain 3 or 7), no 2,6
41b. 3 of {359} must be in R4C9 -> no 5 in R4C9

42. 6 in C9 locked in R56C9, locked for N6
42a. 24(4) cage at R5C9 (step 40a) = {1689/4569} (cannot be {2589} which doesn’t contain 6), no 2

43. R1C9 = 2 (hidden single in C9), R1C5 = 6, R1C1 = 9
43a. Naked pair {38} in R1C78, locked for R1 and N3
43b. Naked pair {57} in R1C23, locked for R1 and N1 -> R1C4 = 1

44. 3 in C4 locked in R23C4, locked for N2
44a. 17(4) cage at R1C6 (step 37) = {1457} (only remaining combination), no 6,9
44b. Naked triple {157} in R2C678, locked for R2 -> R2C4 = 3, R2C9 = 9, R23C5 = [29]
44c. 1 locked in R2C78, locked for N3

45. R12C4 = [13] = 4 -> R2C23 = 12 = {48}, locked for N1, R2C1 = 6, clean-up: no 2 in R9C1

46. Naked pair {48} in R27C3, locked for C3

47. Naked pair {57} in R3C49, locked for R3 -> R3C78 = [46], R8C7 = 8, R1C78 = [38], R89C4 = [48], R9C9 = 4, R8C9 = 7, R8C3 = 3, R7C3 = 8 (step 31d), R7C1 = 5, R7C9 = 1, R7C2 = 4, R89C1 = [17], R8C2 = 6, R89C5 = [51], R9C78 = [53], R34C9 = [53], R3C4 = 7, R2C6 = 5, R2C23 = [84]

48. R7C12 = [54] = 9 -> R56C1 = 10 = {28}, locked for C1 and N4 -> R34C1 = [34], R45C5 = [84]

49. R7C89 = [91] = 10 -> R7C6 = 3 (step 12), R67C5 = [37]

50. 15(3) cage at R5C3 = {159} (only remaining combination) -> R5C3 = 1, R56C4 = {59}, locked for C4 -> R4C4 = 6, R3C23 = [12], R9C23 = [29], R4C3 = 5, R1C23 = [57], R6C3 = 6, R56C9 = [68], R56C1 = [82]

51. R3C67 = [84] = 12 -> R4C67 = 11 = [29]

and the rest is naked singles

3x3::k:4352:4352:4098:4098:4098:1285:1285:6145:6145:4352:5386:6411:6411:6411:3079:3079:3079:6145:4352:5386:3860:3860:6411:3079:2310:2310:3098:4379:5386:5386:3860:3871:3871:3370:2584:3098:4379:3109:3109:3111:3111:3111:3370:2584:3098:4379:3588:814:1584:1584:5426:5446:5446:2101:4379:3588:814:3904:4154:5426:5426:5446:2101:5430:3904:3904:3904:4154:3337:3337:5446:4679:5430:5430:2307:2307:1357:1357:4679:4679:4679:

Nice puzzle Ed!

This is probably the first time I used a Hidden Killer quint though one could express step 2d with a Killer quad but the way I spotted it was through the 5 candidates.

I also think that the SudokuSolver rating is spot on, but I rate my wt (Hard) 1.25 because of the "overkill" move . By the way, is there a name for this move, when you have a (Hidden) Killer subset and one cage must contain exactly one of the numbers in the subset? I remember several assassins where I encountered this.

Note that the structure of the puzzle also allows one of JC's favorite moves: R19C19 = 28(2+2) (using overlap of R1+C1+R9+C9)

UA 98 Walkthrough:

1. R6789
a) 3(2) = {12} locked for C3
b) 16(2) = {79} locked for C5+N8
c) Outies R9 = 8(2) = [53/62/71]
d) 21(3) @ N7 = 7{59/68} because R8C1 <> 4,8,9 -> 7 locked for N7
e) 13(2): R8C7 <> 4,6
f) 9(2): R9C4 <> 2,8
g) Killer pair (12) locked in R6C3 + 6(2) for R6
h) Innies = 10(2) = [46/64/73/82/91] <> 5
i) Outies = 7(2) <> 7,8,9
j) 8(2): R7C9 <> 6,7

2. C1+R1 !
a) Outies C1 = 10(2) = [19/28/37/46] <> 5
b) ! Hidden Killer pair (56) in R1C1 + 16(3) for R1 since 16(3) can't have both
-> R1C1 = (56) and 16(3) <> {178/349}
c) 17(4) @ N1 <> 4{139/238} because R1C1 = (56)
-> 17(4) must contain two of (56789)
d) ! 17(4) @ N4 can only have one of (56789) because other 17(4) + R89C1 @ C1 already contain four of them
e) 17(4) @ N4 = 34{19/28} -> R45C1 = {34} (step 1i) locked for C1+N4

3. N457
a) 12(2) = {57} locked for R4+N4
b) Hidden pair (12) in R4C2+R6C3 for N4 -> R4C2 = (12)
c) 12(3) <> 9 because {129} blocked by Killer pair (12) of 6(2)
d) Hidden pair (79) in R46C6 for C6 locked for N5; R46C6 = {79}
e) Naked pair (12) locked in R7C13 for R7+N7
f) 15(4) must have 1 or 2 and it's only possible @ R8C4 -> R8C4 = (12)
g) 15(4) can only have one of (12) -> 15(4) = 36{15/24} -> R8C6 <> 6
h) 14(2): R7C2 <> 9
i) 9 locked in 21(3) = {579} locked for N7 -> 9 locked for R9, 5 locked for C1

4. C123
a) R1C1 = 6
b) Outies C1 = 10(2) = [19/37]
c) 2 locked in 21(4) @ C2 = 2{379/469/478/568} <> 1
d) R4C2 = 2
e) 14(2) = {68} locked for C2
f) 21(4) <> 5 because (68) only possible @ R4C3
g) R6C3 = 1, R7C3 = 2, R7C1 = 1 -> R6C1 = 9

5. N58
a) R6C6 = 7, R4C6 = 9 -> R4C5 = 6
b) Innies N5 = 12(2) = [57] -> R4C4 = 5
c) 15(4) = {2346} -> R8C4 = 2; R8C6 <> 4
d) 13(2) = {58} locked for R8
e) 5(2) = {14} locked for R9+N8

6. N6
a) 8(2) = {35} locked for C9
b) R8C9 = 1
c) 12(3) = {246} -> R4C9 = 4, {26} locked for C9
d) 13(2) = {67} -> R4C7 = 7, R5C7 = 6
e) R5C9 = 2, R3C9 = 6

7. N13
a) 24(3) = {789} locked
b) 9(2) = {45} locked for R3+N3
c) R4C3 = 8
d) 21(4) = {2478} -> R3C2 = 7, R2C2 = 4
e) 15(3) = {159} -> R3C3 = 9, R3C4 = 1
f) 25(4) = 9{268/358/367} -> R2C4 = 9

8. Rest is singles.

Rating: (Hard) 1.25. I used a Hidden Killer quint to crack it.

If the time comes that we have to use a new forum, I think it should not only be for the assassin fanatics but other users of Sudocue.net too (like the very active clueless fraction). But if rumours are true then this forum at least exists until December 2008, so we have more then enough time to discuss the future of this forum and its users.
I also think it's better if we discuss this topic in a different thread and section (in General website comments?), so that everybody can participate.

But I still have lots of hope that Ruud comes back or at least posts a message some time

Hi guys,

No chance of beating Afmob these days (unless he's got an imminent math exams, that is ), but here's my WT anyway. Unlike Afmob, I'll rate it as a middle-of-the-road 1.25, because I didn't use any "overkill" moves.

Thanks for the enjoyable puzzle, Ed. I agree. Just wanted to "test the water" here first. BTW, congratulations on creating your first killer last week, which was a very pleasant surprise on returning from my week's hols in Egypt. =D>

So, without further ado, here's my UA98 WT:

Edit: A couple of typos fixed. Thanks Afmob!

UA98 Walkthrough

Prelims

a) 5(2) at R1C6 and R9C5 = {14/23} (no 5..9)
b) 24(3) at R1C8 = {789}, locked for N3
c) 12(4) at R2C6 = {1236/1245} (no 7..9); no 1,2 in R2C45 (CPE)
d) 9(2) at R3C7 = {36/45} (no 1,2)
e) 15(2) at R4C5 = {69/78} (no 1..5)
f) 13(2) at R4C7 and R8C6 = {49/58/67} (no 1..3)
g) 10(2) at R4C8 = {19/28/37/46} (no 5)
h) 12(2) at R5C2 = {39/48/57} (no 1,2,6)
i) 14(2) at R6C2 = {59/68} (no 1..4,7)
j) 3(2) at R6C3 = {12}, locked for C3
k) 6(2) at R6C4 = {15/24} (no 3,6..9)
l) 21(3) at R6C6 and R8C1 = {489/579/678} (no 1..3)
m) 8(2) at R6C9 = {17/26/35} (no 4,8,9)
n) 16(2) at R7C5 = {79}, locked for C5 and N8; no 6,8 in R4C6 (cleanup); no 4,6 in R8C7 (cleanup)
o) 9(2) at R9C3 = [36/45/54/63/72/81] (no 9 in R9C3, no 8 in R9C4)

1. R6C3 and 6(2) at R6C4 form killer pair on {12} within R6
1a. -> no 1,2 elsewhere in R6
1b. cleanup: no 6,7 in R7C9

2. 12(3) at R3C9 and 10(2) at R4C8 form hidden killer pair on {12} within N6
2a. -> 10(2) at R4C8 = {19/28} (no 3,4,6,7)
2b. 12(3) at R3C9 = {129/138/147/156/237/246} (no {345})

3. Innies N5: R4C4+R6C6 = 12(2) = {39/48/57} (no 1,2,6)
3a. no 9 in R4C4

4. Outies R9: R8C19 = 8(2) = [53/62/71] (no 4,8,9)
4a. no 5,6,7 in R8C9

5. 21(3) at R8C1 = {579/678} (no 4) ({489} blocked because none of these digits in R8C1)
5a. 7 locked for N7
5b. cleanup: no 2 in R9C4

6. Outies C1: R19C2 = 10(2) = [19/28/37/46] (no 5)
6a. no 6..9 in R1C2

7. R1C1 and 16(3) at R1C3 form hidden killer pair on {56} within R1
7a. -> R1C1 = {56}; 16(3) at R1C3 = {169/259/268/358/367/457} (no {178/349})

8. 17(4) at R1C1 = {(5/6)..} = {1259/1268/1358/1367/1457/2357/2456} (no {1349/2348}) (no eliminations yet)
8a. -> must contain exactly 2 of {1..4}, 1 of which is in R1C2
8b. -> exactly 1 of {1..4} in R23C1

9. Outies R6789: R45C1 = 7(2)
9a. -> R67C1 = 10(2) (17(4) cage split)
9b. 17(4) at R4C1 must contain remaining 3 of {1..4} in C1 (step 8b)
9c. split 10(2) at R67C1 must contain exactly 1 of {1..4}
9d. -> split 7(2) at R45C1 must contain 2 of {1..4}
9e. -> split 7(2) at R45C1 = {34}, locked for C1 and N4
9f. split 10(2) at R67C1 = [82/91] (no 5..7 in R6C1; no 6,8,9 in R7C1)
9g. cleanup: no 8,9 in R5C23

10. Naked pair (NP) at R5C23 = {57}, locked for R5 and N4
10a. cleanup: no 6,8 in R4C7; no 9 in R7C2

11. NP at R7C13 = {12}, locked for R7 and N7
11a. cleanup: no 6,7 in R6C9

12. NP at R67C9 = {35}, locked for C9
12a. cleanup: no 5 in R8C1 (step 4)

13. 21(3) at R8C1 = {579/678} (step 5)
13a. -> 21(3) at R8C1 and R7C2 together lock 5 for N7
13b. cleanup: no 4 in R9C4

14. 15(4) at R7C4 = {1356/2346} (7 unavailable, {1239/1248} unplaceable)
14a. must contain 1 of {12}, only possible in R8C4
14b. -> R8C4 = {12}
14c. {1356} combo blocked by R8C19 (step 4)
14d. -> 15(4) at R7C4 = {2346} (no 1,5,8,9)
14e. -> R8C4 = 2
14f. cleanup: no 4 in R6C5; no 3 in R9C56

15. R8C19 (step 4) = [71]
15a. cleanup: no 6 in R8C6; no 9 in R9C1

16. R78C5 = [79]
16a. cleanup: no 4 in R8C6

17. Hidden single (HS) in N7 at R9C2 = 9
17a. -> R9C1 = 5 (cage sum)
17b. -> R1C1 = 6; R1C2 = 1 (step 6)
17c. cleanup: no 4 in R1C67; no 4 in R9C3

All singles and simple cage sums to end now!

I clearly found Ed's uA98 much harder than Afmob and Mike did. After my first 23 steps I ground to a halt, did the first 19 steps for Mike's V2 and then came back to Ed's puzzle a day or two later.

My breakthrough step 24 was effectively the same as the breakthrough used by Afmob and Mike but I saw it differently. The way they did it was clearer and more direct. I also liked Mike's step 2.

I didn't use any very difficult steps but since it took me a long time to spot the breakthrough move I'll rate uA98 as an Extremely Hard 1.25.

Here is my walkthrough. I think there are a few interesting things not used by Afmob or Mike, not just because I took much longer to find how to crack this puzzle.

Many thanks Afmob and Ed for pointing out an incorrect elimination in step 12 and providing feedback on other steps.

Prelims

a) R1C67 = {14/23}
b) R3C78 = {18/27/36/45}, no 9
c) R4C56 = {69/78}
d) R45C7 = {49/58/67}, no 1,2,3
e) R45C8 = {19/28/37/46}, no 5
f) R5C23 = {39/48/57}, no 1,2,6
g) R67C2 = {59/68}
h) R67C3 = {12}, locked for C3
i) R6C45 = {15/24}
j) R67C9 = {17/26/35}, no 4,8,9
k) R78C5 = {79}, locked for C5 and N8, clean-up: no 6,8 in R4C6, no 4,6 in R8C7
k) R8C67 = {49/58/67}, no 1,2,3
l) R9C34 = {36/45}/[72/81], no 9, no 8 in R9C4
m) R9C56 = {14/23}
n) 24(3) cage in N3 = {789}, locked for N3, clean-up: no 1,2 in R3C78
o) 21(3) cage at R6C6 = {489/579/678}, no 1,2,3
p) 21(3) cage in N7 = {489/579/678}, no 1,2,3
q) 12(4) cage at R2C6 = {1236/1245}, no 7,8,9, CPE no 1,2 in R2C45, no 5,6 in R3C6
[Ed also pointed out CPE no 1,2 in R7C4. Maybe that one shouldn’t be in Prelims because there are no immediate eliminations for the 15(4) cage at R7C4. That’s probably also a reason why it’s harder to spot.]

1. Killer pair 1,2 in R6C3 and R6C45, locked for R6, clean-up: no 6,7 in R7C9

2. 25(4) cage at R2C3 = {2689/3589/3679/4579/4678} (cannot be {1789} because R2C345 = {789} clashes with R2C9), no 1

3. 21(3) cage at R6C6 = {489/579/678}
3a. 5 of {579} must be in R7C6 -> no 5 in R6C6 + R7C7

4. 45 rule on C1 2 outies R19C2 = 10 = [19/28/37]/{46}, no 5, no 7,8,9 in R1C2

5. 45 rule on R9 2 outies R8C19 = 8 = [53/62/71], R8C1 = {567}, R8C9 = {123}

6. 21(3) cage in N7 = {579/678} (cannot be {489} because R8C1 only contains 5,6,7), no 4, 7 locked for N7, clean-up: no 6 in R1C2 (step 4), no 2 in R9C4

[This is how I did step 7. For a much better way see after the step.]
7. Hidden killer quad 1,2,3,4 in R1C1, R1C2, R1C345 and R1C67 -> R1C1 + R1C345 must contain one of 1,2,3,4
7a. Hidden killer triple 7,8,9 in R1C1, R1C345 and R1C89 -> R1C1 + R1C345 must contain one of 7,8,9
7b. R1C345 = {169/259/268/358/367/457} (cannot be {178} which contains both 7 and 8, cannot be {349} which contains both 3 and 4)
7c. Killer quad 1,2,3,4 in R1C2, R1C345 and R1C67, locked for R1
7d. Killer triple 7,8,9 in R1C345 and R1C89, locked for R1
7e. -> R1C1 = {56}
[The much better way is hidden killer pair 5,6 in R1C1 and R1C345 for R1 -> R1C1 = {56}, R1C345 must contain 5 or 6 because R1C345 cannot be {556}.]

8. 45 rule on R6789 2 innies R67C1 = 10 = [46/64/73/82/91], no 5, no 3 in R6C1, no 8,9 in R7C1
8a. R45C1 = 7 = {16/25/34}, no 7,8,9
8b. 3 in R6 locked in R6C789, locked for N6, clean-up: no 7 in R45C8

9. 45 rule on C12 2 innies R58C2 = 1 outie R4C3
9a. Min R58C2 = 4 -> min R4C3 = 4
9b. Max R4C3 = 9 -> max R58C2 = 9, no 9, no 8 in R8C2, clean-up: no 3 in R5C3

10. 45 rule on C12 2 outies R45C3 = 1 innie R8C2 + 12, max R45C3 = 17 -> max R8C2 = 5

11. R5C456 = {138/156/237/246} (cannot be {129/147/345} which clash with R6C45), no 9

12. 45 rule in C6789 3 innies R459C6 = 14 = {149/167/239/257/347} (cannot be {158/248/356} because R4C6 only contains 7,9), no 6,8
12a. 7 of {167/257/347} must be in R4C6 -> no 7 in R5C6

13. R46C6 = {79} (hidden pair in C6), locked for N5

14. 45 rule on N5 2 innies R4C4 + R6C6 = 12 = [39/57]

15. 8 in C6 locked in R78C6, locked for N8

16. 15(3) cage at R3C3 = {159/258/348/357} (cannot be {168/249/267} because R4C4 only contains 3,5, cannot be {456} which clashes with R3C78), no 6
16a. 1 of {159} must be in R3C4 -> no 9 in R3C4

17. 9 in R3 locked in R3C123, locked for N1
17a. R1C345 (step 7b) = {169/259/268/358/367/457}
17b. 9 of {169} must be in R1C4 -> no 1 in R1C4

18. 25(4) cage at R2C3 (step 2) = {2689/3589/3679/4579/4678}
18a. 9 of {2689/3589/3679/4579} must be in R2C4 -> no 3,5 in R2C4
18b. 4 of {4678} must be in R23C5 (7 must be in R2C34 and R23C5 = {68} clashes with R4C5), no 4 in R2C4 (4 can still be in R2C3 for {4579})

19. 45 rule on R123 3 outies R4C234 = 1 innie R3C9 + 9
19a. Max R3C9 = 6 -> max R4C234 = 15, min R4C34 = 7 -> max R4C2 = 8

20. 15(4) cage at R7C4 = {1239/1248/1356/2346}
20a. 3,5 of {1356} must be in R8C234 (R8C234 cannot be {136/156} which clash with R8C19) -> no 5 in R7C4 (3 can still be in R7C4 for other combinations)
[Ed: Still missing CPE no 1,2 in R7C4]

21. 45 rule on R89 2 outies R7C45 = 1 innie R8C8 + 7
21a. R7C45 cannot total 14,16 -> no 7,9 in R8C8

22. 45 rule on C9 4 innies R1289C9 = 25 = {1789/2689/3589} (cannot be {3679} which clashes with R67C9, cannot be {4579/4678} because R8C9 only contains 1,2,3), no 4, 8,9 locked for C9
22a. R8C9 = {123} -> no 1,2,3 in R9C9

23. 4 in C9 locked in R345C9 = {147/246/345}, no 8
23a. 3 of {345} must be in R3C9 -> no 5 in R3C9

[At this stage I spotted Hidden killer quint 5,6,7,8,9 in R9C12, R9C34 and R9C789 -> R9C789 must contain two of 5,6,7,8,9 but it only eliminated one combination from 18(4) cage in N9.]

24. R12389C1 must contain at least two of 5,6,7 because R18C1 only contain 5,6,7
24a. 45 rule on C1 5 innies R12389C1 = 28 = {15679/25678} (cannot be {13789/14689/23689/24589} which only contain one of 5,6,7, cannot be {24679/34579} because no 5 in R9C2 so R89C1 cannot be [79], cannot be {34678} which would make 17(4) cage at R1C1 [64]{34}), no 3,4
24b. 5,6,7 locked for C1, clean-up: no 1,2 in R45C1 (step 8a), no 3,4 in R67C1 (step 8)
[Step 24b separated out for clarity and step 25 edited.]

25. Naked pair {34} in R45C1 = {34}, locked for N4, clean-up: no 8,9 in R5C23, no 6 in R67C1 (step 8)

26. Naked pair {57} in R5C23, locked for R5 and N4, clean-up: no 6,8 in R4C7, no 9 in R7C2

27. Naked pair {12} in R7C13, locked for R7 and N7, clean-up: no 6,7 in R6C9
27a. Naked pair {35} in R67C9, locked for C9, clean-up: no 5 in R8C1 (step 5)

28. R5C456 (step 11) = {138/246}
28a. Killer pair 3,4 in R5C1 and R5C456, locked for R5, clean-up: no 9 in R4C7, no 6 in R4C8

29. 9 in R5 locked in R5C78, locked for N6, clean-up: no 1 in R5C8

30. R345C9 (step 23) = {147/246}
30a. 1 of {147} must be in R5C9 -> no 1 in R34C9

31. R4C2 + R6C3 = {12} (hidden pair in N4)

32. 6 in N4 in R4C3 or R6C2, CPE no 6 in R23C2

[color=blue]The original step 33 no longer worked because of the incorrect elimination in step 12. I've re-worked the remaining steps.

33. R58C2 = R4C3 (step 9)
33a. Min R58C2 = 8 -> no 6 in R4C3
33b. R4C3 = {89} -> R58C2 = [53/54] -> R5C23 = [57], clean-up: no 9 in R6C2

34. R6C2 = 6 (hidden single in N4), R7C2 = 8, clean-up: no 2,4 in R1C2 (step 4), no 6 in 21(3) cage in N7 (step 6), no 1 in R9C4
34a. R8C1 = 7, R9C12 = [59], R1C1 = 6, R1C2 = 1 (step 4), R4C2 = 2, R67C3 = [12], R7C1 = 1, R6C1 = 9 (step 8), R6C6 = 7, R4C4 = 5 (step 14), R4C3 = 8, R4C56 = [69], R78C5 = [79], R8C9 = 1 (step 5), clean-up: no 4 in R1C67, no 7 in R4C9 (step 23), no 4,6 in R8C6, no 4 in R9C34
34b. R4C9 = 4, naked pair {26} in R35C9, locked for C9
34c. R45C1 = [34], R4C7 = 7, R5C7 = 6, R4C8 = 1, R5C8 = 9, R5C9 = 2, R3C9 = 6, clean-up: no 3 in R3C78

35. R8C6 = 8 (hidden single in C6), R8C7 = 5, R3C78 = [45], R67C9 = [53], R7C7 = 9, R7C6 = 5 (step 3)

36. 15(4) cage at R7C4 = {2346} (only remaining combination) -> R8C4 = 2, R6C45 = [42], R7C4 = 6, R78C8 = [46], R9C34 = [63]

37. R4C23 = [28] = 10 -> R23C2 = 11 = [47], R8C23 = [34]

38. R4C4 = 5 -> R3C34 = 10 = [91], R5C4 = 8

39. Naked pair {23} in R13C6, locked for C6 and N2 -> R3C5 = 8, R12C5 = [45], R2C3 = 3, R2C4 = 9 (step 2)

and the rest is naked singles

Ed said that V1 could be solved in a normal (aka not hard) 1.25 way. I discovered this way of solving it with the help of Mike's step 2. And as luck has it, this was nearly the way Ed solved it, so here it is:

UA 98 Walkthrough (easier):

1. R6789
a) 3(2) = {12} locked for C3
b) 16(2) = {79} locked for C5+N8
c) Outies R9 = 8(2) = [53/62/71]
d) 21(3) @ N7 = 7{59/68} because R8C1 <> 4,8,9 -> 7 locked for N7
e) 13(2): R8C7 <> 4,6
f) 9(2): R9C4 <> 2,8
g) Killer pair (12) locked in R6C3 + 6(2) for R6
h) 8(2): R7C9 <> 6,7
i) 21(3): R6C6+R7C7 <> 5 because R7C6 <> 7,9

2. C789 !
a) Innies+Outies C9: -1 = R1C8 - R89C9 -> R9C9 <> 1,2,3,4 because R8C9 <= 3
b) 4 locked in 12(3) @ C9 -> 12(3) = 4{17/26/35} <> 8,9
c) ! Hidden Killer pair (12) in 10(2) + 12(3) for N6
-> 10(2) = {19/28} and 12(3) = 4{17/26} and R3C9 <> 1,2
d) 24(3) = {789} locked for N3
e) 9(2) <> 1,2
f) Killer pair (46) locked in 9(2) + R3C9 for R3+N3
g) 12(4) must have 4 xor 6 and it's only possible @ R2C6 -> R2C6 = (46)
h) R1C6 <> 1
i) ! Innies+Outies N69: -8 = R3C9 - R78C7; R3C9 = (46)
-> R78C7 = 12/14(2) = [48/68/75/95] -> R7C7 <> 8 and R8C7 = (58)
j) 13(2) = {58} locked for R8

3. N569
a) 13(2) @ N6 <> 5,8 because R8C7 = (58) blocks {58}
b) 3,5 locked in R6C789 for R6
c) 6(2) = {24} locked for R6+N5
d) 12(3) @ N5 = 1{38/56} -> 1 locked for R5+N5
e) Hidden pair (79) in R46C6 for C6 locked for N5; R46C6 = {79}
f) Innies N5 = 12(2) = [39/57]
g) R6C3 = 1, R7C3 = 2

4. R789
a) Outies R9 = 8(2) <> 3
b) 3 locked in 8(2) @ C9 -> 8(2) = {35} locked for C9
c) 21(3) @ N8 must have 5 xor 8 and it's only possible @ R7C6 -> R7C6 = {58}
d) Naked pair (58) locked in R78C6 for C6+N8
e) 15(4) = 23{19/46} -> R8C4 = 2
f) 5(2) = {14} locked for R9+N8
g) 9(2) = {36} locked for R9
h) Naked pair (36) locked in R79C4 for C4
i) 18(4) = {1278} -> R8C9 = 1, {278} locked for R9+N9
j) 21(3) @ N7 = {579} -> R8C1 = 7, {59} locked for N7

5. C123+R1
a) Outies C1 = 10(2) = [19] -> R1C2 = 1, R9C2 = 9
b) 5(2) = {23} locked for R1
c) 16(3) = {457} locked for R1
d) Hidden Single: R2C9 = 7 @ N3
e) 25(4) = 89{26/35}, 9 locked for R2
f) R4C4 = 5
g) 15(3) = [37/91]5

6. R6789
a) R9C1 = 5
b) Outies = 7(2) = {34} locked for C1+N4

7. Rest is singles.

Rating: 1.25. I used Hidden Killer pairs and Innies+Outies analysis

3x3::k:4352:4352:5378:5378:5378:3077:3077:2055:2055:4352:5386:4875:4875:4875:5390:5390:5390:2055:4352:5386:4372:4372:4875:5390:2328:1817:7194:4635:5386:5386:4372:3359:3359:2328:1817:7194:4635:1829:1829:3623:3623:3623:2346:2346:7194:4635:2350:4143:3376:3376:4146:4659:4659:7194:4635:2350:4143:4409:5434:4146:4146:4659:4670:3647:4409:4409:4409:5434:5434:5434:4659:4670:3647:3647:2634:2634:3148:3148:3148:4670:4670:

This was a Killer that despite its difficulty was really fun to solve. Thanks Mike!

I thought that I had to use chains to crack it because of SS's rating and JSudoku needs XY-Chains to solve it, but in the end only Innies+Outies analysis was needed to solve it.

I hope to see some other wts for V1 (and V2 too ) since Mike's and my breakthrough move for V1 are quite similar but it can be solved in a different way which isn't more difficult.

UA 98 V2 Walkthrough:

1. C123
a) Outies C1 = 4(2) = {13} locked for C2
b) 9(2) = {27/45}
c) Innies+Outies C12: -4 = R45C3 - R8C2
-> R8C2 = (789) and R45C3 <= 5 -> R45C3 <> 5,6,7,8,9
d) 7(2) = [43/52/61]
e) 14(3) must have 1 xor 3 because R9C2 = (13) -> R89C1 <> 1,3
f) 16(2) = {79} locked for C3
g) 10(2): R9C4 <> 1,3
h) 21(3): R1C45 <> 5 because R1C3 <> 7,9
i) 21(4) <> {1389} because 1,3 only possible @ R4C3
j) Hidden Killer pair (89) in 21(4) + R8C2 for C2
-> R8C2 <> 7 and 21(4) <> {3567}
k) 17(4) @ N7 must have 8 xor 9 because R8C2 = (89) -> R78C4+R8C3 <> 7,8,9

2. C789
a) Outies C9 = 9(2): R9C8 <> 1,2,3,9
b) 28(4) = 89{47/56} -> 8,9 locked for C9
c) 8(3) = 1{25/34} -> 1 locked for N3
d) 9(2) @ N3: R4C7 <> 8
e) 7(2): R4C8 <> 6
f) Innies+Outies C89: -2 = R56C7 - R2C8
-> R2C8 <> 2,3,4 and R56C7 <= 7 -> R56C7 <> 7,8,9
g) 9(2) @ R5: R5C8 <> 1,2

3. R5+N5
a) Innies R5 = 15(2) = {69/78}
b) Innies N5 = 5(2) = {14/23}
c) 17(3) must have 1,2,3 xor 4 and R4C4 = (1234) -> R3C34 <> 1,2,3,4
d) 17(3) <> 1 because R3C3 <> 7,9
e) Innies N5 = 5(2): R6C6 <> 4
f) 16(3) must have 1,2 xor 3 because R6C6 = (123) -> R7C67 <> 1,2,3
g) 14(3) <> 6 because {167} blocked by Killer pair (67) of Innies R5 and
{356} blocked by Killer triple (356) of 7(2)
h) 14(3) <> 7 since one of 13(2) @ N5 must be {67}
i) Killer pair (89) locked in 14(3) + Innies for R5
j) 9(2) <> 1

4. R9
a) Outies = 9(2+1) <> 8,9; R7C9+R8C1 <> 7
b) Outies = 9(2+1): R8C9 <> 7 because R8C1 >= 2
c) Outies = 9(2+1): R7C9 <> 5 because R8C1 <> 1,3
d) 14(3): R9C1 <> 2,4 because R8C1+R9C2 <= 9
e) Innies+Outies: -9 = R8C1 - R9C89
- R9C9 <> 1,2 because R8C1 >= 2 and R9C8 <= 8

5. R1234 !
a) Innies R1 = 12(4) <> 7,8,9
b) Innies = 15(2+1): R4C1 = (1234) because R34C9 @ 28(4) >= 11
c) ! Innies+Outies R123: 1 = R4C234 - R3C789
- R3C789 >= 13 because R1C7+R2C78 @ N3 <= 24
- R4C234 >= 14 -> R4C2 = (789) because R4C34 <= 7
d) ! Innies+Outies R123: 1 = R4C234 - R3C789
- R3C789 = 13/14/15(3) because R4C234 <= 16
- R1C7+R2C78 @ N3 = 22/23/24(3) <> 2,3,4 and 9 locked for N3
e) R1C6 <> 8,9
f) 28(4) = 89{47/56} -> 9 locked for N6

6. N123689
a) Outies N1236 = 27(3+2): R78C8 = 11/12/13(2) <> 1 because R4C234 = 14/15/16(3) (step 5d)
b) 18(4): R6C8 <> 7,8 because R78C8 >= 11
c) 8 locked in R456C9 for C9
d) Outies N89 = 22(3+3): R9C3 <> 8 because R8C2 = (89) and R8C23+R9C3 <= 16
e) 10(2): R9C4 <> 2
f) Outies N89 = 22(3+3): R6C678 = 6/7/8/9/10(3) because R6C6 = (123) and R6C78 = 5/6/7(2) (step 6a)
-> R8C23+R9C3 = 12/13/14/15/16(3)

7. C123
a) 8 locked in R123C3 for N1
b) ! Innies+Outies N47: -5 = R23C2 - (R8C23+R9C3)
- R23C2 = 7/8/9/10/11(2) because of step 6f
-> R23C2 = 8/9/10/11(2) = {26/27/29/45/46/56} since (25,47) are Killer pairs of 9(2)
c) Hidden Killer pair (79) in 17(4) + R23C2 @ 21(4) for N1 since neither of them can have both
-> 17(4) <> {2456}
d) ! Using step 7b: R23C2 = 2{7/9} -> 2 locked for C2+N1 + 21(4)
e) 9(2) = {45} locked for C2
f) R5C2 = 6 -> R5C3 = 1

8. N356
a) Hidden Single: R6C6 = 1 @ N5
b) Innies N5 = 5(2) = [41] -> R4C4 = 4
c) 14(3) = {239} locked for R5+N5
d) 9(2) @ R5 = {45} locked for N6
e) 28(4) must have 4 xor 5 and it's only possible @ R3C9 -> R3C9 = (45)
f) Killer pair (45) locked in 8(3) + R3C9 for N3
g) 7(2) = {16} -> R3C8 = 6, R4C8 = 1
h) 1 locked in R12C9 for C9
i) 21(4): R23C6 <> 5,6,7,8,9 because R2C78 >= 15 and R23C6 <> 1
j) Naked triple (789) locked in R1C7+R2C78 for N3
k) 9(2) @ N3: R4C7 <> 2,3

9. C789
a) Hidden pair (23) in R6C78 for N6 locked for R6 + 18(4); R6C7 <> 6
b) 18(4) @ N6 = 23{49/58}
c) Killer pair (45) locked in R5C8 + 18(4) for C8
d) Outies C9 = 9(2) = {27} -> R1C8 = 2, R9C8 = 7
e) 8(3) = {125} -> {15} locked for C9
f) 18(4) @ R7C9 = {2367} -> {236} locked for C9+N9

10. R789
a) Innies+Outies R9: -2 = R8C1 - R9C9 -> R8C1 = 4, R9C9 = 6
b) 10(2) = {28} -> R9C3 = 2, R9C4 = 8
c) 14(3) = {149} -> R9C1 = 9, R9C2 = 1
d) R7C3 = 7
e) 16(3) = {169} -> R7C7 = 9, R7C6 = 6

11. N2
a) 17(3) = {458} -> R3C4 = 5, R3C3 = 8
b) 12(2) = {48} -> R1C6 = 4, R1C7 = 8

12. Rest is singles.

Rating: 1.5. I used Innies+Outies analysis of multiple nonets to solve it

Wonderful magic & hidden tunnels they have! Been trying for nearly 18 months (since UTA) to be able to use this trick to solve a puzzle. Thanks Mike! I'm tempted to call this way a hard 1.25 rating, but lets settle for easy 1.50 . [edit: fixed up some clean-ups & typo's. Thanks Afmob & edit 2: thanks Andrew]

(unofficial) Assassin 98 v2

Prelims
i. n1 21(3): no 1,2,3
ii. n2 12(2): no 1,2,6
iii. n3
8(3): no 6,7,8,9
9(2): no 9
7(2): no 7,8,9
28(4): no 1,2,3
iv. n4
7(2): no 7,8,9
9(2): no 9
16(2) = {79}
v. n5 both 13(2)s: no 1,2,3
vi. n6 9(2) no 9
vii. n7 10(2) no 5

1. "45" c1: 2 outies r19c2 = h4(2) = {13}: both locked for c2
1a. no 6 or 8 in 9(2)n4
1b. no 4,6 in r5c3
1c. {1389} combo blocked from 21(4)n1
1d. 14(3)n7 = 1/3 in r9c2 but not both (cage sum won't be reached) -> no 1, 3 in r89c1

2. "45" r1: 4 innies r1c1289 = h12(4)
2a. = 12{36/45}(no 7,8,9)
2b. = [63]{12}/[41]{25} ([61]{23}/[51]{24} blocked by combo's 8(3)n3)
2c. 2 locked in r1c89 for r1 & n3
2d. no 7 in r4c7
2e. no 5 in r4c8
2f. r1c1 = {46}

step 3 deleted

4. 8(3)n3 = {125}: all locked for n3
4a. no 4,8 r4c7
4b. no 2,6 r4c8
4c. no 7 in r1c6

5. "45" c9: 2 outies r19c8 = h9(2) = [18/27/54]
5a. r9c8 = {478}
5b. 3 in c9 only in n9 in 18(4): 3 locked for n9
5c. 18(4) must have 4/7/8 & 3 = 3{168/249/267/456} ({2358} blocked: must have {235} in c9 which clashes with ALS(+1) in r12c1)
5d. 18(4) has only 1 of 4/7/8 which must be in r9c8 -> not in r789c9

6. 4, 7 & 8 in c9 only in 28(4) = {4789}(no 5,6)
6a. 9 locked for c9
6b. 18(4)n9 = 36{18/27/45}
6c. 6 locked for n9

7. "45" r19 & c19! -> 4 corners r19c19 = 180 - sum cages = 22
7a. from step 2b. r1c19 = [62/61/45/42] = 6/7/8/9
7b. -> r9c19 = 13/14/15/16
7c. -> min. r9c9 = 4
7d. max r9c9 = 6 -> min r9c1 = 7
7e. min. r9c12 = [71] = 8 -> max. r8c1 = 6

8. "45" r9: 4 innies r9c1289 = h23(4) must have 1/3 and 5/6
8a. = {1589/1679/3578}
8b. = [9185/9176] ([7385] blocked since r9c19 must = at least 13 step 7b;[8375] blocked by combo's 18(4)n9 step 6b)

9. r9c12 = [91], r8c1 = 4 (cage sum)
9a. no 5 in r6c2
9b. no 6 in r9c4

10. r1c12 = [63]
10a. no 9 in 12(2)r1

11. r67c3 = [97]
11a. no 2 in r6c2
11b. no 3 in r9c4
11c. no 4 in 13(2)r6c4

12. "45" r1: 2 innies r1c89 = 3 = {12} -> r2c9 = 5

13. r9c9 = 6
13a. no 4 in r9c4

14. "45" r9: 1 innie r9c8 = 7
14a. no 3 in r9c3
14b. no 2 in r5c7

15. "45" c9: 1 outie r1c8 = 2; r1c9 = 1
15a. no 7 in r5c7

16. r23c1 = 8 (cage sum) = {17}: both locked for c1 & n1

17. 10(2)n7 = {28}: both locked for r9
17a. 3 in r9 only in n8: locked for n8

18. "45" r5: 2 innies r5c19 = 15 = [87]
18a. no 1 in 9(2)n6

19. r4c9 = 9 (hsingle n6)
19b. no 4 in 13(2)r4c5

20. 9 in r5 only in 14(3)r4c5 = 9{14/23}(no 5,6)

21. 9 in n3 only in r2: locked for r2 & no 9 in r3c6
21a. r3c2 = 9 (hsingle n1)

22. r78c9 = {23}: both locked for n9

23. 21(4)n1 9{237/246/345}(no 1,8) ({1479} clashes with {47} in r6c2; {1569} blocked by r2c2)
23a. r8c2 = 8 (hsingle c2)

24. r9c34 = [28]
24a. no 5 in r6c5

25. r5c3 = 1 (hsingle n4)
25a. r5c2 = 6
25b. no 3 in 9(2)n6

Naked, hidden single and cage sums & easy stuff from here

Thanks Mike for an excellent variant!

After struggling with Ed's original puzzle, I felt that V2 was easier but that was probably because of what I'd learned from solving V1. Also I think there were more key moves in my V2 solution. For those reasons I'll rate V2 as an Easy 1.5 rather than a Hard 1.25.Thanks Afmob for reminding me about that type of move. It was useful for step 20. Ed made more use of it in his solution.

I wonder which, if any, of my moves SS wouldn't be able to find. Possibly step 21 although I don't know if that's a critical move. It ought to get step 15 and step 23. There must be some reason why it gave this puzzle such a high rating. Maybe it's because step 23 analyses a hidden cage?

Here is my walkthrough for V2. As with V1, I could probably have found the most important move (step 23) earlier; maybe I would have if step 2 hadn't made the initial candidate eliminations for that hidden cage.

Thanks Ed and Afmob for the feedback and pointing out my logic error.

Prelims

a) R1C67 = {39/48/57}, no 1,2,6
b) R34C7 = {18/27/36/45}, no 9
c) R34C8 = {16/25/34}, no 7,8,9
d) R4C56 = {49/58/67}, no 1,2,3
e) R5C23 = {16/25/34}, no 7,8,9
f) R5C78 = {18/27/36/45}, no 9
g) R67C2 = {18/27/36/45}, no 9
h) R67C3 = {79}, locked for C3
i) R6C45 = {49/58/67}, no 1,2,3
j) R9C34 = {28/46}/[19/37], no 5, no 1,3 in R9C4
k) R1C345 = {489/579/678}, no 1,2,3
l) 8(3) cage in N3 = {125/134}, 1 locked for N3, clean-up: no 8 in R4C7, no 6 in R4C8
m) R3456C9 = {4789/5689}, 8,9 locked for C9

1. R1C345 = {489/579/678}
1a. 5 of {579} must be in R1C3 -> no 5 in R1C45

2. Killer triple 7,8,9 in R1C345 and R1C67, locked for R1

3. 45 rule on C1 2 outies R19C2 = 4 = {13}, locked for C2, clean-up: no 4,6 in R5C3, no 6,8 in R67C2

4. 8(3) cage in N3 = {125/134}
4a. 4 of {134} must be in R1C89 (R1C89 cannot be {13} which clashes with R1C2), no 4 in R2C9

5. 45 rule on C9 2 outies R19C8 = 9 = [18/27/36]/{45}, no 1,2,3,9 in R9C8

6. 45 rule on R9 3 outies R8C1 + R78C9 = 9, no 7 in R7C9, no 7,8,9 in R8C1

7. 14(3) cage in N7 = {149/158/167/239/347/356} (cannot be {248/257} because R9C2 only contains 1,3)
7a. R9C2 = {13} -> no 1,3 in R89C1
7b. 7,9 of {149/239/347} must be in R9C1 -> no 2,4 in R9C1

8. R9C567 = {129/147/156/237/246/345} (cannot be {138} which clashes with R9C2), no 8

9. R8C1 + R78C9 = 9 (step 6)
9a. Min R8C1 = 2 -> max R78C9 = 7, no 7 in R8C9

10. 45 rule on C12 1 innie R8C2 = 2 outies R45C3 + 4
10a. Min R45C3 = 3 -> min R8C2 = 7
10b. Max R8C2 = 9 -> max R45C3 = 5, no 5,6,8, clean-up: no 2 in R5C2

11. 45 rule on R5 2 innies R5C19 = 15 = {69/78}

12. 45 rule on C89 1 innie R2C8 = 2 outies R56C7 + 2
12a. Min R56C7 = 3 -> min R2C8 = 5
12b. Max R2C8 = 9 -> max R56C7 = 7, no 7,8,9, clean-up: no 1,2 in R5C8

13. 45 rule on R1234 3 innies R4C1 + R34C9 = 15
13a. Min R34C9 = 11 (from 28(4) cage combinations) -> max R4C1 = 4
13b. Min R4C1 = 1 -> max R34C9 = 14 -> min R56C9 = 14, no 4 in R6C9

14. 45 rule on N5 2 innies R4C4 + R6C6 = 5 = {14/23}

15. Combined cage R4C56 + R6C45 = 26 = {4589/4679/5678}
15a. R5C456 = {149/158/239} (cannot be {167} which clashes with R5C19, cannot be {248/257/347/356} which clash with combined cage R4C56 + R6C45), no 6,7
15b. Killer pair 8,9 in R5C19 and R5C456, locked for R5, clean-up: no 1 in R5C7

16. 17(3) cage at R3C3 = {269/278/359/368/458/467} (cannot be {179} because 7,9 only in R3C4), no 1, clean-up: no 4 in R6C6 (step 14)
16a. R4C4 = {234} -> no 2,3,4 in R3C34

17. 16(3) cage at R6C6 = {169/178/259/268/349/358/367} (cannot be {457} because R6C6 only contains 1,2,3)
17a. R6C6 = {123} -> no 1,2,3 in R7C67

18. Hidden killer pair 8,9 in R234C2 and R8C2 for C2 -> R234C2 must contain at least one of 8,9
18a. 21(4) cage at R2C2 = {1569/2379/2469/2478/2568/3459/3468} (cannot be {1389} because 1,3 only in R4C3, cannot be {1479/1578} which clash with R67C2, cannot be {3567} which doesn’t contain 8 or 9)
18b. Hidden killer pair 8,9 in R234C2 and R8C2 for C2 -> R8C2 = {89}

19. 17(4) cage at R7C4 = {1259/1268/1349/1358/2348} (cannot be {1367/1457/2357/2456} because R8C2 only contains 8,9), no 7
19a. R8C2 = {89} -> no 8,9 in R7C4 + R8C34

20. 45 rule on R19C19 overlaps, R19C19 = 22
20a. Max R1C19 = 11 -> min R9C19 = 11, no 1 in R9C9

21. 1 can only be in R9C12 if 9 is also there because 9 cannot be in R9C34 or R9C567 unless 1 is in the same cage. However, as Ed has pointed out to me, 9 can be in R9C1 when 1 is in R9C567 so the converse doesn’t apply.
21a. 14(3) cage in N7 (step 7) = {149/239/347/356} (cannot be {158/167} because they only contain one of 1,9), no 2,8

22. 45 rule on C89 2 innies R25C8 = 1 outie R6C7 + 11
22a. Max R25C8 = 16 -> max R6C7 = 5

23. 45 rule on R1 4 innies R1C1289 = 12 = {1236/1245}
23a. {1236} can only be [6312/6321] (cannot be [6123/6132] because 8(3) cage in N3 cannot be {23}3)
23b. {1245} can only be [4125/4152] (cannot be [2145/2154] because R1C89 cannot be more than 7, cannot be [5124/5142] because 8(3) cage in N3 cannot be {24}2)
23c. R1C1 = {46}, R1C12 = [41/63], R1C89 = {12/25}, clean-up: no 5,6 in R9C8 (step 5)
23d. 8(3) cage in N3 = {125} (only remaining combination), locked for N3, 2 locked in R1C89, locked for R1 -> no 2 in R2C9, clean-up: no 7 in R1C6, no 4,7 in R4C7, no 2,5 in R4C8

24. 3 in C9 locked in R789C9, locked for N9
24a. 18(4) cage in N9 = {1368/2367/3456} (cannot be {2358} which clashes with R12C9)
24b. R9C8 = {478} -> no 4,7 in R789C9 (this sub-step has been simplified; I think I’d forgotten to do the step 23c clean-up when I first did this step)

25. 4,7 in C9 locked in R45C9 -> R4567C9 = {4789} (only remaining combination), no 5,6, clean-up: no 9 in R5C1 (step 11)

26. 17(4) cage in N1 = {1349/1367/1457} (cannot be {1259/1358/2357} because R1C1 only contains 4,6, cannot be {1268/2348} which clash with R1C12, cannot be {2456} because R1C2 only contains 1,3), no 2,8, 1 locked for N1
26a. R1C1 = {46} -> no 4,6 in R23C1
26b. {1367} must be [6317/6371]

27. 8 in C1 locked in R567C1 -> R4567C1 = {1278/1368/2358} (cannot be {1458} which clashes with 17(4) cage in N1), no 4,9

28. 14(3) cage in N7 (step 21a) = {149/239/356} (cannot be {347} clashes with 17(4) cage in N1), no 7

[I had to re-solve the remaining steps after Ed pointed out the incorrect elimination of {239}. Fortunately I then discoved that using step 20 together with steps 23a and 23b led to a much quicker finish than I originally had. ]

29. R19C19 = 22 (step 20)
29a. Max R1C19 = 9 (steps 23a and 23b) -> min R9C19 = 13 -> R9C1 = 9, R9C9 = {56}, R8C2 = 8, R67C3 = [97], clean-up: no 2 in R6C2, no 4 in R6C45, no 5,6 in R8C1 (step 28), no 2 in R9C4
29b. R9C19 = 14,15 -> R1C19 = 7,8 = [61/62] -> R1C1 = 6, R1C9 = {12}, R1C2 = 3 (step 23c), R9C2 = 1, R8C1 = 4 (step 28), clean-up: no 9 in R1C67, no 9 in R5C9 (step 11), no 5 in R6C2, no 6,9 in R9C4

30. R1C89 = {12} (hidden pair in R1) -> R2C9 = 5, R9C9 = 6, R1C9 = 1 (step 20), R1C8 = 2, R9C8 = 7 (step 5), clean-up: no 2 in R5C7, no 3 in R9C3, no 4 in R9C4
30a. R9C34 = [28], R7C12 = [35], R78C9 = [23], R8C3 = 6, R6C2 = 4, R5C2 = 6, R5C3 = 1, R4C1 = 2, R4C2 = 7, R4C3 = 3, R4C4 = 4, R6C6 = 1 (step 14), R4C8 = 1, R56C1 = [85], R7C4 = 1, R8C4 = 2 (step 19), R56C9 = [78], R34C9 = [49], R3C8 = 6, R6C78 = [23], clean-up: no 8 in R1C6, no 7,8 in R3C7, no 6 in R4C56
30b. R3C7 = 3, R4C7 = 6

31. R4C4 = 4 -> R3C34 = 13 = [85], R1C6 = 4, R1C7 = 8, R2C78 = [79], R3C6 = 2, R12C3 = [54], R23C1 = [17], R23C2 = [29], R3C5 = 1, R2C6 = 3 (cage sum)

and the rest is naked singles

A very busy week with these two puzzles! Desperately trying to clear up the loose-ends before getting any further behind!Not a hint - just describing how the solution process seemed with those cages that "bridge" across nonet boundaries, with the 12(3)r6c6 especially helpful to my solution. I used outies n69 rather than Afmob's more productive i/o n69 (his "easier uA98 WT"). I also liked how there were so many i/o possibilities all over the place. I thought there were a good number of clever & difficult steps (complex cage-blocks etc) so felt more like a 1.50 WT. After working through Andrew & Afmob's walk-throughs, I think my rating for uA98 v2 as (easy) 1.50 is high. This is the one. Your step 23 combines the innies r1 = h12(4) with the combinations in 8(3)r1c8 to be powerful. SS can only do this hidden cage-placement with the "45 Extended" routine which is way down the list below "Multiple House". SS does ridiculous contortions with obscure (& unproductive) "Multiple House" elims before it can finally get to "Extended". By moving "Extended" one above "Multiple House" on the routine order, the SS(v3)score is.....you guessed it...1.50!

I've put onto Richard's list to get a "4-cell 45 Extended" routine to sit above "Multiple House". This could make a big difference to the scoring of the 1.45+ puzzles. So, thanks for the question Andrew!

direct-link candidates
Finally, a really nice move from Andrew's uA98 V2 walk-through. His step 21 blandly says
.

There is a direct link between candidates 1 & 9 in r9c3..9 through combinations in the 10(2) & 12(3) cages (={19} or {129} respectively) . In other words, 9 is linked with 1 in these two cages -> if r9c12 has 1 it must also have 9 [edited to get more accurate, see why below] -> {158/167} blocked from 14(3) since 1 can only be in r9c2. Nice find Andrew!

But the same is true for {239} in 14(3)n7. [color=red][edit: not true. Tricked. 9 in r9c1 -> 1 in r9 can be in 12(3) = 1{47/56}]. Since 9 in {239} can only be in r9c1 -> r9c2 must have a 1 which {239} doesn't. In summary, since 1 & 9 are directly linked in every other position in r9 -> r9c12 must have (19) both in or both out [Correction: the direct link is only on the 9 in r9..since 9 in 10(2) or 12(3) must have 1 -> 1 in r9c2 must have 9 in r9c1]

Still feeling very chuffed about that 4 cell overlap [edit: pride goeth before.... ].
Ed

3x3::k:3840:3840:5378:5378:1284:3589:3589:2311:2311:2569:4618:4618:5378:1284:3589:4111:4111:2833:2569:4618:4884:4884:3606:4887:4887:4111:2833:2569:4892:4884:4884:3606:4887:4887:5410:2833:4892:4892:4390:4390:4390:4390:4390:5410:5410:4141:4892:5935:5935:3889:5170:5170:5410:5173:4141:2359:5935:5935:3889:5170:5170:4925:5173:4141:2359:2359:3650:1859:3908:4925:4925:5173:3144:3144:3650:3650:1859:3908:3908:1871:1871:

Thanks Afmob for a fun puzzle! In at least one place I deliberately avoided a more difficult move, which gave an immediate elimination, because this puzzle didn't require such a move.

I'll rate uA99 at 1.0; there was enough work the way I did it not to rate it lower.

Here is my walkthrough. I've corrected a few typos and made the mop-up a bit quicker.

Prelims

a) R1C12 = {69/78}
b) R12C5 = {14/23}
c) R1C89 = {18/27/36/45}, no 9
d) R34C5 = {59/68}
e) R67C5 = {78} (cannot be {69} which clashes with R34C5), locked for C5, clean-up: no 6 in R34C5
f) R89C5 = {16/25/34}, no 7,8,9
g) R9C12 = {39/48/57}, no 1,2,6
h) R9C89 = {16/25/34}, no 7,8,9
i) 21(3) cage at R1C3 = {489/579/678}, no 1,2,3
j) R234C1 = {127/136/145/235}, no 8,9
k) R234C9 = {128/137/146/236/245}, no 9
l) R678C9 = {389/479/569/578}, no 1,2
m) 9(3) cage in N7 = {126/135/234}, no 7,8,9
n) 19(3) cage in N9 = {289/379/469/478/568}, no 1
o) R5C34567 = {12347/12356}, no 8,9, 1,2,3 locked for R5

1. 45 rule on C5 1 innie R5C5 = 4, clean-up: no 1 in R12C5, no 3 in R89C5
1a. 45 rule on C1234 2 innies R5C34 = 4 = {13}, locked for R5
1b. R5C34567 = {12347} (only remaining combination) -> R5C67 = {27}, locked for R5

2. Naked pair {23} in R12C5, locked for C5 and N2, clean-up: no 5 in R89C5
2a. Naked pair {16} in R89C5, locked for N8

3. R9C89 = {25/34} (cannot be {16} which clashes with R9C5), no 1,6
3a. 1 in N9 locked in R79C7, locked for C7

4. 45 rule on C1 3 innies R159C1 = 19 = {379/469/478/568}
4a. 3,4 of {379/469/478} must be in R9C1 -> no 7,9 in R9C1, clean-up: no 3,5 in R9C2

5. 45 rule on R1 2 outies R2C46 = R1C5 + 14, R1C5 = {23} -> R2C46 = 16,17 = {79/89}, 9 locked for R2 and N2 -> R34C5 = [59]
5a. No 3 in R3C2 because R2C23 = {78} clashes with R2C46
5b. No 1 in R3C8 because R2C78 = {78} clashes with R2C46

6. 21(3) cage at R1C3 = {489/579} (cannot be {678} because {67/68} clash with R1C12), no 6
6a. 7 of {579} must be in R1C4 -> no 7 in R1C3 + R2C4

7. R1C89 = {18/27/36} (cannot be {45} which clashes with R1C34 in 21(3) cage), no 4,5

8. Min R2C6 = 7 -> max R1C67 = 7, no 7,8,9 in R1C67

9. 9 in R1 locked in R1C123, locked for N1
9a. 18(3) cage in N1 = {378} (only remaining combination, cannot be {468/567} which clash with R1C12), locked for N1
9b. 3 locked in R2C23, locked for R2 -> R2C5 = 2, R1C5 = 3, clean-up: no 6 in R1C89

10. R2C46 = R1C5 + 14 (step 5), R1C5 = 3 -> R2C46 = 17 = {89}, no 7, 8 locked for R2 and N2

11. Naked pair {37} in R2C23, locked for R2 and N1 -> R3C2 = 8, clean-up: no 4 in R9C1

12. Naked pair {69} in R1C12, locked for R1 and N1

13. 21(3) cage at R1C3 (step 6) = {489/579} -> R2C4 = 9, R2C6 = 8
13a. R1C34 = 12 = [57], clean-up: no 2 in R1C89

14. Naked pair {18} in R1C89, locked for R1 and N3 -> R1C67 = [42], R5C67 = [27]

15. 16(3) cage in N3 = {457} (only remaining combination, cannot be {349/367} because 3,7,9 only in R3C8) -> R3C8 = 7, naked pair {45} in R2C78, locked for R2 and N3 -> R2C1 = 1, R23C9 = [63], R3C7 = 9, R4C9 = 2 (cage sum), clean-up: no 4,5 in R9C8
15a. R2C1 = 1 -> R34C1 = 9 = [27/45]

16. R1C9 = 1 (hidden single in C9), R1C8 = 8

17. 7 in C9 locked in R78C9
17a. R678C9 = {479/578}
17b. Killer pair 4,5 in R678C9 and R9C9, locked for C9

18. 45 rule on R9 3 outies R8C456 = 10 = {127/145} (cannot be {136} because 1,6 only in R8C5, cannot be {235} because R8C5 only contains 1,6) -> R8C5 = 1, R8C46 = [27/45], R9C5 = 6

19. 14(3) cage at R8C4 = {239/248/257/347} (cannot be {158/167/356} because R8C4 only contains 2,4, cannot be {149} because 1,9 only in R9C3), no 1
19a. 7,9 of {239/347} must be in R9C3 -> no 3 in R9C3

20. R9C7 = 1 (hidden single in R9), R89C6 = 14 = [59], R8C4 = 4 (step 18), clean-up: no 3 in R9C1
20a. R8C4 = 4 -> R9C34 = 10 = {28}/[73]

21. 9(3) cage in N7 = {126/234} (cannot be {135} because 1,5 only in R7C2), no 5, 2 locked for N7, clean-up: no 8 in R9C4 (step 20a)
21a. 1,4 of {126/234} must be in R7C2 -> R7C2 = {14}

22. 19(3) cage in N9 = {289/469/568}, no 3
22a. 4,5 of {469/568} must be in R7C8 -> no 6 in R7C8

23. 45 rule on C12 2 outies R28C3 = 9 = [36/72]

24. 45 rule on C89 2 outies R28C7 = 13 = [58], R2C8 = 4

25. R678C9 (step 17a) = {479/578}
25a. 8 of {578} only in R6C9 -> no 5 in R6C9

26. 5 in C9 locked in R79C9, locked for N9, clean-up: no 6 in R8C8 (step 22)

27. Naked pair {29} in R78C8, locked for C8 and N9 -> R9C89 = [34], R8C9 = 7, R7C9 = 5, R6C9 = 8 (step 25), R5C9 = 9, R67C5 = [78], R79C4 = [32], R7C67 = [76], R9C23 = [78], R9C1 = 5, R2C23 = [37], R5C34 = [31], R3C46 = [61], R46C4 = [85], R46C6 = [63], R6C7 = 4, R4C7 = 3, R4C1 = 7, R3C1 = 2 (step 15a), R34C3 = [41], R7C3 = 9, R6C3 = 6 (cage sum)

and the rest is naked singles

Thanks for a nice puzzle,Afmob.Took me 45-50 mins and I'ld rate it about 0.75.I think it's just the sort of level of difficulty that the forum needs now and then to bring in new people who may not be quite ready for the 1.25-1.5 mind-benders.

with r5c5=4 r5c12={23} thus r2c46={79 or 89} and the innies of N1=12 it (almost) immediately follows that r1c12={69}.Innies of c1234=4 ={13}.Easy to fill in options in the rest of c5-> r3c5=5 and a little more combo work allows r1 and much of N123 to be completed,including r3c2=8. .And now with the 17(5) cage N456={13}4{27} the innies of c1=19(3) must be r159c1=685 after which it comes out quickly.

Regards

Gary

This was a nice relaxing puzzle. Thanks for the warm-up, Afmob! My brain cells are now fit and ready for the next variant (unless it's one of those SScore 5.0+ ones, that is! ).

I'll go along with Andrew's rating of 1.0.

Edit: Clean-up step corrected. Thanks, Andrew!

UA99 Walkthrough

Prelims

a) 15(2) at R1C1 and R6C5 = {69/78} (no 1..5)
b) 21(3) at R1C3 = {489/579/678} (no 1..3)
c) 5(2) at R1C5 = {14/23} (no 5..9)
d) 9(2) at R1C8 = {18/27/36/45} (no 9)
e) 10(3) at R2C1 = {127/136/145/235} (no 8,9)
f) 11(3) at R2C9 = {128/137/146/236/245} (no 9)
g) 14(2) at R3C5 = {59/68} (no 1..4,7)
h) 17(5) at R5C3 = {12347/12356}; {123} locked for R5
i) 20(3) at R6C9 = {389/479/569/578} (no 1,2)
j) 9(3) at R7C2 = {126/135/234} (no 7,8,9)
k) 19(3) at R7C8 = {289/379/469/478/568} (no 1)
l) 7(2) at R8C5 and R9C8 = {16/25/34} (no 7,8,9)
m) 12(2) at R9C1 = {39/48/57} (no 1,2,6)

1. Innie C5: R5C5 = 4
1a. cleanup: no 1 in R12C5; no 3 in R89C5

2. Innies C1234: R5C34 = 4(2) = {13}, locked for R5

3. Innies C6789: R5C67 = 9(2) = {27} (last combo), locked for R5

4. Naked pair (NP) at R12C5 = {23}, locked for C5 and N2
4a. cleanup: no 5 in R89C5

5. Outies R9: R8C456 = 10(3) = {127/145} (no 3,6,8,9)
(Note: {136/235} unplaceable)
5a. -> R89C5 = [16]
5b. cleanup: no 8 in R34C5; no 9 in R67C5; no 1 in R9C89

6. Innies R6789: R6C28 = 3(2) = {12}, locked for R6

7. Innie/Outie (I/O) diff. N7: R79C3 = R6C1 + 8
7a. min. R6C1 = 3 -> min. R79C3 = 11
7b. -> no 1 in R79C3

8. Hidden single (HS) in R9 at R9C7 = 1
8a. -> split 14(2) at R89C6 = [59] (last permutation)
8b. -> R8C4 = 4 (step 5)
8c. -> split 10(2) at R9C34 = {28/37} (no 5)
8d. cleanup: no 3 in R9C12

9. Outies R1: R2C456 = 19(3) = {289/379}
9a. -> R2C4 = 9, R2C6 = {78}
9b. -> R34C5 = [59]

10. Split 12(2) at R1C34 = [48/57] (no 6; no 7,8 in R1C3)
10a. -> R1C4 blocks {78} combo for 15(2) at R1C1
10b. -> 15(2) at R1C1 = {69}, locked for R1 and N1
10c. cleanup: no 3 in R1C89

11. 18(3) at R2C2 = {378} (last combo), locked for N1

12. 9(3) at R7C2 = {126/234} (no 5)
(Note: {135} unplaceable)
12a. 1 of {126} must go in R7C2
12b. -> no 6 in R7C2
12c. 4 of {234} must go in R7C2
12d. -> no 3 in R7C2
12e. {12} in R78C2 blocked by R6C2
12f. -> no 6 in R8C3

13. Outies C12: R28C3 = 9(2) = [72] (last permutation)
13a. -> R2C56 = [28] (step 9)
13c. -> R1C5 = 3
13d. cleanup: no 3,8 in R9C4 (step 8c)

14. Split 11(2) at R23C2 = [38] (last permutation)
14a. cleanup: no 4 in R9C1

15. Split 7(2) at R78C2 = [16] (last permutation)
15a. -> R1C12 = [69]

16. 19(4) at R4C2 = [4852] (last permutation)
16a. cleanup: no 7 in R9C1

17. R1C34 (step 10) = [57]

18. Split 6(2) at R1C67 = [42] (last permutation)

19. Innies C9: R159C9 = 14(3) = [194] (last permutation)
19a. -> R9C8 = 3 (cage sum)

20. 20(3) at R6C9 (Prelim i) = {578} (last combo), locked for C9

Just naked singles left now.

3x3::k:3840:3840:5378:5378:4868:3589:3589:2311:2311:2569:4618:4618:5378:4868:3589:4111:4111:2833:2569:4618:4884:4884:4868:4887:4887:4111:2833:2569:4892:4884:4884:4868:4887:4887:5410:2833:4892:4892:4390:4390:4390:4390:4390:5410:5410:4141:4892:5935:5935:5681:5170:5170:5410:5173:4141:2359:5935:5935:5681:5170:5170:4925:5173:4141:2359:2359:3650:5681:3908:4925:4925:5173:3144:3144:3650:3650:5681:3908:3908:1871:1871:

Indeed! Took me over twice as long to get to all singles compared to the V1! A monster of a "1.25" rating if ever there was one! Felt like at least a 1.5 to me!

Here's the (as yet unchecked) WT. Seems huge, even in TT! There must be a quicker way...


uA99 V1.5 Walkthrough

Prelims

a) 15(2) at R1C1 = {69/78} (no 1..5)
b) 21(3) at R1C3 = {489/579/678} (no 1..3)
c) 9(2) at R1C8 = {18/27/36/45} (no 9)
d) 10(3) at R2C1 = {127/136/145/235} (no 8,9)
e) 11(3) at R2C9 = {128/137/146/236/245} (no 9)
f) 17(5) at R5C3 = {12347/12356}; {123} locked for R5
g) 20(3) at R6C9 = {389/479/569/578} (no 1,2)
h) 9(3) at R7C2 = {126/135/234} (no 7,8,9)
i) 19(3) at R7C8 = {289/379/469/478/568} (no 1)
j) 7(2) at R9C8 = {16/25/34} (no 7,8,9)
k) 12(2) at R9C1 = {39/48/57} (no 1,2,6)

1. Innie C5: R5C5 = 4

2. Innies C1234: R5C34 = 4(2) = {13}, locked for R5

3. Innies C6789: R5C67 = 9(2) = {27} (last combo), locked for R5

4. Innies R6789: R6C28 = 3(2) = {12}, locked for R6

5. Innies R1234: R4C28 = 9(2) = {18/27/36/45} (no 9)

6. 19(4) at R4C2 cannot contain more than 2 of {5689}, otherwise cage sum exceeded
6a. -> no 5,6,8 in R4C2
6b. 19(4) at R4C2 cannot contain both of {12}, because {1279} unplaceable
6c. -> no 1,2 in R4C2
6b. cleanup: no 1,3,4,7,8 in R4C8 (step 5)

7. 21(4) at R4C8 cannot contain both of {12}, otherwise cage sum unreachable
7a. -> no 2 in R4C8
7b. cleanup: no 7 in R4C2

8. 21(3) at R1C3 = {489/579/678}
8a. R1C34 cannot contain either of {67/68} due to 15(2) at R1C1 (Prelim a)
8b. -> no 6 in R1C34

9. Innies N1: R1C3+R23C1+R3C3 = 12(4) = {1245} (no 3,6..9) (last combo), locked for N1
(Note: {1236} unplaceable, because none of these digits in R1C3)

10. 21(3) at R1C3 (step 8) = {489/579} ({678} now unplaceable)
10a. -> R12C4 = {789} (no 4..6)
10b. 9 locked in R12C4 for C4 and N2

11. 9(2) at R1C8 = {18/27/36} (no 4,5) ({45} combo blocked by R1C3)

12. 15(2) at R1C1, R1C4 and 9(2) at R1C8 form killer quad on {6789} within R1
12a. -> no 6..9 elsewhere in R1

13. 9(3) at R7C2 = {126/135/234} (Prelim h)
13a. {12} in R78C2 blocked by R6C2
13b. -> no 6 in R8C3

14. Outies C12: R28C3 = 9(2) = [63/72/81]
14a. -> no 3,9 in R2C3; no 4,5 in R8C3

15. 3 in N1 locked in R23C2 for C2
15a. cleanup: no 9 in R9C1

16. R4C28 = [45] (step 5)
16a. cleanup: no 8 in R9C1, no 2 in R9C9

17. 9(3) at R7C2 = {126/135} (step 13) ({234} unplaceable)
17a. 1 locked for N7

18. 1 in C1 locked in 10(3) = {127} (last combo)
(Note: {136} unplaceable, {145} blocked by R1C3)
18a. -> R4C1 = 7; R23C1 = {12}, locked for C1 and N1
18b. cleanup: no 5 in R9C2

19. Naked pair (NP) at R13C3 = {45}, locked for C3

20. Innies C1: R159C1 = 19(3) = {469/568} (no 3)
20a. can only contain 1 of {45}
20b. -> no 5 in R5C1
20c. 6 locked in R15C1 for C1

21. Hidden single (HS) in R5 at R5C2 = 5
21a. -> split 10(2) at R5C1+R6C2 = [82/91]
21b. -> no 6 in R5C1

22. HS in C1 at R1C1 = 6
22a. -> R1C2 = 9
22b. cleanup: no 3 in R1C89, no 3 in R8C3 (step 14)

23. R2C4 = 9 (HS @ 21(3))

24. 6 of R5 locked in split 16(3) at R5C89+R6C8 = {169/268}
24a. 6 locked in R5C89 for N6

25. 9(3) at R7C2 (step 17) = {126}, locked for N7

26. Innies C9: R159C9 = 14(3) = {149/158/167/239/248} ({257/347/356} unplaceable)
26a. can only contain 1 of {689}, otherwise cage sum exceeded
26b. -> no 6,8 in R19C9
26c. cleanup: no 1 in R19C8

27. 11(3) at R2C9 = {137/146/236/245} (no 8)
(Note: {128} blocked by h14(3) (step 26))

28. (Almost) locked cages: 2 in C9 locked in R1C9 or 11(3)
28a. if 2 in R1C9, then R1C8 = 7 -> no 7 in 11(3)
28b. if 2 in 11(3), then 11(3) cannot also contain a 7 (combinations 11(3))
28c. either way, 11(3) cannot contain a 7
28d. -> 11(3) at R2C8 = {146/236/245} (no 7)

29. h14(3) at R159C9 (step 26) = {149/167/239} (no 5,8)
(Note: {248} blocked by 11(3) (step 28d),
{158} blocked because it would force both of R69C8 to 2 (step 24))
29a. cleanup: no 2 in R9C8

30. Innie/Outie (I/O) diff. C9: R19C8 = R5C9 + 2
30a. -> if R5C9 = 6, then R19C8 = [26]
30b. -> (from step 24a) 6 locked in R59C8 for C8

31. I/O diff. cage at R19C8+R5C9 (step 30a) blocks {268} combo for split 16(3) at R5C89+R6C8 (step 24)
31a. -> R5C89+R6C8 = {169} (no 2,8)
31b. -> R6C8 = 1; R5C89 = {69}, 9 locked for R5 and N6

32. R5C1 = 8, R6C2 = 2 (both naked singles)

33. NP at R78C2 = {16}
33a. -> R8C3 = 2
33b. -> R2C3 = 7 (step 14)

34. NP at R23C2 = {38}, locked for C2
34a. -> 12(2) at R9C12 = [57]

35. 11(3) at R2C9 (step 28d) = {236/245} (no 1) ({146} unplaceable)
35a. 2 locked for C9
35b. cleanup: no 7 in R1C8

36. 8 in C9 locked in 20(3) at R6C9 = {389/578} (no 4,6)

37. HS in R6 at R6C7 = 4

38. 19(3) at R7C8 = {289/379/478} (no 5,6) = {(8/9)..}
(Note: {568} unplaceable, {469} blocked by 7(2) at R9C8)
38a. -> R78C9 cannot contain both of {89}
38b. -> no 3 in R6C9 (step 36)

39. 3 in N6 locked in R4C79 for R4

40. I/O diff. N3: R13C7 = R4C9 + 9
40a. R4C9 = {23} -> R13C7 = 11 or 12
40b. -> no 1 in R13C7; no 2,3,5 in R3C7

41. Outies C89: R28C7 = 13(2) = [58/67] (only possible permutations)

42. HS in N3 at R1C9 = 1
42a. -> R1C8 = 8; R59C9 = [94] (step 29, only possible permutation)
42b. -> R59C8 = [63]

43. Split 12(2) at R1C34 = [57]

44. 11(3) at R2C9 (step 35) = {236} (no 5) (only possible permutation)
44a. 6 locked in R23C9 for N3
44b. cleanup: no 7 in R8C7 (step 41)

45. R28C7 = [58]
45a. -> split 11(2) at R78C8 = [29] (only possible permutation)
45b. -> R23C8 = [47]

46. NP at R14C7 = {23}, locked for C7
46a. -> R35C7 = [97]
46b. -> R5C6 = 2, R6C9 = 8

47. NS at R3C3 = 4 (hmm, been there for some time)

48. HS in R1 at R1C6 = 4
48a. -> split 10(2) at R1C7+R2C6 = [28] (only possible permutation)
48b. -> R1C5 = 3, R4C7 = 3

49. Split 7(2) at R34C6 = {16} (no 5), locked for C6
49a. -> R9C6 = 9
49b. -> split 6(2) at R8C6+R9C7 = [51] (only possible permutation)

Only naked singles and simple cage sums left now (at last!)


Appendix

Afmob pointed out an alternative (technically easier) route following on from my step 25, as follows:

26. Outies C89 = 13(2) <> 1,2,3; R8C7 <> 4

27. 16(3) @ N3 <> 8{17/26} because of Killer pairs (17,28) of 9(2)
27a. 16(3) @ N3: R2C7 <> 8 because 5 only possible there
27b. R8C7 <> 5 (step 26)
27c. 19(3) @ N9 = {289/279/469/478} -> must have 7 or 9

28. 20(3) @ C9: R6C9 <> 4 because 4{79} blocked by Killer pair (79) of 19(3) @ N9

29. Hidden Single: R6C7 = 4 @ N6

Puzzle is cracked (though some non-trivial moves are still to do).

Many thanks to Afmob for pointing that out!

My original walkthrough for uA99 V1.5, which I deleted, was incorrect because I thought I saw IOUs which didn't exist and then that I'd missed a possible combination in step 12b; don't know how I missed that one . Thanks Afmob and Mike for pointing out those errors. I've now reworked it, using the same steps as much as possible.

I'll rate uA99 V1.5, as reworked, as a Hard 1.25.

Here is my walkthrough. I hope it's now correct.

Prelims

a) R1C12 = {69/78}
b) R1C89 = {18/27/36/45}, no 9
c) R9C12 = {39/48/57}, no 1,2,6
d) R9C89 = {16/25/34}, no 7,8,9
e) 21(3) cage at R1C3 = {489/579/678}, no 1,2,3
f) R234C1 = {127/136/145/235}, no 8,9
g) R234C9 = {128/137/146/236/245}, no 9
h) R678C9 = {389/479/569/578}, no 1,2
i) 9(3) cage in N7 = {126/135/234}, no 7,8,9
j) 19(3) cage in N9 = {289/379/469/478/568}, no 1
k) R5C34567 = {12347/12356}, no 8,9, 1,2,3 locked for R5

1. 45 rule on C5 1 innie R5C5 = 4
1a. 45 rule on C1234 2 innies R5C34 = 4 = {13}, locked for R5
1b. R5C34567 = {12347} (only remaining combination) -> R5C67 = {27}, locked for R5

2. 45 rule on R1234 2 innies R4C28 = 9 = {18/27/36/45}, no 9

3. 45 rule on R6789 2 innies R6C28 = 3 = {12}, locked for R6

4. 45 rule on C1 3 innies R159C1 = 19 = {379/469/478/568}
4a. 3,4 of {379/469/478} must be in R9C1 -> no 7,9 in R9C1, clean-up: no 3,5 in R9C2

5. 45 rule on N1 2 innies R13C3 = 1 outie R4C1 + 2
5a. Max R4C1 = 7 -> max R13C3 = 9, no 9 in R13C3, no 6,7,8 in R3C3
5b. Min R13C3 = 5 -> min R4C1 = 3

6. R234C1 = {127/136/145/235}
6a. 7 of {127} must be in R4C1 -> no 7 in R23C1

7. 18(3) cage in N1 = {369/378/459} (cannot be {189/279/468/567} which clash with R1C12), no 1,2
7a. Killer pair 8,9 in R1C12 and 18(3) cage, locked for N1

8. 45 rule on N7 2 innies R79C3 = 1 outie R6C1 + 8
8a. Min R6C1 = 3 -> min R79C3 = 11, no 1 in R79C3

9. 45 rule on N9 1 outie R6C9 = 2 innies R79C7 + 1
9a. Min R79C7 = 3 -> min R6C9 = 4
9b. Max R6C9 = 9 -> max R79C7 = 8, no 8,9 in R79C7

10. 19(4) cage at R4C2 cannot be {1279} because no 7 in R5C12 -> no 1,2 in R4C2
10a. 21(4) cage at R4C8 cannot contain both 1 and 2 -> no 1,2 in R4C8
10b. R4C28 (step 2) = {36/45}, no 7,8

11. 19(4) cage at R4C2 = {1459/1468/2359/2368/2458} (cannot be {1369}which clashes with R5C3)
11a. 3,4 must be in R4C2 -> no 5,6 in R4C2, clean-up: no 3,4 in R4C8 (step 2)
11b. 21(4) cage at R4C8 = {1569/2568}, 5,6 locked for N6

12. 45 rule on R1 2 outies R2C46 = 1 innie R1C5 + 14
12a. Max R2C46 = 17 -> max R1C5 = 3
12b. R2C46 = 15,16,17 = {69/78/79/89}

13. 21(3) cage at R1C3 = {489/579/678}
13a. 4 of {489} must be in R1C3 -> no 4 in R1C4
13b. 6 of {678} must be in R2C4 (R1C34 cannot be {67/68} which clash with R1C12), no 6 in R1C34

14. 45 rule on N1 4 innies R1C3 + R23C1 + R3C3 = 12 = {1245} (cannot be {1236} because R1C3 only contains 4,5,7), locked for N1
[This is my original step 20 which I’ve moved here to use some of my existing steps.]
14a. 21(3) cage at R1C3 = {489/579} (cannot be {678} because R1C3 only contains 4,5), no 6, 9 locked in R12C4, locked for C4 and N2
14b. R1C3 = {45} -> no 5 in R1C4
14c. R1C89 = {18/27/36} (cannot be {45} which clashes with R1C34 in 21(3) cage), no 4,5

15. Hidden killer pair 4,5 in R1C34 and R1C67 for R1 -> R1C67 must contain one of 4,5
15a. 14(3) cage at R1C6 = {158/248/257/347/356} (cannot be {149} because R2C6 only contains 6,7,8, cannot be {167/239} which don’t contain 4 or 5), no 9
15b. R2C6 = {678} -> no 6,7,8 in R1C67

16. 45 rule on N3 2 innies R13C7 = 1 outie R4C9 + 9
16a. Max R13C7 = 14 -> no 7,8 in R4C9
16b. Min R4C9 = 1 -> min R13C7 = 10, no 1,2,3,4,5 in R3C7 (R13C7 cannot be [55])

17. 45 rule on C12 2 outies R28C3 = 9 = {36}/[72/81], no 9, no 4,5 in R8C3

18. 9(3) cage in N7 = {126/135/234}
18a. 6 of {126} must be in R78C2 (R78C2 cannot be {12} which clashes with R6C2), no 6 in R8C3, clean-up: no 3 in R2C3 (step 17)

19. 45 rule on C89 2 outies R28C7 = 13 = {49/58/67}, no 1,2,3

20. 18(3) cage in N1 (step 7) = {369/378}, 3 locked in R23C2, locked for C2 -> R4C2 = 4, R4C8 = 5 (step 2), clean-up: no 8 in R9C1, no 2 in R9C9
20a. 6 of {369} must be in R2C3 -> no 6 in R23C2
20b. 6 in N6 locked in R5C89, locked for R5
20c. 19(4) cage at R4C2 (step 11) = {1459/2458}, 5 locked for N4

21. 9(3) cage in N7 = {126/135}, 1 locked for N7

22. 1 in C1 locked in R23C1, locked for N1
22a. R234C1 = {127} (only remaining combination, cannot be {136} because 3,6 only in R4C1, cannot be {145} because R4C1 only contains 3,6,7) -> R4C1 = 7, R23C1 = {12}, locked for C1 and N1, clean-up: no 8 in R1C2
22b. Naked pair {45} in R13C3, locked for C3
22c. 4 in R2 locked in R2C789, locked for N3

23. R678C1 = {349/358}, no 6, 3 locked for C1, clean-up: no 9 in R9C2
23a. Killer pair 4,5 in R678C1 and R9C1, locked for C1
23b. R5C2 = 5 (hidden single in R5)

24. R1C1 = 6 (hidden single in C1), R1C2 = 9, clean-up: no 3 in R1C89, no 3 in R8C3 (step 17)
24a. R2C4 = 9 (hidden single in C4), clean-up: no 4 in R8C7 (step 19)

25. Naked triple {126} in 9(3) cage, locked for N7

26. R79C3 = R6C1 + 8 (step 8)
26a. R6C1 = {389} -> R79C3 = 11,16,17 = {38/79/89}
26b. Killer pair 7,8 in R2C3 and R79C3, locked for C3
26c. Killer pair 7,8 in R79C3 and R9C2, locked for N7

27. 45 rule on C9 3 innies R159C9 = 14 = {149/158/167/239/248} (cannot be {257/347} because R5C9 only contains 6,8,9, cannot be {356} because R1C9 only contains 1,2,7,8)
27a. R5C9 = {689} -> no 8 in R1C9, no 6 in R9C9, clean-up: no 1 in R19C8

28. R234C9 = {137/146/236/245} (cannot be {128} which clashes with R159C9), no 8
28a. 4 of {245} must be in R2C9 -> no 5 in R2C9

29. 16(3) cage in N3 = {169/259/349/358/367/457} (cannot be {178/268} which clash with R1C89)
29a. 9 of {169/259} must be in R3C8 -> no 1,2 in R3C8
29b. 5 of {358} must be in R2C7 -> no 8 in R2C7, clean-up: no 5 in R8C7 (step 19)

[Re-worked from here.]

30. 19(3) cage in N9 = {289/379/469/478}
30a. R678C9 = {389/479/569/578}
30b. 4 of {479} must be in R78C9 (R78C9 cannot be {79} which clashes with 19(3) cage) -> no 4 in R6C9

31. R6C7 = 4 (hidden single in R6), clean-up: no 9 in R8C7 (step 19)
31a. 19(3) cage in N9 = {289/379/469/478}
31b. 6 of {469} must be in R8C7 -> no 6 in R78C8

32. 9 in C7 locked in R34C7, locked for 19(4) cage -> no 9 in R4C6
32a. 19(4) cage at R3C6 = {1279/1369/2359} (cannot be {1459} because 4,5 only in R3C6), no 4,8
32b. 8 in R4 locked in R4C45, locked for N5
32c. 8 in N3 locked in R123C8, locked for C8

33. R8C7 = 8 (hidden single in C7), R2C7 = 5 (step 19)
33a. R78C8 (step 31a) = {29/47}, no 3
33b. R23C8 (step 29) = [29/38/47/83], no 6, no 1,7 in R2C8

34. R678C9 = {389/479/569/578}
34a. 7 of {479} must be in R78C9 (R78C9 cannot be {49} which clashes with R78C8)
34b. 8 of {578} must be in R6C9
34c. -> no 7 in R6C9

35. R5C7 = 7 (hidden single in N6), R5C6 = 2

36. R6C9 = R79C7 + 1 (step 9)
36a. R6C9 = {89} -> R79C7 = 7,8 = {16/26}, no 3, 6 locked for C7 and N9 -> R3C7 = 9, clean-up: no 2 in R2C8 (step 33b), no 1 in R9C9

37. 1 in N9 locked in R79C7, locked for C7
37a. R79C7 = {16} (hidden pair in N9) -> R6C9 = 8 (step 9), clean-up: no 5 in R78C1 (step 23)
37b. R78C9 (step 34) = {39/57}, no 4

38. R5C1 = 8 (hidden single in C1), R6C2 = 2 (step 20c), R6C8 = 1

39. R9C1 = 5 (hidden single in C1), R9C2 = 7, clean-up: no 2 in R9C8
39a. R8C3 = 2 (hidden single in C3), R2C3 = 7 (step 17), clean-up: no 9 in R7C8 (step 33a)

40. Naked pair {34} in R9C89, locked for R9 and N9, clean-up: no 7 in R78C8 (step 33a), no 9 in R78C9 (step 37b)
40a. R78C8 = [29], R5C89 = [69], clean-up: no 7 in R1C9
40b. Naked pair {57} in R78C9, locked for C9

41. Naked pair {23} in R4C79, locked for R4
41a. 19(4) cage at R3C6 (step 32a) = {1279/1369} (cannot be {2359} because R4C6 only contains 1,6), no 5
41b. 1 locked in R34C6, locked for C6
41c. R4C7 = {23} -> no 3 in R3C6

42. 15(3) cage at R8C6 = {159/168} (cannot be {348/357} because R9C7 only contains 1,6, cannot be {456} because 4,5 only in R8C6), no 3,4,7
42a. R8C6 = {56} -> no 6 in R9C67 -> R9C7 = 1, R7C7 = 6, R78C2 = [16], R8C6 = 5, R9C6 = 9 (step 42), R78C9 = [57], R9C3 = 8

43. R9C3 = 8 -> R89C4 = 6 = [42], R9C5 = 6

44. R1C3 = 5 (hidden single in R1), R1C4 = 7 (step 13), R3C3 = 4, R1C8 = 8, R1C9 = 1, clean-up: no 3 in R23C8 (step 33b)
44a. R23C8 = [47], R9C89 = [34]

45. Naked pair {16} in R34C6, locked for C6 -> R2C6 = 8, R23C2 = [38]
45a. R2C6 = 8 -> R1C67 = 6 = [42], R1C5 = 3, R8C5 = 1, R2C5 = 2, R3C5 = 5, R4C5 = 9 (cage sum)

and the rest is naked singles

3x3::k:3073:3073:4866:4611:4611:4611:3334:4871:4871:3073:3850:4866:4866:2573:3334:3334:4112:4871:3850:3850:3348:3348:2573:3872:3872:4112:4112:3611:5916:5916:3348:2573:3872:5153:5153:2339:3611:5916:5916:5671:5671:5671:5153:5153:2339:3611:5166:5166:5166:3377:5682:5682:5682:2339:4406:4406:5166:5166:3377:5682:5682:5694:5694:3391:4406:3914:3914:3377:4686:4686:5694:2887:3391:3391:3914:4171:4171:4171:4686:2887:2887:

That's certainly true. Easy progress in the middle three rows with several cells fixed and the remaining cages and hidden cages down to 1 or 2 combinations. Then apart from one cell in row 9, it was a very long time before this puzzle finally crumbled. In some ways it felt a bit like a mini version of the Brick Wall.

Thanks Frank for a challenging puzzle!

One general comment, which I've already made to Frank off forum. Additional midweek puzzles shouldn't be called Assassins unless they are variants of the current week's Assassin. They should either be added to the Maverick series or be given a name appropriate to the puzzle.

Franks's puzzle is clearly an Assassin level puzzle but it's a new cage pattern, not a variant of uA99.

Although most of my moves weren't difficult ones, some of them were hard to find and it's a very long solving path so I'll rate uA99.5 at 1.5.

Here is my walkthrough. Typos corrected in step 54.

Prelims

a) 19(3) cage at R1C3 = {289/379/469/478/568}, no 1
b) 19(3) cage in N3 = {289/379/469/478/568}, no 1
c) R234C5 = {127/136/145/235}, no 8,9
d) R5C456 = {589/679}, 9 locked for R5 and N5
e) R456C9 = {126/135/234}, no 7,8,9
f) 22(3) cage in N9 = {589/679}, 9 locked for N9

1. 45 rule on N1 1 outie R2C4 = 1 innie R3C3 + 1, no 9 in R3C3

2. 45 rule on N3 1 outie R2C6 = 1 innie R3C7 + 3, no 1,2,3 in R2C6, no 7,8,9 in R3C7

3. 45 rule on N7 1 outie R8C4 = 1 innie R7C3 (no eliminations yet)

4. 45 rule on N9 1 outie R8C6 = 1 innie R7C7 + 6, R8C6 = {789}, R7C7 = {123}

5. 45 rule on R12 3 innies R2C258 = 9 = {126/135/234}, no 7,8,9

6. 45 rule on C12 3 innies R456C2 = 19 = {289/379/469/478/568}, no 1

7. 45 rule on C89 3 innies R456C8 = 13
7a. 45 rule on N6 3 remaining innies R456C7 = 23 = {689}, locked for C7 and N6, clean-up: no 9 in R2C6 (step 2)

8. R456C9 = {135/234}, 3 locked for C9 and N6

9. 7 in N6 locked in R456C8, locked for C8

10. 22(3) cage in N9 = {589/679}
10a. 7 of {679} must be in R7C9 -> no 6 in R7C9

11. 45 rule on C5 3 innies R159C5 = 22 = {589/679}, 9 locked for C5

12. 45 rule on C1234 3 innies R159C4 = 19 = {289/379/469/478/568}, no 1

13. 45 rule on R6789 2 innies R6C19 = 13 = [85/94]

14. R456C9 (step 8) = {135/234}
14a. R6C9 = {45} -> no 4,5 in R45C9

15. R456C1 = {149/158/239/248} (only combinations containing 8 or 9), no 6,7
15a. R6C1 = {89} -> no 8,9 in R45C1

16. R456C2 (step 6) = {379/469/478/568} (cannot be {289} which clashes with R6C1), no 2
16a. Killer pair 8,9 in R456C2 and R6C1, locked for N4

17. 45 rule on N4 2 innies R6C23 = 8 = {35}/[62/71], no 4,8,9, no 6,7 in R6C3

18. 45 rule on N6 2 innies R6C78 = 16 = [97] -> R6C1 = 8, R6C9 = 5 (step 13), clean-up: no 3 in R6C23, no 1 in R6C3 (both step 17)
18a. R6C23 = [62], clean-up: no 3 in R2C4 (step 1), no 2,6 in R8C4 (step 3)
18b. R6C9 = 5 -> R45C9 = 4 = {13}, locked for C9 and N6
18c. Naked pair {24} in R45C8, locked for C8
18d. R6C1 = 8 -> R45C1 = 6 = {15}, locked for C1 and N4
18e. R4C2 = 9 (hidden single in R4), R5C2 = 4 (step 6), R45C8 = [42]
18f. Naked pair {37} in R45C3, locked for C3, clean-up: no 4,8 in R2C4 (step 1), no 3,7 in R8C4 (step 3)
18g. Naked triple {134} in R6C456, locked for N5

19. 18(3) cage at R8C6 = {279/378/459} (cannot be {189} because 8,9 only in R8C6), no 1
19a. 8,9 must be in R8C6 -> R8C6 = {89}, clean-up: no 1 in R7C7 (step 4)

20. R9C8 = 1 (hidden single in N9), R89C9 = 10 = {28/46}, no 7

21. 1 in C7 locked in R123C7
21a. 45 rule in N3 3 innies R123C7 = 10 = {127/145}, no 3, clean-up: no 6 in R2C6 (step 2)

22. R6C78 = 16 (step 18) -> R6C6 + R7C67 = 6 = {123}, 1 locked in R67C6, locked for C6, 2 locked in R7C67, locked for R7

23. 20(5) cage at R6C2 = {12368/12467/23456}, no 9, clean-up: no 9 in R8C4 (step 3)

24. 16(3) cage in N3 = {259/268/349/358/367} (cannot be {457} because 4,7 only in R3C9)
24a. 2,4 of {259/349} must be in R3C9 -> no 9 in R3C9
24b. 2,7 of {268/367} must be in R3C9 -> no 6 in R3C9

25. 13(3) cage in N7 = {238/247/256/346}, no 9

26. R234C5 = {127/136/145/235}
26a. 6 of {136} must be in R4C5 -> no 6 in R23C5

27. 45 rule on C6789 3 innies R159C6 = 15 = {249/258/267/348/357/456}
27a. 9 of {249} must be in R5C6 -> no 9 in R19C6

28. 45 rule on N3 3 outies R234C6 = 18 = {279/378/459/468/567} (cannot be {369} because R2C6 only contains 4,5,7,8)
28a. 9 of {279} must be in R3C6 -> no 2 in R3C6

29. 45 rule on N1 3 innies R123C3 = 18 = {189/459/468}

30. 12(3) cage in N1 = {129/237/246/345} (cannot be {138} because 1,8 only in R1C2, cannot be {147/156} which clash with R123C3), no 8

31. 15(3) cage in N1 = {159/168/267/357} (cannot be {249/258/348} which clash with R123C3, cannot be {456} because 4,6 only in R3C1), no 4
31a. 2 of {267} must be in R2C2 -> no 2 in R3C12

32. 17(3) cage in N7 = {179/278/359/368} (cannot be {269/458} which clash with 13(3) cage, cannot be {467} because 4,6 only in R7C1}, no 4
32a. 6,9 of {359/368} must be in R7C1 -> no 3 in R7C1

33. 45 rule on N7 3 innies R789C3 = 15 = {159/168/456}
33a. 13(3) cage in N7 (step 25) = {238/247/346} (cannot be {256} which clashes with R789C3), no 5

34. 12(3) cage in N1 = {129/237/246} (cannot be {345} which clashes with R89C1 because 13(3) cage must have 3 or 4 in R89C1), no 5, 2 locked for N1

35. R678C5 = {148/238/247/346} (cannot be {157/256} which clash with R159C5), no 5
35a. 2 of {247} must be in R8C5 -> no 7 in R8C5

36. 45 rule on N1 3 outies R234C4 = 14 = {158/167/239/248/257/356} (cannot be {149/347} because 1,3,4 only in R3C4)
36a. 1,3,4 of {158/167/239/248/356} must be in R3C4 -> no 6,8,9 in R3C4

37. 19(3) cage at R1C3 = {289/469/478/568}
37a. 5 of {568} must be in R2C4 (R12C3 cannot be {58} because R123C3 cannot be {58}5), no 5 in R12C3

38. 45 rule on R89 3 innies R8C258 = 17 = {179/269/278/359/368/458/467}
38a. 1 of {179} must be in R8C5 -> no 1 in R8C2

39. 17(3) cage in N7 (step 32) = {179/278/359/368}
39a. 1 of {179} must be in R7C2, 7 of {278} must be in R7C1 -> no 7 in R7C2

40. R2C258 (step 5) = {126/135} (cannot be {234} because 2,4 only in R2C5), no 4, 1 locked for R2

41. 13(3) cage at R1C7 = {148/157/247}
41a. 1 of {157} must be in R1C7 -> no 5 in R1C7
41b. 1 of {148} must be in R1C7, 4 of {247} must be in R2C6 (cannot be in R1C7 because R123C7 cannot be [424]) -> no 4 in R1C7

42. 19(3) cage in N3 = {289/379/469/478} (cannot be {568} which clashes with R89C9), no 5

43. 16(3) cage in N3 (step 24) = {259/268/358/367} (cannot be {349} which clashes with 19(3) cage), no 4

44. 6 in N3 must be in 16(3) cage or in 19(3) cage
44a. 16(3) cage in N3 (step 43) = {268/358/367} (cannot be {259} which clashes with the only combination in 19(3) cage that contains 6), no 9
44b. Killer pair 5,6 in R23C8 and R78C8, locked for C8

45. 45 rule on N7 3 remaining outies R678C4 = 12 = {138/147/345}
45a. R159C4 (step 12) = {289/469/568} (cannot be {379/478} which clash with R678C4), no 3,7
45b. R234C4 (step 36) = {167/239/257/356} (cannot be {158/248} which clash with R678C4), no 4,8

46. 45 rule on N9 3 remaining outies R678C6 = 12 = {129/138}
46a. R159C6 (step 27) = {249/267/348/357/456} (cannot be {258} which clashes with R678C6)
46b. 8 of {348} must be in R5C6 -> no 8 in R19C6

47. 9 in N3 locked in 19(3) cage = {289/379/469}
47a. R123C7 (step 21a) = {127/145}-> combined cage R123C89 = {236789} (cannot be {345689} because R123C9 = {46}8 clashes with R89C8), no 4,5, clean-up: no 6 in 19(3) cage (step 47)
[I originally had
47a. If {469} => 16(3) cage in N3 = {358} (step 44a) => R123C9 = {46}8 which clashes with R89C8
47b. -> 19(3) cage in N3 = {289/379), no 4,6
but have replaced it with the step using the combined cage which is better because it’s a normal move rather than a contradiction move.]

48. R89C9 = {46} (hidden pair in C9), locked for N9, clean-up: no 7 in R7C9 (step 10)

49. 22(3) cage in N9 = {589}, locked for N9
49a. Naked triple {237} in R789C7, locked for C7 -> R1C7 = 1, clean-up: no 9 in R12C1 (step 34), no 4,5 in R2C6 (step 2)
49b. R2C67 = [75/84]

50. 16(3) cage in N3 (step 44a) = {268/367}
50a. 2 of {268} must be in R3C9 -> no 8 in R3C9

51. R234C6 (step 28) = {279/378/468/567} (cannot be {459} because R2C6 only contains 7,8)
51a. 7,8 of {279/468/567} must be in R2C6
51b. 3 of {378} must be in R3C6
51c. -> no 7,8 in R3C6
51d. R159C6 (step 46a) = {249/348/357/456} (cannot be {267} which clashes with R234C6)

52. R2C258 (step 40) = {126/135}
52a. 3 of {135} must be in R2C8 -> no 3 in R2C25

53. R234C5 = {127/136/145/235}
53a. 3,4 of {145/235} must be in R3C5 -> no 5 in R3C5

54. 9 in C1 locked in R37C1
54a. 45 rule on C1 2 innies R37C1 = 2 outies R19C2 + 6
54b. R19C2 cannot total 6 -> R37C1 cannot total 12 -> no 3 in R3C1

55. 15(3) cage in N1 (step 31) = {159/168/357}
55a. 3 of {357} must be in R3C2 -> no 7 in R3C2

56. R123C3 (step 29) = {189/459/468}
56a. 6 of {468} must be in R12C3 (R12C3 cannot be [48] because R2C34 = [87] clashes with R2C6, R12C3 cannot be [84] because R2C34 = [47] clashes with R2C67) -> no 6 in R3C3, clean-up: no 7 in R2C4 (step 1)

57. R5C456 = {589/679} -> R4C456 = {258/267}
57a. 8 of {258} must be in R4C6 -> no 5 in R4C6

58. R234C6 (step 51) = {279/378/468/567}
58a. 5 of {567} must be in R3C6 -> no 6 in R3C6

59. 17(3) cage in N7 (step 32) = {179/278/359/368}
59a. 5 of {359} must be in R8C2 (R7C12 cannot be [95] which clashes with R7C89) -> no 5 in R7C2

60. 20(5) cage at R6C2 (step 23) = {12467/23456} (cannot be {12368} because R7C34 = {18/38} clashes with R7C2 + R7C67), no 8, clean-up: no 8 in R8C4 (step 3)

61. 8 in C4 locked in R159C4
61a. R159C4 (step 45a) = {289/568}, no 4

62. R678C4 (step 45) = {147/345}
62a. 7 of {147} must be in R7C4 -> no 1 in R7C4

63. R234C4 (step 45b) = {167/239/356} (cannot be {257} which clashes with R678C4)
63a. 1,3 of {167/356} must be in R3C4 -> no 5,7 in R3C4
63b. 2 of {239} must be in R4C4 -> no 2 in R23C4, clean-up: no 1 in R3C3 (step 1)
63c. 5 of {356} must be in R2C4 (R234 cannot be [635] because 13(3) at R3C3 cannot be [535]), no 5 in R4C4

64. R123C3 (step 29) = {459/468}, 4 locked for C3 and N1, clean-up: no 6 in R12C1 (step 34), no 4 in R8C4 (step 3)
64a. Naked triple {237} in 12(3) cage, locked for N1

65. 20(5) cage at R6C2 (step 60) = {12467/23456}
65a. R7C3 = {15} -> no 1 in R6C4, no 5 in R7C4

66. 4 in N7 locked in 13(3) cage (step 33a) = {247/346}, no 8
66a. 3 of {346} must be in R9C2 -> no 3 in R89C1
66b. 3 in C1 locked in R12C1, locked for N1

67. R1C456 = {369/459/468/567} (cannot be {279} which clashes with R1C2, cannot be {378} which clashes with R2C6), no 2

68. 2 in N2 locked in R23C5, locked for C5
68a. R234C5 = {127/235}, no 4,6
68b. 4 in N2 locked in R13C6, locked for C6

69. 1 in N1 locked in R23C2, locked for C2
69a. 17(3) cage in N7 (step 32) = {278/359/368}
69b. 2 of {278} must be in R8C2 -> no 7 in R8C2

70. R159C4 (step 61a) = {289/568}
70a. 2 of {289} must be in R9C4 -> no 9 in R9C4

71. 15(3) cage at R8C3 = {159/168}, 1 locked in R8C34, locked for R8

72. R678C5 (step 35) = {148/346}, no 7

73. R9C456 cannot contain both 8 and 9
73a. Hidden killer pair {89} in R9C3 and R9C456 -> R9C3 = {89}, R9C456 must contain 8 or 9
73b. R9C456 = {259/358} (cannot be {268} which clashes with R78C5, cannot be {367} which doesn’t contain 8 or 9), no 6,7
73c. 5 locked in R9C456, locked for N8 -> R8C4 = 1, R3C4 = 3, R67C4 = [47], R7C3 = 1 (step 3)

74. Naked pair {23} in R7C67, locked for R7 -> R7C2 = 8, R7C89 = [59], R7C1 = 6, R7C5 = 4, R3C1 = 9, R6C6 = 1 (step 22), R6C5 = 3, R8C8 = 8, R8C56 = [69], R89C3 = [59], R89C9 = [46], R8C2 = 3 (step 32), R7C7 = 3 (step 4), R7C6 = 2

75. R9C1 = 4, R9C6 = 3 (hidden singles in R9)

76. Naked pair {45} in R3C67, locked for R3 -> R23C2 = [51], R3C3 = 8, R2C4 = 9 (step 1), R23C7 = [45], R3C6 = 4, R12C3 = [46], R4C4 = 2 (step 63), R2C6 = 8 (step 41), R4C6 = 6 (step 51)

77. Naked triple {567} in R1C456, locked for R1 and N2 -> R1C12 = [32], R2C1 = 7

78. R23C5 = [12] -> R4C5 = 7 (step 68a)

and the rest is naked singles

1. C789
a) 22(3) = 9{58/67} -> 9 locked for N9
b) Innies N3 = 10(3) <> 8,9
c) 9 locked in R456C7 for N6
d) Innies N6 = 16(2) = [97] -> R6C7 = 9, R6C8 = 7
e) Outies C89 = 14(2) = {68} locked for C7+N6
f) 22(5) = {12379}
g) Innies+Outies N9: 6 = R8C7 - R7C7 -> R8C7 = (789)
h) 18(3) must have 8 or 9 and it's only possible @ R8C7 -> R8C7 <> 7
i) 18(3) <> 1 because (89) only possible @ R8C7
j) Innies+Outies N9: 6 = R8C7 - R7C7 -> R7C7 <> 1

2. R456
a) Innies R6789 = 13(2) = [85] -> R6C1 = 8, R6C9 = 5
b) 9(3) = {135} locked for C9+N6
c) Hidden Single: R9C8 = 1 @ N9 -> R89C9 = 10(2) = {28/46}
d) Innies N4 = 8(2) = {26} locked for R6+N4+20(5)
e) 14(3) = {158} locked for C1+N4
f) Hidden Single: R5C8 = 2 @ R5, R4C8 = 4
g) 22(3) = 9{58/67} -> 9 locked for R5+N5

3. C789 !
a) ! Innies+Outies C9: -7 = R1C8 - R37C9 -> R7C9 <> 7 (IOU)
b) 22(3) = {589} locked for N9, 5 locked for C8
c) 11(3) = {146} -> {46} locked for C9+N9
d) Naked triple (237) locked in R789C7 for C7
e) 19(3) = 9{28/37} -> 9 locked for N3
f) 13(3) = 1{48/57} because R12C7 = (145) -> 1 locked for N3 and R2C6 = (78)

4. C123+C5
a) Innies C12 = 19(3) = [946] -> R4C2 = 9, R5C2 = 4, R6C2 = 6
b) R6C3 = 2
c) Naked pair (37) locked in R45C3 for C3
d) 20(5) = 26{138/147/345} <> 9
e) Innies C5 = 22(3) = 9{58/67} -> 9 locked for C5
f) 13(3) @ C5 <> 5 because 5{17/26} blocked by Killer pairs (56,57) of Innies C5

5. R789 !
a) Innies+Outies N7: R7C3 = R8C4 = (1458)
b) 22(5) = {12379} -> 1 locked for C6, 2 locked for R7
c) 13(3) @ C5: R8C5 <> 7 because R67C5 <> 2
d) Innies R89 = 17(3) <> {467} because R8C9 = (46)
e) Killer pair (89) locked in Innies R89 + R8C6 for R8
f) Innies R89 = 17(3): R8C2 <> 1 because R8C58 <> 7
g) Innies N7 = 15(3) = {159/168/456}
h) 13(3) @ N7 = {238/247/346} <> 5,9 because {256} blocked by Killer pair (56) of Innies N7
i) Innies+Outies N7: R7C3 = R8C4 = (145)
j) 17(3): R7C2 <> 7 because 1 only possible there, R7C1 <> 2,8 and R8C2 <> 4,6
k) ! Outies R9 = 28(6): R8C1 <> 4,6 because:
- R8C1349 would be {1456} which forces R8C67 = {39} -> no combo for 18(3)

6. N78
a) 13(3) @ N7 = 2{38/47} because (46) only possible @ R9C1 -> 2 locked for N9
b) 17(3): R7C1 <> 7 because (69) only possible there
c) 7 locked in R7C45 for N8
d) Killer pair (89) locked in R8C6+16(3) for N8
e) 13(3) @ C5 = 4{27/36} -> 4 locked for C5
f) 1 locked in 15(3) @ R8 = 1{59/68} -> R9C3 = (89)
g) Innies N7 = 15(3) = 1{59/68} -> 1 locked for C3+N7
h) 5 locked in 16(3) @ R9 for N8 = 5{29/38}
i) Hidden Single: R9C9 = 6 @ R9, R8C9 = 4
j) Innies+Outies N7: R8C4 = R7C3 = 1
k) 20(5) = {12467} -> R6C4 = 4, R7C4 = 7

7. R9+R123
a) Hidden Single: R9C1 = 4 @ R9 -> R8C1+R9C2 = {27} locked for N7
b) Innies R12 = 9(3) = 1{26/35} -> 1 locked for R2
c) Hidden Single: R1C7 = 1 @ N3
d) 12(3) = {237} locked for N1
e) Innies+Outies N1: 1 = R2C4 - R3C3 -> R3C3 <> 6,9; R2C4 = (569)
f) Hidden Single: R7C5 = 4 @ N8, R6C5 = 3 -> R8C5 = 6
g) 10(3) = {127} locked for C5
h) 13(3) @ N1: R34C4 <> 8,9 because R3C3 >= 4
i) R8C3 = 5 -> R9C3 = 9

8. C456
a) Innies C1234 = 19(3) = 8{29/56}
b) Hidden Single: R3C4 = 3 @ C4
c) 13(3) = [436/832]
d) 5 locked in 18(3) @ R1 = 5{49/67} for N2
e) 19(3) = {469} -> R2C4 = 9, {46} locked for N1
f) 16(3) = {358} -> R9C6 = 3, {58} locked for N8

9. Rest is singles

3x3::k:7168:7168:7168:5891:5891:5891:2822:2822:2822:7168:2058:5643:5643:5643:5891:4367:6160:6160:5394:2058:3604:5643:11542:1303:4367:2585:6160:5394:2058:3604:5643:11542:1303:4367:2585:6160:5394:5394:11542:11542:11542:11542:11542:3115:3115:5165:2862:4143:2864:11542:7218:2611:5428:3115:5165:2862:4143:2864:11542:7218:2611:5428:3115:5165:5165:4143:4930:7218:7218:7218:5428:3911:3656:3656:3656:4930:4930:4930:3911:3911:3911:

What a tough Killer! It reminded me of Maverick 1 because of the use of (standard) Sudoku techniques (apart from step 6a which also uses cage properties) to crack it though UA 100 was a bit tougher.

UA 100 Walkthrough:

1. R123
a) Outies R1 = 17(2) = {89} locked for R2
b) 28(4) = 89{47/56} -> 8,9 locked for N1
c) 14(2) = [59/68]
d) 28(4) = {4789} because R3C3 = (56) blocks {5689} -> 4,7 locked for R1+N1
e) 11(3) = 2{18/36} -> 2 locked for R1+N3
f) 23(4) = 59{18/36} -> 5,9 locked for N2
g) 10(2): R4C8 <> 8
h) 8(3) = 1{25/34} -> 1 locked for C2

2. R789
a) Outies R9 = 3(2) = {12} locked for R8
b) 12(4) = 12{36/45} -> R5C8 = (12) because R8C9 = (12) blocks 2 of (12) in R567C9
c) Killer pair (12) locked in 12(4) + R8C9 for C9

3. C789
a) Innies = 15(2) = {69/78}
b) Outies C89 = 3(2) = {12} locked for C7
c) 10(2) @ C7 <> 8,9
d) 5 locked in 17(3) @ C7 = 5{39/48}
e) 15(4) = 12{39/48/57} <> 6 because R8C9+R9C7 = {12} -> 1,2 locked for N9; R9C8 <> 1,2
f) 12(4) = 12{36/45} -> 1,2 locked for N6
g) 10(2) @ N3: R3C8 <> 8,9

4. C123
a) Innies = 3(2) = {12} locked for C3
b) Outies C12 = 12(2): R9C3 = (3458)
c) 1 locked in R79C1 for C1
d) Killer pair (12) locked in R2C3+8(3) for N1 because R23C2 can't be {35}

5. R5
a) Naked pair (12) locked in R5C38 for R5
b) 12(4) = 12{36/45} -> R6C9 = (12)

6. N6+R789 !
a) ! Consider candidates of R5C8 = (12) -> R234C4 <> 1,2
- i) R5C8 = 1/2 -> R5C3 = 2/1 -> R2C3 @ 22(5) = 1/2 -> R234C4 @ 22(5) <> 1/2
- ii) R5C8 = 1/2 -> R6C9 = 2/1 -> R8C9 = 1/2 -> R8C4 = 2/1 -> R234C4 <> 2/1
-> So all in all R2C3+R8C4 = {12}
b) Colouring 1 in N6 -> R1C4 <> 1
- i) R5C8 = 1 -> R1C7 = 1 (HS @ N3) -> R1C4 <> 1
- ii) R6C9 = 1 -> R8C4 = 1 (HS @ R8) -> R1C4 <> 1
c) 1 locked in R89C4 for N8
d) Hidden Single: R7C1 = 1 @ R7
e) ! Colouring 2 in C9 -> R9C7 <> 2:
- i) R6C9 = 2 -> R5C3 = 2 (HS @ R5) -> R9C1 = 2 (HS @ C1) -> R9C7 <> 2
- ii) R8C9 = 2 -> R9C7 <> 2
f) R9C7 = 1, R8C9 = 2, R6C9 = 1, R5C8 = 2, R5C3 = 1, R2C3 = 2

7. N12
a) Hidden Single: R4C6 = 1 @ N5 -> R3C6 = 4, R3C5 = 2 @ N2
b) Outies N2 = R4C4 = 4
c) 8(3) = {125} -> R4C2 = 2, R23C2 = {15} locked for C2+N1
d) R3C3 = 6 -> R4C3 = 8, R3C1 = 3

8. C1234
a) Outies C12 = 12(2) = [75/93]
b) Hidden Single: R9C1 = 2 @ C1
c) 14(3) = 2[75/93]
d) 11(2) = [38/47/74]
e) 21(4) = 35{49/67} -> 5 locked for C1+N4
f) 6 locked in 20(4) @ N7 = {1469} for R8; R6C1 <> 6

9. R789
a) Hidden Single: R7C5 = 4 @ 45(9)
b) 4 locked in 15(4) @ R9 = {1248} -> {48} locked for R9+N9
c) 21(3) = 7{59/68} because R78C8 <> 4,8 -> 7 locked for C8
d) R3C8 = 1 -> R4C8 = 9
e) 21(3) = {678} -> R8C8 = 7, R7C8 = 6, R6C8 = 8
f) R8C7 = 9
g) 28(5) = {23689} -> R6C6 = 6, R7C6 = 2; {38} locked for R8+N8

10. Rest is singles.

Rating: 1.5. I used colouring thrice.

Getting back on topic, I finished uA100 last night and went through Afmob's walkthrough today.

Thanks Mike for a really challenging puzzle. At one time I thought I wasn't going to manage to solve it. I mostly used conventional killer steps with interesting combination analysis in C89 which I felt was the key area in this puzzle. I found the contradiction move in step 35 after looking at the combinations in the 20(4) cage at R6C1 and thinking that it would be helpful if there were only two candidates in R8C7.

I'll rate uA100 at 1.5. It was hard work until the 5th placement but then crumbled.

Here is my walkthrough. Thanks Afmob for pointing out typos and an incorrect elimination; I've reworked the steps after that which fortunately was easy .

Prelims

a) R34C3 = {59/68}
b) R34C6 = {14/23}
c) R34C8 = {19/28/37/46}, no 5
d) R67C2 = {29/38/47/56}, no 1
e) R67C4 = {29/38/47/56}, no 1
f) R67C7 = {19/28/37/46}, no 5
g) R1C789 = {128/137/146/236/245}, no 9
h) R234C2 = {125/134}, 1 locked for C2
i) R678C8 = {489/579/678}, no 1,2,3
j) 28(4) cage in N1 = {4789/5689}, 8,9 locked for N1, clean-up: no 5,6 in R4C3
k) 12(4) cage at R5C8 = {1236/1245}, CPE no 1,2 in R4C9

1. 45 rule on R1 2 outies R2C16 = 17 = {89}, locked for R2
1a. 9 in N3 locked in R3C789, locked for R3

2. 28(4) cage in N1 = {4789} (cannot be {5689} which clashes with R3C3), locked for N1
2a. 4,7 locked in R1C123, locked for R1

3. 45 rule on R9 2 outies R8C49 = 3 = {12}, locked for R8

4. 45 rule on C12 2 outies R19C3 = 12 = {48}/[75/93], no 1,2,6,7,9 in R9C3

5. 45 rule on C123 2 innies R25C3 = 3 = {12}, locked for C3
5a. 1 in N7 locked in R79C1, locked for C1

6. R234C2 = {125/134}
6a. 4 of {134} must be in R4C2 -> no 3 in R4C2
6b. 5 of {125} must be in R23C2 (R23C2 cannot be {12} which clashes with R2C3) -> no 5 in R4C2

7. Hidden killer triple 3,5,6 in R23C2, R3C1 and R3C3 -> R3C1 = {356}
7a. 6 in N1 locked in R3C13, locked for R3, clean-up: no 4 in R4C8

8. R678C3 = {349/367/457} (cannot be {358} which clashes with R34C3), no 8

9. 45 rule on C89 2 outies R19C7 = 3 = {12}, locked for C7, clean-up: no 8,9 in R67C7

10. Naked pair {12} in R8C9 + R9C7, locked for N9
10a. 15(4) cage at R8C9 = {1239/1248/1257}, no 6

11. 12(4) cage at R5C8 = {1236/1245}, 1,2 locked for N6, clean-up: no 8,9 in R3C8
11a. R5C89 must contain one of 1,2 (R5C89 cannot be {12} which clashes with R5C3) -> R6C9 = {12}
11b. Naked pair {12} in R68C9, locked for C9 -> R5C8 = {12} (step 11a)
11c. Naked pair {12} in R5C38, locked for R5

12. 45 rule on C789 2 innies R58C7 = 15 = {69/78}

13. 5 in C7 locked in R234C7 = {359/458}, no 6,7
[Alternatively killer pair 6,7 in R58C7 and R67C7, locked for C7]

14. 45 rule on C8 4 innies R1259C8 = 14 = {1238/1256/1346/2345} (cannot be {1247} which clashes with R678C8), no 7,9, clean-up: no 3,5 in R9C9 (step 10a)

15. R1C789 = {128/236}, no 5, 2 locked for R1 and N3, clean-up: no 8 in R4C8
15a. 8 of {128} must be in R1C9 -> no 8 in R1C8

16. 5 in R1 locked in R1C456, locked for N2

17. 45 rule on N3 3 outies R4C789 = 17 = {359/368/467} (cannot be {458} because R4C8 only contains 3,6,7,9)
17a. 4 of {467} must be in R4C7 -> no 4 in R4C9

18. 24(4) cage at R2C8 = {3579/4569/4578} (cannot be {1689} because 1,6 must be in R2C89 clashing with R1C789, cannot be {3489/3678} which clash with R1C789 which cannot be {128} when 8 in R34C9), no 1
18a. 6 of {4569} must be in R2C8 (R234C9 = {469/569} clash with 12(4) cage in R5C8) -> no 6 in R24C9

19. R4C789 (step 17) = {359/368/467}
19a. 6 of {467} must be in R4C8 -> no 7 in R4C8, clean-up: no 3 in R3C8

20. R1259C8 (step 14) = {1238/1256/2345} (cannot be {1346} which clashes with R34C8)
20a. 1,2 of {1256} must be in R15C8 -> no 6 in R1C8
20b. 8 of {1238} must be in R9C8, 3 of {2345} must be in R1C8 -> no 3 in R9C8, clean-up: no 9 in R9C9 (step 10a)
20c. 3 in N9 locked in R7C79, locked for R7, clean-up: no 8 in R6C2, no 8 in R6C4

21. R1C789 = {128/236}
21a. 6,8 only in R1C9 -> R1C9 = {68}

22. 9 in C9 locked in R34C9 -> 24(4) cage at R2C8 (step 18) = {3579/4569}, no 8
22a. 6 in N3 must be in R2C8 or R1C9
22b. 3 of {3579} must be in R234C9 (R234C9 cannot be {579} because R1C9 = 6 and R1234C9 clash with 12(4) cage at R5C8) -> no 3 in R2C8
22c. 6 of {4569} must be in R2C8 (step 18a) -> no 4 in R2C8

23. R1259C8 (step 20) = {1256/2345} (cannot be {1238} because R2C8 only contains 5,6), no 8, clean-up: no 4 in R9C9 (step 10a)
23a. 5 locked for C8

24. R34C8 = [19/73] (cannot be [46} which clashes with R1259C8), no 4,6

25. R4C789 (step 17) = {359} (only remaining combination), locked for R4 and N6 -> R4C3 = 8, R3C3 = 6, clean-up: no 4 in R19C3 (step 4), no 2 in R3C6, no 7 in R7C7, no 4,6 in R7C9 (step 11), no 6 in R8C7 (step 12)
25a. 8 in R5 locked in R5C4567, locked for 45(9) cage -> no 8 in R367C5

26. R9C123 = {239/257/356} (cannot be {149/167/248} because R9C3 only contains 3,5, cannot be {158/347} which clash with 15(4) cage at R8C9), no 1,4,8

27. R7C1 = 1 (hidden single in C1)

28. 45 rule on N7 3 outies R6C123 = 16 = {259/349/367/457}

29. 21(4) cage at R3C1 = {3459/3567} (cannot be {2379} which clashes with R6C123, cannot be {2469} because R3C1 only contains 3,5), no 2, CPE no 3,5 in R6C1
29a. 4 of {3459} must be in R4C1 -> no 4 in R5C12

30. 45 rule on N9 2 outies R6C78 = 2 innies R7C9 + R8C7 + 1
30a. R7C9 + R8C7 = 10,11,12,13,14 -> R6C78 = 11,12,13,14,15
30b. Only combinations for R6C78 including 4 are {47/48}
30c. R7C9 + R8C7 = 10 = [37] -> R6C78 = 11 = [47]
30d. R7C9 + R8C7 = 11 -> R6C78 = 12 = [48]
30e. -> no 4 in R6C8

31. 4 in C8 locked in R789C8, locked for N9, clean-up: no 6 in R6C7

32. R678C8 = {489/678}
32a. 6 of {678} must be in R78C8 (R78C8 cannot be {78} which clashes with R9C9) -> no 6 in R6C8
32b. 6 in N6 locked in R5C79, locked for R5

33. 21(4) cage at R3C1 (step 29) = {3459/3567}
33a. 6 of {3567} must be in R4C1 -> no 7 in R4C1
33b. 7 in R4 locked in R4C45, locked for N5, clean-up: no 4 in R7C4
[Afmob pointed out that 7 in C6 is now locked in R789C6 for N8.]

34. 9 in N2 locked in 23(4) cage at R1C4 = {1589/3569}
34a. Hidden killer pair 6,8 in 23(4) cage and 22(5) at R2C3 for N2 -> 22(5) cage at R2C3 must contain one of 6,8 within N2 and can also contain 6 in R4C4
34b. 22(5) cage at R2C3 = {12478/13468/23467}
34c. 8 of {12478} must be in R3C4, 2 of {23467} must be in R2C3 -> no 1,2 in R3C4

35. R8C7 cannot be 7, here’s how
35a. R8C7 = 7 => R9C9 = 8, R9C8 = 4 (step 10a) => R678C8 = {678} clashes with R8C7 + R9C9
35b. -> no 7 in R8C7, clean-up: no 8 in R5C7 (step 12)
35c. 8 in R5 locked in R5C456, locked for N5

36. R6C8 = 8 (hidden single in R6)

37. 20(4) cage at R6C1 = {1379/1469/1478/1568} (cannot be {1289} which clashes with R8C7), no 2

38. R9C1 = 2 (hidden single in C1), R9C7 = 1, R8C9 = 2, R8C4 = 1, R1C7 = 2, R6C9 = 1, R5C8 = 2, R5C3 = 1, R2C3 = 2, clean-up: no 9 in R6C2
38a. R4C6 = 1 (hidden single in R4), R3C6 = 4

[Re-worked from here.]

39. R3C5 = 2 (hidden single in R3)

40. 22(5) cage at R2C3 (step 34b) = {12478/23467} -> R4C4 = 4, R4C12 = [62], R4C5 = 7, R5C7 = 6 [Nearly missed that one with my manual elimination!], R5C9 = 4, R67C7 = [73], R7C9 = 5, R9C8 = 4, R9C9 = 8, R8C7 = 9, R4C7 = 5, R23C7 = [48], R1C9 = 6, R1C8 = 3 (step 21), R2C89 = [57], R3C89 = [19], R4C89 = [93], clean-up: no 6 in R6C4, no 4,9 in R7C2, no 7 in R7C4
40a. R4C2 = 2 -> R23C2 = [15] (step 6), R3C1 = 3, R3C4 = 7, clean-up: no 6 in R7C2

[Back to my original steps now, renumbered after inserting some extra steps. I’ve also split the next two into separate steps because they aren’t connected.]

41. R7C5 = 4 (hidden single in 45(9) cage)

42. R6C46 = [26] (hidden pair in R6), R7C4 = 9, R7C23 = [87], R7C6 = 2, R78C8 = [67], R6C2 = 3, R1C3 = 9, R2C16 = [89]

43. R9C6 = 7 (hidden single in C6), R8C4 + R9C6 = 8 -> R9C45 = 11 = {56}, locked for R9 and N8 -> R9C23 = [93], R5C2 = 7, R1C12 = [74], R8C2 = 6, R5C1 = 5 (step 29)

and the rest is naked singles

In (mostly) chronological order.
Assassin 60 (84) (Rating 1.5)
Assassin 60 RP (Rating 2.50)
Assassin 60 RP-Lite (Rating 1.75)

Special X Killer 4 V2 (Rating 4.0)

Assassin 61 (Rating 1.25)
Assassin 61X (Rating 1.50)
Assassin 61X V3 (Rating 4.0)

Assassin 62 (Rating 0.75)
Assassin 62V2 (Rating 2.0)

Assassin 63 (Rating 0.75)
Assassin 63 V1.5 (Rating 1.0)
Assassin 63 V2 (Rating 1.5)

Assassin 64 (Rating 1.25)
Assassin 64V2 (Rating 1.75)

Assassin 65 (Rating 1.25)
Assassin 65 V2 (Rating 1.75)
Assassin 65 V3 (Rating 1,75)

Assassin 66 (Rating 1.0)
Assassin 66 V1.5 (Rating 1.5)

Assassin 67 (Rating 0.75)

Vortex X (Rating 1.75)
Vortex X Lite (Rating 1.25)

Transformer Killer X (Rating 1.75)
Transformer Killer X Lite (Rating 1.25)

Assassin 68 (Rating 1.00)
Assassin 68 V2 (Rating 1.75)
Assassin 68 V3 (Rating 3.00)
Assassin 68 V1.5 (Rating 1.25)

Assassin 69 (Rating 1.25)
Assassin 69 V1.5 (Rating 1.50)

Assassin 70 (Rating 0.75)
Assassin 70 V2 (Rating 1.75)
Assassin 70 V3 (Rating 1.25)

Assassin 71 (Rating 1.75)
Assassin 71 (V2) - Full Border (Rating 1.50)
Assassin 71 V1.5 (Rating 1.25)

Concentric Squares (CS) Killer by mhparker (Rating 1.25)

Assassin 72 (Rating 1.0)
Old School Assassin 72V2 (Rating 1.75)

Assassin 73 (Rating 1.0)

Maverick 1 (Rating 1.75)

Assassin 74 (Rating 1.0)
Assassin 74 V2 (Rating 1.25)
Assassin 74 Brick Wall (Rating 2.0)

Assassin 75 (Rating 1.25)

Diagonal surprise (Rating 1.25)

Assassin 76 (Rating 1.0)
Assassin 76X (Rating 1.25)

Assassin 77 (Rating 1.0)
Assassin 77 V2 (Rating 1.25)

Maverick 2 (M2) (Rating 1.75)

Assassin 78 (Rating 1.25)
Assassin 78 V2 (Rating 1.50)

Assassin 79 (Rating 1.0)
Assassin 79 RP (Rating 1.50)
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Rating 4.0

Special Killer X4 V2 http://www.sudocue.net/forum/viewtopic.php?p=3174#3174

Assassin 61X V3 http://www.sudocue.net/forum/viewtopic.php?p=3202#3202

mhparker wrote:

A60RP looks like child's play in comparison to this one

Para wrote:

Another horrible creation while trying to make a suitable V2 for an assassin

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Rating 3.0

Assassin 68 V3
code: http://www.sudocue.net/forum/viewtopic.php?p=3590#3590
pic: http://www.sudocue.net/forum/viewtopic.php?p=3599#3599


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Rating 2.5

Assassin 60 RP http://www.sudocue.net/forum/viewtopic.php?p=3099#3099


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Rating 2.0

Assassin 62V2 http://www.sudocue.net/forum/viewtopic.php?p=3221#3221


Assassin 74 Brick Wall http://www.sudocue.net/forum/viewtopic.php?p=3868#3868


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Rating 1.75

Assassin 60 RP-Lite http://www.sudocue.net/forum/viewtopic.php?p=3140#3140



Old School Assassin 72V2 http://www.sudocue.net/forum/viewtopic.php?p=3809#3809


Assassin 65 V3 http://www.sudocue.net/forum/viewtopic.php?p=3389#3389

Assassin 64V2 http://www.sudocue.net/forum/viewtopic.php?p=3316#3316


Assassin 65 V2 http://www.sudocue.net/forum/viewtopic.php?p=3389#3389


Maverick 2 (M2) by mhparker http://www.sudocue.net/forum/viewtopic.php?p=4099#4099


Transformer Killer X by Para http://www.sudocue.net/forum/viewtopic.php?p=3543#3543


Assassin 68 V2
code: http://www.sudocue.net/forum/viewtopic.php?p=3590#3590
pic: http://www.sudocue.net/forum/viewtopic.php?p=3594#3594

Vortex Killer X by mhparker http://www.sudocue.net/forum/viewtopic.php?p=3470#3470


Assassin 70 V2 http://www.sudocue.net/forum/viewtopic.php?p=3673#3673

Assassin 71


Maverick 1 (M1) by mhparker


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Rating 1.5

Assassin 78 V2 http://www.sudocue.net/forum/viewtopic.php?p=4127#4127


Assassin 66 V1.5 (SSscore 1.52) http://www.sudocue.net/forum/viewtopic.php?p=3460#3460


Assassin 61X http://www.sudocue.net/forum/viewtopic.php?p=3178#3178


Assassin 60


Assassin 79 RP by Ruud http://www.sudocue.net/forum/viewtopic.php?p=4156#4156


Assassin 63 V2 http://www.sudocue.net/forum/viewtopic.php?p=3282#3282


Assassin 69 V1.5 http://www.sudocue.net/forum/viewtopic.php?p=3641#3641



Assassin 71 (V2) - Full Border http://www.sudocue.net/forum/viewtopic.php?p=3738#3738



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Rating 1.25

Assassin 75


Assassin 76X http://www.sudocue.net/forum/viewtopic.php?p=4041#4041


Assassin 78


Concentric Squares (CS) Killer by mhparker http://www.sudocue.net/forum/viewtopic.php?p=3799#3799


Assassin 69


Assassin 71 V1.5 http://www.sudocue.net/forum/viewtopic.php?p=3768#3768


Assassin 61


Assassin 65


Assassin 64


Vortex Lite X by mhparker http://www.sudocue.net/forum/viewtopic.php?p=3479#3479


Assassin 68 V1.5 http://www.sudocue.net/forum/viewtopic.php?p=3594#3594


Assassin 77V2 http://www.sudocue.net/forum/viewtopic.php?p=4085#4085


Transformer Killer X "Lite" by Para http://www.sudocue.net/forum/viewtopic.php?p=3543#3543


Diagonal surprise by Ruud http://www.sudocue.net/forum/viewtopic.php?p=4010#4010


Assassin 70 V3 http://www.sudocue.net/forum/viewtopic.php?p=3683#3683



Assassin 74 variant 2 http://www.sudocue.net/forum/viewtopic.php?p=3868#3868



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Rating 1.0

Assassin 74


Assassin 73


Assassin 68


Assassin 76


Assassin 77


Assassin 79


Assassin 66 (SSscore 1.25)


Assassin 63 V1.5 http://www.sudocue.net/forum/viewtopic.php?p=3272#3272


Assassin 72


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Rating 0.75

Assassin 67



Assassin 62


Assassin 63 (59)


Assassin 62


Assassin 70



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Assassin 76+ & Forum Killers' (& Killer X) Ratings

List in (mostly) chronological order.

Diagonal surprise (Rating 1.25)

Assassin 76 (Rating 1.0)
Assassin 76X (Rating 1.25)

Assassin 80 (Rating 1.50)

Assassin 2X (Rating 1.50)
Assassin 2X Lite (Rating 1.0)

Assassin 81 (Rating 1.0)

Assassin 82 (Rating 1.25)
Assassin 82 V2X (Rating 1.50)

Assassin 83 (Rating 1.50)

Assassin 84 (Rating 1.25)
Assassin 84 V2.38 (Rating 1.50)

Radial (Rating 1.25)

Assassin 85 (Original) (Rating 2.50)
Assassin 85 (Suitabled version) (Rating 1.25)

Assassin 86 (Rating 1.25)

Assassin 73 V1.5 (Rating Hard 1.50)

Assassin 87 (Rating Hard 1.0)

Assassin 88 (Rating Hard 1.25)

Assassin 89 (Rating 1.25)
Bored89-Easy (Rating 1.25)
Bored89-Hard (Rating 1.75)

Assassin 90 (Rating Hard 1.75)

Assassin 91 (Rating 1.25)

Maverick 3 (Rating 1.25)
Maverick 4 (Rating Hard 1.50)

Unofficial Assassin 93 (uA93) (Rating 1.0)

Unofficial Assassin 94 (uA94) (Rating 1.25)
Yet Another killer (YaK) #94 (Rating Hard 1.25)

(unofficial) Assassin 95 (uA95) (Rating 1.25)
nd's #9 (aka Night of the Living Sudoku) (Rating easy 1.75)

(Unofficial) Assassin 96 YAK 96v1 (Rating 0.75)
(Unofficial) Assassin 96 V1.5 (Rating Easy 1.25)
YAK 96V2 (Rating 1.75)

(Unofficial) Assassin 97 (UA 97) (Rating 1.0)
(Unofficial) Assassin 97 V1.5 (Rating Hard 1.25)
(Unofficial) Assassin 97 V2 (UA97 V2) (Rating hard 1.25)

Special: Windoku-Killer 1 (Rating 1.0)

(unofficial) Assassin 98 (uA98) (Rating 1.25)
(unofficial) Assassin 98 v2 (uA98v2) (Rating easy 1.5)


Unofficial Assassin 99 (UA 99) (Rating 1.0)
Unofficial Assassin 99 V1.5 (UAv1.5) (Rating Hard 1.25)(note: changed from 1.50)
Unofficial Assassin 99.5 (UA99v.5) (Rating Hard 1.25)

(Unofficial) Assassin 100 (Rating 1.50)

___________________________________________________________
Rating 4.0


___________________________________________________________
Rating 3.0


__________________________________________________________
Rating 2.5

Assassin 85 (Original version) http://www.sudocue.net/forum/viewtopic.php?p=4374#4374


______________________________________________________
Rating 2.0

_________________________________________________________
Rating 1.75


Assassin 90


YAK 96 V2 by Jean-Christophe http://www.sudocue.net/forum/viewtopic.php?p=4846#4846


Bored89-Hard(x-killer) by Nasenbaer http://www.sudocue.net/forum/viewtopic.php?p=4467#4467


nd's #9 (aka Night of the Living Sudoku) SS(v3)score 2.45 http://www.sudocue.net/forum/viewtopic.php?p=4808#4808

_______________________________________________________________
Rating 1.5

Maverick 4 by Nasenbaer http://www.sudocue.net/forum/viewtopic.php?p=4561#4561


Assassin 84 version 2.38 http://www.sudocue.net/forum/viewtopic.php?p=4323#4323


(Unofficial) Assassin 100 (UA100) by mhparker http://www.sudocue.net/forum/viewtopic.php?p=5079#5079


Assassin 2X (A2X) by mhparker http://www.sudocue.net/forum/viewtopic.php?p=4225#4225

Assassin 82 V2X (aka Killer X-mas Tree) http://www.sudocue.net/forum/viewtopic.php?p=4278#4278


Assassin 80


Assassin 83


(Unofficial) Assassin 98 V2 (UA98V2) by mhparker http://www.sudocue.net/forum/viewtopic.php?p=4949#4949

____________________________________________________
Rating 1.25

Unofficial Assassin 99 V1.5 (UA 99 V1.5) by Afmob http://www.sudocue.net/forum/viewtopic.php?p=5023#5023


(Unofficial) Assassin 97 V1.5 by Jean-Christophe http://www.sudocue.net/forum/viewtopic.php?p=4890#4890



(Unofficial) Assassin 99.5 by frank http://www.sudocue.net/forum/viewtopic.php?p=5057#5057



(Unofficial) Assassin 97 V2 (UA97 V2) by Jean-christophe http://www.sudocue.net/forum/viewtopic.php?p=4890#4890




Assassin 88


Assassin 89


(unofficial) Assassin 98 (uA98) by sudokuEd http://www.sudocue.net/forum/viewtopic.php?p=4939#4939

Yet Another killer (YaK) #94 by Jean-Christophe http://www.sudocue.net/forum/viewtopic.php?p=4713#4713


Assassin 91



Unofficial Assassin 94 (UA94) by mhparker http://www.sudocue.net/forum/viewtopic.php?p=4712#4712


Bored89-Easy(x-killer) by Nasenbaer http://www.sudocue.net/forum/viewtopic.php?p=4467#4467




Assassin 86


(unofficial) Assassin 95 (uA95) by sudokuEd http://www.sudocue.net/forum/viewtopic.php?p=4788#4788



Maverick 3 by Nasenbaer http://www.sudocue.net/forum/viewtopic.php?p=4513#4513


Radial Killer by mhparker http://www.sudocue.net/forum/viewtopic.php?p=4350#4350



Assassin 85 (Suitable version)


Radial Killer by mhparker http://www.sudocue.net/forum/viewtopic.php?p=4350#4350


Assassin 82


Assassin 84


(Unofficial) Assassin 96 V1.5 (UA96 V1.5) Killer-X by mhparker http://www.sudocue.net/forum/viewtopic.php?p=4859#4859

_____________________________________________________
Rating 1.0

(Unofficial) Assassin 97 (UA 97) by Afmob http://www.sudocue.net/forum/viewtopic.php?p=4876#4876


Assassin 87


Assassin 2X Lite (A2X-Lite) http://www.sudocue.net/forum/viewtopic.php?p=4229#4229


Assassin 81


Assassin 76


Unofficial Assassin 93 (UA93) by mhparker http://www.sudocue.net/forum/viewtopic.php?p=4623#4623



Special: Windoku-Killer 1 by Nasenbaer http://www.sudocue.net/forum/viewtopic.php?p=4882#4882



Unofficial Assassin 99 (UA 99) by Afmob http://www.sudocue.net/forum/viewtopic.php?p=5008#5008

_____________________________________________________
Rating 0.75

Yet Another Killer #96 (Unofficial Assassin 96) by Jean-christophe http://www.sudocue.net/forum/viewtopic.php?p=4846#4846