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Andrew
PostPosted: Wed May 25, 2011 10:27 pm 
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Joined: Wed Apr 23, 2008 6:04 pm
Posts: 1895
Location: Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada
This is Part G of the Assassin Forum Archive, continuing to include puzzles posted on this site and provide easy links to the puzzles and threads. Please read the first part of the Archive Index to get the background to this archive including Mike (mhparker)'s original post about ratings.

Puzzle rating table, with links to archive entries and puzzle threads in this forum.

Abbreviations used in Rating Table:
Est = Estimated rating by puzzle maker
E = Easy
H = Hard
M = Mike (mhparker)
Score = SudokuSolver v3.3 score, rounded to nearest 0.05 (v3.6.1 for page 10)
These are the scores posted by the puzzle maker in the puzzle thread and/or in the
Assassin Schedule thread, except where indicated by * when I calculated the score using SudokuSolver
R indicates lowest score out of 4 rotations of puzzle, for some harder puzzles
** in the Afmob column indicates that these puzzles were made by him,
for these ones the estimate is his rating.
+----------------------------+-----------+-------+-------+-----------------------+-------+
| Puzzle                Est  |  Made By  | Afmob | Andrew|     Other Raters      | Score |
+----------------------------+-----------+-------+-------+-----------------------+-------+
| Assassin 176          1.00 |   Afmob   |   **  |  1.00 |                       |  1.00 |
| Assassin 176V1.5      1.25 |   Afmob   |   **  | E1.25 |                       |  1.35 |
| Assassin 177               |   manu    | E1.25 | E1.50 |                       | *2.95 |
| Assassin 178V0.75          |   Børge   |       |  1.00 |                       |  0.95 |
| Assassin 178V1             |   Børge   | H1.25 |  1.25 |                       |  1.25 |
| Assassin 178V1.5           |   Børge   |       |  2.00 |                       |  2.55 |
| Assassin 178V2             |   Børge   |       |  2.50 |                       |  DNF  |
| Assassin 178V3             |   Børge   |       |       |No walkthroughs posted |  DNF  |
| Assassin 178V4             |   Børge   |       |       |No walkthroughs posted |  DNF  |
+----------------------------+-----------+-------+-------+-----------------------+-------+
                                          Page #1

+----------------------------+-----------+-------+-------+-----------------------+-------+
| Puzzle                Est  |  Made By  | Afmob | Andrew|     Other Raters      | Score |
+----------------------------+-----------+-------+-------+-----------------------+-------+
| Assassin 179         H1.00 |   Afmob   |   **  | E1.25 |                       |  1.25 |
| Assassin 179V0.90          |   Børge   |       | E1.25 |                       |  0.90 |
| Assassin 179V0.96          |   Børge   |       | E1.25 |                       |  0.95 |
| Assassin 179V13            |   Børge   |       |       |No walkthroughs posted | R6.65 |
| Assassin 180               |   manu    | H1.50 |  1.50 |                       | *2.20 |
| Smooth A180                |   manu    |       |  1.50 |                       | *1.25 |
| Assassin 180V0.10          |   Børge   |       | E1.00 |                       |  0.65 |
| Assassin 180V1.5           |   Børge   |       | H1.50 |                       |  1.80 |
| Assassin 181               | Ronnie G  | H1.00 | E1.25 |                       |  1.15 |
+----------------------------+-----------+-------+-------+-----------------------+-------+
                                          Page #2

+----------------------------+-----------+-------+-------+-----------------------+-------+
| Puzzle                     |  Made By  | Afmob | Andrew|     Other Raters      | Score |
+----------------------------+-----------+-------+-------+-----------------------+-------+
| Assassin 182               |   manu    |       |  1.25 |                       | *1.75 |
| Assassin 182V0.10          |   Børge   |       | E1.00 |                       |  0.65 |
| Assassin 182V0.20          |   Børge   |       | E1.00 |                       |  0.70 |
| Assassin 182V0.75          |   Børge   |       | E1.25 |                       |  1.30 |
| Assassin 183               |   tarek   |       | E1.25 |                       |  0.95 |
| Assassin 183V2             |   tarek   |       |  1.25 |                       |  1.40 |
| Assassin 184               | Ronnie G  |       | H1.50 |                       |  1.75 |
| Assassin 184 "Lite"        | Ronnie G  |       | E1.00 |                       | *0.95 |
| Human Solvable 6X          |  HATMAN   |       | E1.50 |                       | *1.05 |
| Human Solvable 6A X        |  HATMAN   |       | E1.50 |                       |  5.70 |
+----------------------------+-----------+-------+-------+-----------------------+-------+
                                          Page #3

+----------------------------+-----------+-------+-------+-----------------------+-------+
| Puzzle                     |  Made By  | Afmob | Andrew|     Other Raters      | Score |
+----------------------------+-----------+-------+-------+-----------------------+-------+
| Assassin 185               |   manu    |       |  1.25 |                       | *1.55 |
| Assassin 186               |    Ed     | H1.00 | H1.00 |                       |  1.20 |
| Twosome 1                  |   Børge   |       |       |                       |  0.65 |
| Twosome 2                  |   Børge   |       |       |                       |  0.70 |
| Twosome 3                  |   Børge   |       |       |                       |  0.75 |
| Twosome 4                  |   Børge   |       |       |                       |  0.80 |
| Twosome 5                  |   Børge   |       |       |                       |  0.90 |
| Twosome 6                  |   Børge   |       |       |                       |  1.00 |
| Twosome 7                  |   Børge   |       |       |                       |  0.70 |
| Twosome 8                  |   Børge   |       |       |                       |  0.75 |
+----------------------------+-----------+-------+-------+-----------------------+-------+
                                          Page #4

+----------------------------+-----------+-------+-------+-----------------------+-------+
| Puzzle                     |  Made By  | Afmob | Andrew|     Other Raters      | Score |
+----------------------------+-----------+-------+-------+-----------------------+-------+
| Messier Merrier 1          |   Børge   |       |       |                       |  0.65 |
| Messier Merrier 2          |   Børge   |       |       |                       |  0.85 |
| Messier Merrier 3          |   Børge   |       |       |                       |  1.10 |
| Messier Merrier 4          |   Børge   |       |       |                       |  1.30 |
| Messier Merrier 5          |   Børge   |       |       |                       |  1.95 |
| Assassin 187               | Ronnie G  | E1.25 | E1.25 |                       |  1.05 |
| Assassin 187V2             |   Børge   |       |  1.50 |                       |  1.75 |
| Assassin 187V3             |   Børge   |       | H1.50 |                       |  2.35 |
| Assassin 187V4             |   Børge   |       |  1.75 |                       |  3.10 |
+----------------------------+-----------+-------+-------+-----------------------+-------+
                                          Page #5

+----------------------------+-----------+-------+-------+-----------------------+-------+
| Puzzle                     |  Made By  | Afmob | Andrew|     Other Raters      | Score |
+----------------------------+-----------+-------+-------+-----------------------+-------+
| Human Solvable 7X          |  HATMAN   | E1.75 | E1.75 |                       |  5.40 |
| Human Solvable 7X var      |   Børge   |       |       |                       |  DNF  |
| Assassin 188               |   Mike    |  1.25 | H1.25 |                       |  1.45 |
| Assassin 188PM             |   Mike    | H1.00 | H1.00 |                       |  1.40 |
| Assassin 188V2             |   Mike    |  1.50 |  1.75 |                       | *2.30 |
| Assassin 189X              |  HATMAN   |       |  1.50 | (M) E1.50             |  1.60 |
| Assassin 35V1.5            |   Mike    |       | H1.25 |                       |  1.20 |
| Paper Killer               |  HATMAN   |       | E1.25 |                       |  1.10 |
| Assassin 190               |   Mike    | H1.00 | E1.25 |                       |  1.35 |
| Assassin 190V2             |   Mike    |       | E1.50 | Solved as a "tag"     |  2.15 |
+----------------------------+-----------+-------+-------+-----------------------+-------+
                                          Page #6

+----------------------------+-----------+-------+-------+-----------------------+-------+
| Puzzle                     |  Made By  | Afmob | Andrew|     Other Raters      | Score |
+----------------------------+-----------+-------+-------+-----------------------+-------+
| Assassin 191               |    Ed     |  1.25 | E1.50 |                       |  1.35 |
| Assassin 191V2             |    Ed     |       |  1.75 |                       | *1.95 |
| HBSS'F                     |    Ed     |  1.25 | H1.25 |                       | *1.15 |
| Assassin 192X              |  HATMAN   |       |  1.00 |                       |  1.05 |
| Assassin 192XV1.5          |  HATMAN   |       |  1.50 |                       |  2.05 |
| Assassin 192XV2            |    Ed     |       |  2.00 |                       | *2.10 |
| Embedded Grid Killer       |    Dan    |       |       |                       |       |
| Paper Solvable 2X          |  HATMAN   |       |       |                       |  0.65 |
| Assassin 193X              | Ronnie G  | E1.25 | E1.50 |                       |  1.20 |
+----------------------------+-----------+-------+-------+-----------------------+-------+
                                          Page #7

+----------------------------+-----------+-------+-------+-----------------------+-------+
| Puzzle                Est  |  Made By  | Afmob | Andrew|     Other Raters      | Score |
+----------------------------+-----------+-------+-------+-----------------------+-------+
| Anti-King Killer           |    Dan    |       |       |                       |       |
| Assassin 194         H1.00 |   Afmob   |   **  |  1.25 |                       |  1.45 |
| Assassin 194V2       H1.75 |   Afmob   |   **  |       | Solved as a "tag"     |  3.10 |
| Paper Solvable 3           |  HATMAN   |       |       |                       |       |
| (3 versions)               |           |       |       |                       |       |
| Assassin 195               |   manu    |       |  1.25 |                       | *1.25 |
| Assassin 196               |   manu    |       |  1.25 |                       | *1.25 |
| Minimum Cages Zero K       |  HATMAN   |       | H1.50 |                       |       |
| Minimum Cages 14           |  HATMAN   |       | E1.50 |                       |  2.65 |
| Assassin 197               |   manu    |       | H1.25 |                       | *1.80 |
+----------------------------+-----------+-------+-------+-----------------------+-------+
                                          Page #8

+----------------------------+-----------+-------+-------+-----------------------+-------+
| Puzzle                     |  Made By  | Afmob | Andrew|     Other Raters      | Score |
+----------------------------+-----------+-------+-------+-----------------------+-------+
| Assassin 198               |    Ed     |       | H1.50 |                       |  1.45 |
| Paper Solvable 4           |  HATMAN   |       |  1.00 |                       |  0.85 |
| Assassin 199               |   Børge   |       |  1.75 |                       |  1.80 |
| Assassin 199V0.25          |   Børge   |       |  0.75 |                       |  0.70 |
| Assassin 199V0.5           |   Børge   |       |  1.00 |                       |  0.80 |
| Assassin 199V0.75          |   Børge   |       |  0.75 |                       |  0.85 |
| Assassin 199V1.75          |   Børge   |       |  1.75 |                       |  1.75 |
| Assassin 199V2             |   Børge   |       | H1.75 |                       |  1.90 |
| Assassin 199V3             |   Børge   |       | E1.50 |                       |  2.35 |
| Assassin 200               |    Ed     |       | H1.25 |                       |  1.10 |
+----------------------------+-----------+-------+-------+-----------------------+-------+
                                          Page #9


(Archive Note) While assembling material for the Texas Jigsaw Killer archive, I found two puzzles in the Other Variants forum which I thought should be included in this archive; the original Non-Consecutive Killer is in part A of this archive.

The Other Variants forum includes some other Killer variants, including Anti-Chess Killers and Windoku Killers. Killer enthusiasts might like to try some of them.

+-----------------------------------------+-----------+-------+-------+-----------------------+-------+
| Puzzle                                  |  Made By  | Afmob | Andrew|     Other Raters      | Score |
+-----------------------------------------+-----------+-------+-------+-----------------------+-------+
| A non-consecutive killer (aka NonCon 2) |   manu    |       |  1.25 |                       | *1.65 |
| A Killer with only Two-Cells Cages      |   manu    |       |       |                       | *1.20 |
+-----------------------------------------+-----------+-------+-------+-----------------------+-------+
                                             Page #10


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

Many thanks to Ed for providing the format for the rating tables, including links to the puzzle threads; I think it was a great idea that in the rating tables he provided separate columns for Afmob and myself, the most regular posters of walkthroughs. Thanks also to Børge for generating so many diagrams, which are also in the Images with "udosuk Style Killer Cages" thread, and for providing links from diagrams in that thread to the archive entries.

If you solve any of these puzzles and decide that there aren't enough walkthroughs for that puzzle or, better still, that you've found an interesting way to solve it which hasn't been posted, please feel free to post your walkthrough in the puzzle thread. Your comments and walkthrough will then be added to this archive.


Last edited by Andrew on Mon Oct 21, 2013 10:29 pm, edited 18 times in total.

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Andrew
PostPosted: Sun Apr 29, 2012 1:24 am 
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Joined: Wed Apr 23, 2008 6:04 pm
Posts: 1895
Location: Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada
Assassin 176 by Afmob (October 2009) here
Puzzle Diagram:
Image
NOTE: Note: No repeat on the diagonals! (Not required for uniqueness)
Images with "udosuk style Killer Cages" by Børge: 
Image     Image
Code: Select, Copy & Paste into solver:
3x3:d:k:5377:3850:3850:3850:3854:3854:5140:5140:3602:2051:5377:5644:5644:3854:3600:5140:3602:5143:2566:2051:5377:5644:3600:3600:3602:5143:5143:4615:2566:3848:5377:5377:3602:7193:7193:5143:4615:3848:3593:3593:3593:7193:2584:2584:2584:4615:2821:3848:7426:7426:5139:7193:7193:4886:2821:2564:7426:4365:2833:2833:5139:4886:4886:2564:7426:4365:4365:4623:2833:3861:5139:4886:7426:2827:2827:2827:4623:4623:3861:3861:5139:
Solution: 
+-------+-------+-------+
| 7 4 9 | 2 3 8 | 6 5 1 |
| 3 6 8 | 5 4 1 | 9 7 2 |
| 1 5 2 | 9 6 7 | 4 3 8 |
+-------+-------+-------+
| 6 9 3 | 1 5 2 | 8 4 7 |
| 8 7 1 | 4 9 6 | 3 2 5 |
| 4 2 5 | 8 7 3 | 1 9 6 |
+-------+-------+-------+
| 9 8 6 | 7 2 4 | 5 1 3 |
| 2 3 4 | 6 1 5 | 7 8 9 |
| 5 1 7 | 3 8 9 | 2 6 4 |
+-------+-------+-------+
Quote:
Afmob: After the last couple of Assassins were quite hard for V1 standards, I decided to give you an easy Killer to help you relax. But if you really want a tougher version then you should volunteer for A177, so that udosuk can post his A175 V2 or I might make a V2.
Estimated rating: 1.0. SS Score: 1.00 (Coincidence?)

Andrew: Thanks Afmob for an easier Assassin. It's good that you have time to create and post Assassins again.
I'll rate A176 at Easy 1.0 to 1.0. I won't go any lower because I feel it would be harder to solve without using elimination solving and …

Walkthrough by Andrew:
Thanks Afmob for an easier Assassin. It's good that you have time to create and post Assassins again.

Manu has now volunteered for A177 so you can now post a v2 if you want. You wrote "Note: No repeat on the diagonals! (Not required for uniqueness)". Maybe A176 without the diagonal restraint would make a good v2? I don't know how hard it would be but it looks a lot harder because it takes away my breakthrough steps 8 and 9. Udosuk was, of course, already allowed to post the harder variants of A175 although it would probably be a good idea to wait until some walkthroughs have been posted for "v0.25", "v0.5" and "v0.75".

Rating Comment. I'll rate A176 at Easy 1.0 to 1.0. I won't go any lower because I feel it would be harder to solve without using elimination solving and because I used 45s on the diagonals.

Here is my walkthrough.

Prelims

a) 8(2) cage in N1 = {17/26/35}, no 4,8,9
b) 10(2) cage at R3C1 = {19/28/37/46}, no 5
c) 11(2) cage at R6C2 = {29/38/47/56}, no 1
d) 10(2) cage in N7 = {19/28/37/46}, no 5
e) 22(3) cage at R2C6 = {589/679}, CPE no 9 in R2C56
f) 20(3) cage in N3 = {389/479/569/578}, no 1,2
g) 10(3) cage in N6 = {127/136/145/235}, no 8,9
h) 11(3) cage at R7C5 = {128/137/146/236/245}, no 9
i) 11(3) cage at R9C2 = {128/137/146/236/245}, no 9
j) 14(4) cage at R1C9 = {1238/1247/1256/1346/2345}, no 9

1. 45 rule on R5 3 innies R5C126 = 21 = {489/579/678}, no 1,2,3

2. 45 rule on C1234 3 outies R456C5 = 21 = {489/579/678}, no 1,2,3

3. 45 rule on C789 3 outies R456C6 = 11 = {128/137/146/236/245}, no 9
3a. 7,8 of {128/137} must be in R5C6 -> no 7,8 in R46C6

4. 45 rule on N3 2 outies R4C69 = 9 = [18/27]/{36/45}, no 9, no 1,2 in R4C9

5. 45 rule on N9 2 outies R6C69 = 9 = [18/27]/{36/45}, no 9, no 1,2 in R6C9

6. 45 rule on N2 1 outie R2C3 = 1 innie R1C4 + 6, R1C4 = {123}, R2C3 = {789}

7. 45 rule on N8 1 outie R8C3 = 1 innie R9C4, no 1 in R8C3

8. 45 rule on D\ 1 innie R5C5 = 1 outie R4C5 + 4, R4C5 = {45}, R5C5 = {89}

9. 45 rule on D/ 1 innie R5C5 = 1 outie R6C5 + 2, R6C5 = {67}
[An optimised walkthrough would start with steps 8 and 9, either before or after step 2. I got them fairly quickly after doing the more routine 45s. Maybe the fact that it’s a killer-X with diagonal and near-diagonal cages should have made me look at 45s on the diagonals right at the start.]

10. R456C5 (step 2) = {579} (only remaining combination) = [597], 9 placed for both diagonals, clean-up: no 4 in R4C69 (step 4), no 2 in R6C6, no 4 in R6C9 (both step 5), no 4 in R7C1
10a. R5C5 = 9 -> R5C34 = {14/23}
10b. 5 on D\ locked in R7C7 + R8C8 + R9C9, locked for N9
10c. 7 on D/ locked in R3C7 + R2C8 + R1C9, locked for N3

11. R5C126 (step 1) = {678} (only remaining combination), locked for R5, 7 also locked for N4, clean-up: no 3 in R3C1
11a. 5 in R5 locked in R5C789, locked for N6, clean-up: no 4 in R6C6 (step 5)
11b. 4 in N5 locked in R456C4, locked for C4

12. R456C6 (step 3) = {128/236} -> R4C6 = 2, placed for D/, R6C6 = {13}, R4C9 = 7 (step 4), clean-up: no 8 in R3C1, no 3 in R5C3 (step 10a), no 3 in R6C9 (step 5)

13. 14(4) cage at R1C9 must contain 2,7 = {1247}, 1,4 locked for D/ and N3
13a. 20(3) cage in N3 = {389/569}, 9 locked for N3

14. 29(5) cage at R6C4 = {35678} (only remaining combination), 5 locked for N7, clean-up: no 6 in R6C2

15. 20(4) cage at R6C6 must contain 5 = {1568/3458} (cannot be {2567} because R6C6 only contains 1,3), no 2,7, 8 locked for D\ and N9
15a. R6C6 = {13} -> no 1,3 in R7C7 + R8C8 + R9C9
15b. 2,7 on D\ locked in R1C1 + R2C2 + R3C3, locked for N1, clean-up: no 1 in R1C4 (step 6), no 1,6 in 8(2) cage, no 3,8 in R4C2

16. Naked pair {35} in 8(2) cage, locked for N1

17. 3 on D\ locked in R4C4 + R6C6, locked for N5, clean-up: no 2 in R5C3 (step 10a)
17a. Naked pair {68} in R5C6 + R6C4, locked for N5
17b. 3 on D/ locked in R7C3 + R8C2 + R9C1, locked for N7, clean-up: no 8 in R6C2, no 7 in 10(2) cage

18. Naked pair {14} in R5C34, locked for R5
18a. Naked triple {235} in 10(3) cage at R5C7, locked for N6

19. 21(5) cage at R1C1 must contain 2,5,7 = {12567/23457}
19a. 3 of {23457} must be in R4C4 -> no 4 in R4C4

20. Naked pair {13} in R4C4 + R6C6, locked for D\ and N5 -> R5C4 = 4, R5C3 = 1, clean-up: no 9 in R3C1

21. Min R4C3 + R5C2 = 9 -> max R6C3 = 5 (15(3) cage cannot be [366]), no 6,8,9 in R6C3

22. 15(3) cage at R1C2 = {249/348} (cannot be {168} because R1C4 only contains 2,3), no 1,6, 4 locked for R1 and N1 -> R1C9 = 1

23. R3C1 = 1 (hidden single in N3), R4C2 = 9, clean-up: no 2 in R7C1

24. Naked triple {267} in R1C1 + R2C2 + R3C3, 6 locked for D\, R4C4 = 1 (step 19), R6C6 = 3, R5C6 = 6 (step 12), R6C4 = 8, placed for D/, R6C9 = 6, clean-up: no 8 in R7C1
24a. Naked pair {48} in R4C78, locked for R4 and N6
24b. Naked triple {458} in R7C7 + R8C8 + R9C9, 4 locked for N9

25. 18(3) cage in N4 = {468/567} (cannot be {378} because R6C1 only contains 2,4,5), no 2 -> R4C1 = 6, R4C3 = 3, clean-up: no 5 in R6C2, no 4 in R7C2
25a. Naked pair {35} in R29C1, locked for C1 -> R6C1 = 4, R5C1 = 8, R5C2 = 7, R6C2 = 2, R7C1 = 9, R6C3 = 5, R7C3 = 6, R8C1 = 2, R7C2 = 8, R1C1 = 7, R2C2 = 6, R3C3 = 2, R1C2 = 4

26. R9C2 = 1 -> R9C34 = 10 = [46/73]

27. 17(3) cage at R7C4 = {467} (only remaining combination because R8C3 only contains 4,7) -> R8C3 = 4, R78C4 = [76]

and the rest is naked singles and a cage sum.
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Andrew
PostPosted: Sun Apr 29, 2012 4:11 am 
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Joined: Wed Apr 23, 2008 6:04 pm
Posts: 1895
Location: Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada
Assassin 176 V1.5 by Afmob (October 2009) here
Puzzle Diagram:
Image
NOTE: Note: No repeat on the diagonals! (Not required for uniqueness)
Images with "udosuk style Killer Cages" by Børge: 
Image     Image
Code: Select, Copy & Paste into solver:
3x3:d:k:5377:3849:3849:3849:3853:3853:5138:5138:3605:2056:5377:5642:5642:3853:3598:5138:3605:5142:2567:2056:5377:5642:3598:3598:3605:5142:5142:6404:2567:3331:5377:5377:3605:7441:4632:5142:6404:6404:3331:3331:7441:7441:7441:7441:4632:6404:2821:3331:7426:7426:5140:7441:4632:4887:2821:2566:7426:4363:2831:2831:5140:4887:4887:2566:7426:4363:4363:4624:2831:3859:5140:4887:7426:2828:2828:2828:4624:4624:3859:3859:5140:
Solution: 
+-------+-------+-------+
| 7 4 9 | 2 3 8 | 6 5 1 |
| 3 6 8 | 5 4 1 | 9 7 2 |
| 1 5 2 | 9 6 7 | 4 3 8 |
+-------+-------+-------+
| 6 9 3 | 1 5 2 | 8 4 7 |
| 8 7 1 | 4 9 6 | 3 2 5 |
| 4 2 5 | 8 7 3 | 1 9 6 |
+-------+-------+-------+
| 9 8 6 | 7 2 4 | 5 1 3 |
| 2 3 4 | 6 1 5 | 7 8 9 |
| 5 1 7 | 3 8 9 | 2 6 4 |
+-------+-------+-------+
Quote:
Afmob: Alright, here's a a slightly harder version of V1 which starts quite easy with even more early placements but needs some thinking afterwards to be cracked.
Estimated rating: Easy 1.25 - 1.25. SS Score: 1.35.

manu: Thanks Afmob for this V 1.5 : since he could post it because I was volunteer for the next assassin, I had to post a WT.
This version can be solved quite quickly, but I had to use a quite hard step, which justifies the difficulty.
It's a nice puzzle ; a kind of one-trick pony

udosuk: manu, as ingenious as your critical move (step 4c) is …

Andrew: Thanks Afmob for a nice V1.5. At first I felt it was hard work but then started to make better progress and it turned out to be easier than I'd expected. I finally cracked it the same way as in udosuk's message although it took me longer to reach that position. Manu's step 4c was a neat way to make a short walkthrough.
Rating Comment (amended). Easy 1.25.

Walkthrough by manu:
Thanks Afmob for this V 1.5 : since he could post it because I was volunteer for the next assassin, I had to post a WT.
This version can be solved quite quickly, but I had to use a quite hard step, which justifies the difficulty.
It's a nice puzzle ; a kind of one-trick pony


ASSASSIN 176 v1.5 Solving path

One hard step : 4)c). A kind of step by contradiction, but I have no problem with this kind of move when it is not trial and error step for a neat move.

1)a) Innies-outies for D/ : r6c5=r5c5-2
b) Innies-outies for D\ : r4c6=r5c5-4
c) Outies for c1234 : 12=r4c5+r6c5=2r5c5-6 from steps a)+b) so 18=2r5c5
=> r5c5=9, r6c5=7, r4c6=5

2)a) 7 locked for D/ at 14(4) : {1247} locked for D/ => 29(5) at D/ : {35678}
=> {35} locked for n7 at r7c3+r8c2+r9c1
b) Outies for n78 : r6c2+r6c4=h10(2)=[46/28]
=> 11(2)n4=[47/29]
c) Outies for n3 : r4c6+r4c9=h9(2)=[18/27]
=> {47} locked for n3 at r1c9+r2c8+r3c7
=> 20(3)n3={389/569} : 9 locked for n3
d) Outies for n9 : r6c6+r6c9=h9(2) : no 2, no 9.
e) 9 locked for c8 and n6 at r4c8+r6c8
=> 9 locked for n3 and c7 at r12c7
=> 9 locked for c9 and n9 at r78c9
=> Hidden single for r9 : r9c6=9

3)a) Innies-outies for n2 : r2c3=6+r1c4 : r2c3=(789), r1c4=(123)
b) 9 locked for c4 at r23c4 : r2c3 <> 9 → r1c4=(12)
c) Innies-outies for n12 : r3c1=r4c4 :
=> r3c1<>7,9
=> r1c1+r2c2+r3c3+r3c1=h16(4) with no 5,9 : {1348/1267/2347}
d) 9 locked for n1and r1 at rc23:
=> 15(3)n1={15/24}9
e) Hidden singles : r2c7=9, and r3c4=9
=> r2c34=[76/85]

4)a) r9c4<>7 since r9c23<>{13} (cage combination for 11(3))
=> 7 locked for c4 at r78c4 :no 3,5 for 17(3) at n8.
b) Innies-outies for n8 : r8c3=r9c4+1 : r8c3<>3,5 => r9c4<>2,4
c) No 5 at r9c4 : like this. 5 at r9c4 => r8c3=6 (step 4)b)) => r6c4=6 (only place for digit 6 at D/ ) which is impossible since r69c4=[65] would block cell r2c4=(56)
=> Hidden single for c4 :r2c4=5

The puzzle is now cracked.


5)a) r2c3=8 => (step 3)a)) r1c4=2, r1c23={49} locked for r1 and n1.
b) Last combo for h16(4)n1 : {1267}. r3c1=r4c4=(16)
=> hidden single : r3c2=5, r2c1=3
c) Innies for n8 : r7c4+r8c4+r9c4=h16(3) with 7 locked : h16(3)=7{18/36}. But {178} blocks cells r4c4+r6c4=(16)+(68), so h16(3)={367} locked for c4 and n8. Hidden single :r9c4=3, r78c4={67} => r8c3=4 (cage sum)
d) r4c4=1=r1c3, => r4c2=9
e) 25(4)n4 <> 9 : {4678} locked for n4

The rest is straightforward.
Alternative breakthrough step by udosuk:
manu wrote:
Thanks Afmob for this V 1.5 : since he could post it because I was volunteer for the next assassin, I had to post a WT.
This version can be solved quite quickly, but I had to use a quite hard step, which justifies the difficulty.
It's a nice puzzle ; a kind of one-trick pony

manu, as ingenious as your critical move (step 4c) is, I don't think you have found the "correct" breakthrough step which justifies Afmob's rating of 1.25 (easy).

My interpretation of your step 4c

At that stage /6789={3568}, so either r6c4=6 or /789 has 6.
If r6c4=6, r2c4=5 => r9c4<>5
If /789 has 6, r8c4<>6 => r9c4<>5 (innie-outies n8)

This is essentially a (very short) grouped-xy-chain type of move, in terms of vanilla sudoku terminology.


But there is actually a much much easier move at that stage on offer:

The easier critical move. After your step 3:

Innies n2: r12c4=16-9=7=[16|25] has 2|6
=> 15/3 r1c5 can't be {267}
=> r1c6 can't be 7
=> 7 of n2 locked in 14/3 r2c6={(16|25|34)7} (no 8)
=> 7 of r1 locked in r1c19
Innie-outies r1: r1c19=r2c5+4
But r1c19 without 5 can't be {57}, can't sum to 12
=> r2c5 can't be 12-4=8
=> 8 of r1,n2 locked in r1c56
20/3 r1c7: r1c78={56} (r1,n3)
15/3 r1c2: r1c23={49} (r1,n1), r1c4=2

Very easy from here.
Walkthrough by Andrew:
Thanks Afmob for a nice V1.5. At first I felt it was hard work but then started to make better progress and it turned out to be easier than I'd expected. I finally cracked it the same way as in udosuk's message although it took me longer to reach that position. Manu's step 4c was a neat way to make a short walkthrough.

Rating Comment (amended). I'll rate my walkthrough for A176 V1.5 at Easy 1.25. I used 45s on multiple nonets and a killer triple. I originally rated it lower but it's been pointed out to me that the killer triple is technically harder than more straightforward ones, even though I found it easy to spot.

If I'd included the interesting "clone" step, which I've included as a comment after step 18 then I might have rated it as high as Easy 1.5; it's a step that's easy at a human level but technically harder.

Here is my walkthrough for A176 V1.5. Thanks Afmob and Ed for your comments and corrections.

Prelims

a) 8(2) cage in N1 = {17/26/35}, no 4,8,9
b) 10(2) cage at R3C1 = {19/28/37/46}, no 5
c) 11(2) cage at R6C2 = {29/38/47/56}, no 1
d) 10(2) cage in N7 = {19/28/37/46}, no 5
e) 22(3) cage at R2C6 = {589/679}, CPE no 9 in R2C56
f) 20(3) cage in N3 = {389/479/569/578}, no 1,2
g) 11(3) cage at R7C5 = {128/137/146/236/245}, no 9
h) 11(3) cage at R9C2 = {128/137/146/236/245}, no 9
i) 14(4) cage at R1C9 = {1238/1247/1256/1346/2345}, no 9
j) 13(4) cage at R4C3 = {1237/1246/1345}, no 8,9, CPE no 1 in R5C12

1. 45 rule on C1234 2 outies R46C5 = 12 = {39/48/57}, no 1,2,6

2. 45 rule on D\ 1 innie R5C5 = 1 outie R4C5 + 4, R4C5 = {345}, R5C5 = {789}

3. 45 rule on D/ 1 innie R5C5 = 1 outie R6C5 + 2, R6C5 = {57}, no 8 in R5C5, clean-up: no 4 in R4C5 (step 2)

4. R46C5 = 12 = [57], R5C5 = 9 (step 2), placed for both diagonals, clean-up: no 4 in R7C1
4a. 5 on D\ locked in R7C7 + R8C8 + R9C9, locked for N9

5. 45 rule on N3 2 outies R4C69 = 9 = {18/36}/[27], no 4, no 2,9 in R4C9

6. 45 rule on N9 2 outies R6C69 = 9 = {18/36}/[45], no 2, no 4,9 in R6C9

7. 45 rule on N2 1 outie R2C3 = 1 innie R1C4 + 6, R1C4 = {123}, R2C3 = {789}
7a. 45 rule on N2 3 outies R1C23 + R2C3 = 21 = {489/579/678}, no 1,2,3

8. 45 rule on N8 1 outie R8C3 = 1 innie R9C4, no 1 in R8C3

9. 7 on D/ locked in 14(4) cage at R1C9 = {1247} (only remaining combination), locked for D/, 4,7 also locked for N3, clean-up: no 1,3,6 in R4C9 (step 5)

10. 29(5) cage in R6C4 = {35678}, 5 locked for N7, clean-up: no 6 in R6C2, no 4 in R9C4 (step 8)

11. 20(3) cage in N3 = {389/569}, 9 locked for N3

12. 18(3) cage in N8 cannot be {279/459/567} because no 5,7,9 in R89C5, no 2,5 in 18(3) cage
[On this occasion I've deleted my permutation analysis on the remaining combinations. It proves unnecessary after steps 19 and 21. This may be a one-off. My natural inclination after eliminating combinations, particularly if they result in candidates eliminations, is to do permutation analysis on the remaining combinations to see whether I can make any further eliminations.]

13. R4C69 (step 5) = [18/27]
13a. 45 rule on N12 2 remaining outies R4C24 = 10 = [46/64/73/91] (cannot be {28} which clashes with R4C69), no 2,8, no 1,3 in R4C2, clean-up: no 2,7,8,9 in R3C1
13b. 9 in R3 locked in R3C46, locked for N2

14. 45 rule on N78 2 remaining outies R6C24 = 10 = [28/46], clean-up: R7C1 = {79}
14a. 29(5) cage in R6C4 = {35678}, 3 locked for N7, clean-up: no 7 in 10(3) cage in N7, no 2 in R9C4 (step 8)

15. 45 rule on N3569 3 innies R456C4 = 13 = {148/238/346}
15a. R6C4 = {68} -> no 6 in R45C4, clean-up: no 4 in R4C2 (step 13a), clean-up: no 6 in R3C1

16. 45 rule on N8 3 outies R8C3 + R9C23 = 12 = {129/147/246}, no 8, clean-up: no 7 in R9C4 (step 8)

17. 9 in N1 locked in R1C23 + R2C3 (step 7a) = {489/579}, no 6

18. 21(5) cage at R1C1 must contain one of 7,8 in N1 (from remaining combinations with 5 locked and no 9), R1C23 + R2C3 must contain two of 7,8,9
18a. Killer triple 7,8,9 in 21(5) cage and R1C23 + R2C3, locked for N1, clean-up: no 1 in 8(2) cage in N1

[At this stage I could use the “clone” move
45 rule on N12 1 remaining outie R4C4 = 1 innie R3C1
1 in N1 locked in R1C1 + R2C2 + R3C13 -> 1 locked in R1C1 + R2C2 + R3C3 + R4C4, locked for D\.
However I’ll try to find simpler moves.]

19. 9 in N6 locked in R46C8, locked for C8
19a. 9 in C9 locked in R78C9, locked for N9
19b. 19(4) cage at R6C9 = 9{127/136/145/235}, no 8, clean-up: no 1 in R6C6 (step 6)

20. 45 rule on C789 3 remaining outies R456C6 = 11 = {128/146/236}
20a. 8 of {128} must be in R6C6 -> no 8 in R5C6
20b. 8 in N5 locked in R6C46, locked for R6

21. R9C6 = 9 (hidden single in R9), R89C5 = 9 = {18/36}, no 4
21a. R3C4 = 9 (hidden single in R3), R2C34 = 13 = [76/85], no 7,8 in R2C4, clean-up: no 3 in R1C4 (step 7)
21b. R2C7 = 9 (hidden single in R2), R1C78 (step 11) = {38/56}

22. R1C23 + R2C3 (step 17) = {489/579}
22a. R2C3 = {78} -> no 7,8 in R1C23

23. 7 in C4 locked in R78C4, locked for N8 and 17(3) cage at R7C4, no 7 in R8C3, clean-up: no 6 in R9C4 (step 8)
23a. 45 rule on N8 3 innies R789C4 (must contain 7) = 16 = {178/367/457}, no 2
23b. 3,5 of {367/457} must be in R9C4 -> no 3,5 in R78C4
[Alternatively the last sub-step could have come from combinations for 17(3) cage containing 7.]

24. 45 rule on N2 2 remaining innies R12C4 = 7 = [16/25]
24a. 15(3) cage in N2 = {168/258/348} (cannot be {267} which clashes with R12C4, cannot be {456} which clashes with R2C4, cannot be {357} because 5,7 only in R1C6), no 7, 8 locked for N2
24b. 5 of {258} must be in R1C6 -> no 2 in R1C6
24c. 1,2 of {168/258} must be in R1C56 (R1C56 cannot be {58/68} which clash with R1C78), no 1,2 in R2C5

25. 7 in N2 locked in 14(3) cage = {167/257/347}
25a. 2 of {257} must be in R3C5 -> no 2 in R23C6

26. 7 in R1 locked in R1C19
26a. 45 rule on R1 2 innies R1C19 = 1 remaining outie R2C5 + 4
26b. Min R1C19 = 8 -> min R2C5 = 4
26c. No 5 in R1C19 -> R1C19 cannot total 12 -> no 8 in R2C5
26d. R2C5 = {46} -> R1C19 = 8,10 = {17/37}, no 2,4,6,8

27. 8 in N2 locked in R1C56, locked for R1, clean-up: no 3 in R1C78 (step 21b)
27a. Naked pair {56} in R1C78, locked for R1 and N3, clean-up: no 2 in R1C5 (step 24a)

28. R1C4 = 2 (hidden single in R1), R2C4 = 5 (step 24), R2C3 = 8 (step 21a), clean-up: no 3 in R3C2, no 6 in R8C3 (step 8), no 4 in R78C4 (step 23a)
28a. Naked pair {49} in R1C23, locked for R1 and N1, clean-up: no 6 in R4C2, no 4 in R4C4 (step 13a)

29. R5C4 = 4 (hidden single in C4), clean-up: no 5 in R6C9 (step 6)
29a. 13(4) cage at R4C3 = {1246/1345}, no 7, 1 locked for C3 and N4

[Clean-up omitted from here.]
30. 21(5) cage at R1C1 = {12567} (only remaining combination) -> R4C4 = 1, R1C1 = 7, both placed for D\, naked pair {26} in R2C2 + R3C3, locked for N1 and D\, R2C1 = 3, R3C12 = [15], R1C9 = 1, R4C6 = 2, R2C9 = 2, R2C2 = 6, R3C3 = 2, R2C5 = 4, R2C8 = 7, R2C6 = 1, R3C7 = 4, R4C9 = 7 (step 5), R4C2 = 9, R1C23 = [49], R6C2 = 2, R7C1 = 9, R8C3 = 4, R9C4 = 3 (step 8)
30a. R8C3 = 4 -> R78C4 = 13 = {67}, locked for C4 and N8 -> R6C4 = 8, placed for D/, R6C6 = 3, placed for D\
30b. R9C4 = 3 -> R9C12 = 8 = {17}, locked for R9 and N7

and the rest is naked singles.
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Andrew
PostPosted: Sun Apr 29, 2012 4:41 am 
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Grand Master

Joined: Wed Apr 23, 2008 6:04 pm
Posts: 1895
Location: Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada
Assassin 177 by manu (October 2009) here
Puzzle Diagram:
Image
Images with "udosuk style Killer Cages" by Børge: 
Image     Image
Code: Select, Copy & Paste into solver:
3x3::k:4096:2049:3074:3074:2052:1285:1285:3335:3848:2313:4096:2049:2060:2052:3598:3335:3848:3089:3858:2313:4096:2060:7702:3598:3848:3089:3866:3858:3858:3869:7702:7702:7702:4641:3866:3866:3108:3108:3869:7702:7720:7702:4641:2347:2347:2093:3108:3869:7720:7720:7720:4641:2347:3381:2093:2871:3384:9017:7720:9017:4412:1853:3381:2871:3384:3393:9017:9017:9017:2885:4412:1853:3384:3393:2122:2122:9017:1357:1357:2885:4412:
Solution: 
+-------+-------+-------+
| 6 5 8 | 4 7 2 | 3 9 1 |
| 2 9 3 | 5 1 6 | 4 8 7 |
| 4 7 1 | 3 9 8 | 6 5 2 |
+-------+-------+-------+
| 3 8 4 | 2 5 1 | 9 7 6 |
| 9 1 5 | 6 3 7 | 8 2 4 |
| 7 2 6 | 8 4 9 | 1 3 5 |
+-------+-------+-------+
| 1 3 2 | 9 6 5 | 7 4 8 |
| 8 6 9 | 7 2 4 | 5 1 3 |
| 5 4 7 | 1 8 3 | 2 6 9 |
+-------+-------+-------+
Quote:
manu: there is no S.S score mentionned here for this one …
The most important : have pleasure with this puzzle. 8-)
(Archive Note): Discussion about SS scores, ratings and elegance is given below the walkthroughs.

udosuk: Bottom line: it's a very enjoyable puzzle. Thanks! :alien:

Afmob: Thanks for this Assassin, manu!
I used the same cracking moves as udosuk though with a different reasoning.
Rating: Easy 1.25.

Andrew: Thanks manu for a really challenging Assassin. I found it much harder than udosuk and Afmob and, having now read their posts, I see that I missed their ... Without those steps I think it's a much harder puzzle. However it did allow me to …

manu: thanks for yours WT's that show several interesting solving roads were possible here. I am happy when I make a puzzle for which its possible
Here is another way

udosuk’s Walkin:
Bottom line: it's a very enjoyable puzzle. Thanks! :alien:

1
8/2 r9c3 can't have {89}
Innies c123: r19c3=15=[87|96]
=> 12/3 r1c3=[84|93], 8/2 r9c3=[62|71]
Innies n1: r1c3+r3c1=12=[84|93]
Innies n7: r7c1+r9c3=8=[17|26]
=> 8/2 r6c1=[71|62]

2
Innies n8: r7c5+r9c46=10 can't have {89}
Outies n5: r37c5=15=[87|96]
Innies n8: max r9c6=10-6-1=3 (no 4)
=> 5/2 r9c6=[14|23|32]
=> r7c5+r9c46=10=[613|712|721] has 3|7 (1 of r9 locked)
Innies n9: r7c9+r9c7=10 can't be [73], must be [82|64]
=> 13/2 r6c9=[58|76], 5/2 r9c6=[14|32]
Innies c789: r19c7=5=[14|32]
=> 5/2 r1c6=[23|41]
=> Innies n3: r1c7+r3c9=5=[14|32]

3
Innies r789: r7c159=15=[168|276] (6 of r7 locked)
CCC: r7c89+r8c9 can't be [186]
=> 7/2 r7c8 can't be [16], must be {25|34}
=> 7/2 r7c8 & r9c7 form KNP {24} in n9
=> 11/2 r8c7={38|56} & r7c9 form KNP {68} in n9
Outies n1245: r1c7+r7c15=10 must have 1
(otherwise min sum=3+2+6=11>10)
CPE: r7c7 can't be 1
Hidden single n9: r8c8=1

4
Innie-Outies n89: r6c9+r9c3=r7c5+6
=> min r6c9+r9c3=6+6=12 must have 7
(otherwise max sum=5+6=11<12)
CPE: r9c9 can't be 7
=> 17/3 r7c7=[719]

Very easy from here.
:idea:

Edited: revised and shortened step 3
Walkthrough by Afmob:
Thanks for this Assassin, manu!

I used the same cracking moves as udosuk though with a different reasoning.

Edit: Fixed a mistake in former step 4a. Thanks for finding this, Andrew!

A177 Walkthrough:

1. R789+N5 !
a) Outies N5 = 15(2) = {69/78}
b) Innies N8 = 10(3) = 1{27/36} since R7C5 >= 6 -> R9C46 = 1{2/3} -> 1 locked for R9+N8
c) ! Innies N9 = 10(2) = [64/82] because {37} blocked by Killer pair (37) of Innies N8
d) Innies R789 = 15(3) = [168/276] since R7C59 = (678) -> R7C1 = (12); 6 locked for R7
e) ! 7(2) <> {16} since it's a Killer pair of Innies R789 (R7C1 = 1 xor R7C9 = 6)
f) 1 locked in 17(3) @ N9 = {179} locked for N9
g) 13(2) @ N9 = [58/76]
h) Innies+Outies N89: 6 = R6C9+R9C3 - R7C5: R7C5 = (67) -> R6C9+R9C3 = 12/13 = [57/75/76] <> 2,3 -> CPE: R6C3+R9C9 <> 7

2. R789+C789 !
a) Outies N6 = 10(2) = [28/46]
b) Innies N3 = 5(2) = [14/32]
c) ! Outies N1245 = 10(2+1) must have one of 1 since R7C5 >= 6 and R1C7 <> 2 -> CPE: R1C1+R7C7 <> 1
d) R9C9 = 9, R7C7 = 7, R7C5 = 6, R7C9 = 8 -> R6C9 = 5
e) Innie R789 = R7C1 = 1 -> R6C9 = 7
f) Innie N7 = R9C3 = 7 -> R9C4 = 1
g) 5(2) = {23} -> R9C7 = 2, R9C6 = 3

3. R123
a) Outie N4 = R3C1 = 4
b) Innie N1 = R1C3 = 8 -> R1C4 = 4
c) 5(2) = {23} -> R1C6 = 2, R1C7 = 3
d) Outie N5 = R3C5 = 9
e) 8(2) @ R2C4 = {35} locked for C4+N2
f) 8(2) @ R1C5 = {17} locked for C5

4. C789
a) R3C9 = 2 -> 15(3) = 2[67/76/94]
b) Killer pair (46) locked in 15(3) + 9(3) for N6
c) 18(3) = {189} locked for C7+N6
d) Hidden Single: R1C9 = 1 @ C9 -> 15(3) = 1[86/95]
e) 15(3) @ R3C9 = {267} -> 6,7 locked for R4+N6
f) Hidden Single: R4C9 = 6 @ C9, R2C9 = 7 @ C9 -> R3C8 = 5
g) 11(2) = {56} -> R9C8 = 6, R8C7 = 5

5. C123
a) 13(2) = {49} -> R9C2 = 4, R8C3 = 9
b) 15(3) = {456} locked for C3+N4
c) 16(3) = {169} since R3C3 = (13) -> R3C3 = 1; 6 locked for N1
d) 8(3) @ N1 = {35} -> R1C2 = 5, R2C3 = 3
e) 11(2) = {38} -> R7C2 = 3, R8C1 = 8

6. N58
a) 35(6) = {245789} -> R9C5 = 8, R7C6 = 5, R7C4 = 9
b) 30(5) = 689{25/34} -> R6C6 = 9, R6C4 = 8

7. Rest is singles.

Rating: Easy 1.25. I used two unusual Killer pairs.
Walkthrough by Andrew:
Thanks manu for a really challenging Assassin. I found it much harder than udosuk and Afmob and, having now read their posts, I see that I missed their nice interactions between Innies for R789 and the 7(2) cage in N9 and I also missed Outies for N1245. Without those steps I think it's a much harder puzzle. However it did allow me to make some interesting "clone" steps. ;)

Rating Comment. I'll rate my A177 walkthrough at Easy 1.5. I used three "clones" and a couple of short forcing chains. I also spotted some other "clones" which I've commented on but wasn't able to use.

Here is my walkthrough.

Prelims

a) 8(2) cage in N1 = {17/26/35}, no 4,8,9
b) R1C34 = {39/48/57}, no 1,2,6
c) R12C5 = {17/26/35}, no 4,8,9
d) R1C67 = {14/23}
e) 13(2) cage in N3 = {49/58/67}, no 1,2,3
f) 9(2) cage in N1 = {18/27/36/45}, no 9
g) R23C4 = {17/26/35}, no 4,8,9
h) R23C6 = {59/68}
i) 12(2) cage in N3 = {39/48/57}, no 1,2,6
j) R67C1 = {17/26/35}, no 4,8,9
k) R67C9 = {49/58/67}, no 1,2,3
l) 11(2) cage in N7 = {29/38/47/56}, no 1
m) 7(2) cage in N9 = {16/25/34}, no 7,8,9
n) 13(2) cage in N7 = {49/58/67}, no 1,2,3
o) 11(2) cage in N9 = {29/38/47/56}, no 1
p) R9C34 = {17/26/35}, no 4,8,9
q) R9C67 = {14/23}
r) 9(3) cage in N6 = {126/135/234}, no 7,8,9
s) 35(6) cage in N8 = {146789/236789/245789/345689}, 8,9 locked for N8

1. 45 rule on C123 2 outies R19C4 = 5 = [32/41], clean-up: R1C3 = {89}, R9C3 = {67}
1a. Killer pair 3,4 in R1C4 and R1C67, locked for R1, clean-up: no 5 in R2C3, no 5 in R2C5, no 9 in R2C7
1b. Killer pair 1,2 in R9C4 and R9C67, locked for R9, clean-up: no 9 in R8C7
1c. 13(2) cage in N7 = {49/58} (cannot be {67} which clashes with R9C3), no 6,7

2. 45 rule on N1 2 innies R1C3 + R3C1 = 12 = [84/93]
2a. Max R3C1 = 4 -> min R4C12 = 11, no 1

3. 45 rule on N7 2 innies R7C1 + R9C3 = 8 = [17/26], clean-up: R6C1 = {67}

4. 45 rule on N3 2 innies R1C7 + R3C9 = 5 = {14/23}
4a. Max R3C9 = 4 -> min R4C89 = 11, no 1

5. 45 rule on N9 2 innies R7C9 + R9C7 = 10 = [64/73/82/91], clean-up: no 8,9 in R6C9

[And now the 45 I spotted when I was setting up and colouring the diagram, although I only saw the CPE when I reached this step.]
6. 45 rule on N5 2 outies R37C5 = 15 = [87/96]
6a. 8,9 in N2 locked in R3C5 + R23C6, CPE no 8,9 in R45C6

7. 45 rule on N8 3 innies R7C5 + R9C46 = 10 = {127/136}, no 4, 1 locked for R9 and N8, clean-up: no 9 in R7C9 (step 5), no 4 in R6C9

8. 45 rule on C789 2 outies R19C6 = 5 = [23/32/41], no 1 in R1C6, clean-up: no 4 in R1C7, no 1 in R3C9 (step 4)

9. 45 rule on R123 3 innies R3C159 = 15 = {249/348}, 4 locked for R3, clean-up: no 5 in R2C1, no 8 in R2C9

10. 45 rule on R789 3 innies R7C159 = 15 = {168/267}, 6 locked for R7, clean-up: no 5 in R8C1, no 1 in R8C9
10a. 7 of {267} must be in R7C5 (R7C159 cannot be [267] because R6C19 cannot be [66]), no 7 in R7C9, clean-up: no 6 in R6C9, no 3 in R9C7 (step 5), no 2 in R9C6, no 3 in R1C6 (step 8), no 2 in R1C7, no 3 in R3C9 (step 4)

11. 45 rule on R789 2 outies R6C19 = 1 innie R7C5 + 6
11a. R7C6 = {67} -> R6C19 = 12,13 = {57/67}, 7 locked for R6

12. Hidden pair 1,2 in R1C7 + R3C9 and 15(3) cage for N3, R1C7 + R3C9 contains one of 1,2 -> 15(3) cage must contain one of 1,2 = {159/168/258/267} (cannot be {249} which clashes with R3C9), no 3,4

13. Combined cage R1239C4 = 13 = {1237/1345} (cannot be {1246} which clashes with R1C6 because {1246} must be 4{26}1), no 6, 1,3 locked for C4, 3 also locked for N2, clean-up: no 5 in R1C5, no 2 in R23C4
13a. Killer pair 6,7 in R12C5 and R7C5, locked for C5

14. 45 rule on C12 4 outies R2378C3 = 15 = {1239/1248/1257/1347/1356/2346}
14a. 9 of {1239} must be in R8C3 -> no 9 in R37C3
14b. 5 of {1257/1356} must be in R8C3 -> no 5 in R37C3

15. 45 rule on N6 3 innies R4C89 + R6C9 = 18 = {279/378/459/567} (cannot be {369/468} because R6C9 only contains 5,7)
15a. 18(3) cage at R4C7 = {189/378/459/468} (cannot be {279/369/567} which clash with R4C89 + R6C9), no 2

16. R1C3 + R3C1 = [84/93]
16a. 16(3) cage in N1 = {169/178/259/268/457} (cannot be {349} which clashes with R3C1, cannot be {358} which clashes with R1C3 + R3C1, cannot be {367} which clashes with 8(2) cage), no 3

17. 45 rule on C89 4 outies R2378C7 = 22 = {1579/1678/2569/4567} (other combinations clash with 18(3) cage at R4C7), no 3, clean-up: no 8 in R9C8

18. 7(2) cage in N9 = {16/25/34}, R7C9 + R9C7 (step 5) = [64/82] -> combined cage R7C89 + R8C9 + R9C7 = {1628/2546/3428}, 2 locked for N9, clean-up: no 9 in R9C8
18a. 9 in N9 locked in 17(3) cage = {179/359}, no 4,6,8

[At this stage I remembered that this Assassin had been created by manu. First I spotted “clones” connected with the 30(5) and 30(6) cages in N5, R3C5 must equal one of R6C46 and R7C5 must equal one of R45C46, but I was never able to use these.
Then I spotted that the “clones” around the edges were more helpful at this stage.]

19. 45 rule on N69 1 outie R3C9 = 1 innie R9C7
19a. 2 in C7 locked in R39C7, R3C9 = R9C7 -> 2 locked in R3C79, locked for R3 and N3, clean-up: no 7 in R2C1
19b. 15(3) cage in N3 (step 12) = {159/168/258/267}
19c. 2 of {267} must be in R3C7 -> no 7 in R3C7

20. 45 rule on N7 1 outie R6C1 = 1 innie R9C3
20a. 7 in R6 locked in R6C19 (step 11a), R6C1 = R9C3 -> 7 locked in R6C9 + R9C3, CPE no 7 in R9C9

21. 7 in N5 locked in 30(6) cage at R3C5
21a. 30(5) cage at R5C5 = {15789/24789/25689/34689/45678} (cannot be {35679} because not possible to make 30(6) cage at R3C5 with 1,2,4,7), 8 locked for N5

22. R7C5 = {67} -> R6C19 = 12,13 = {57/67} (step 11a)
22a. R7C5 = 6 => no 6 in R6C46
22b. R7C5 = 7 => R6C19 = 13 = {67}, locked for R6
22c. -> no 6 in R6C46

23. 30(5) cage at R5C5 = {15789/24789/25689/34689} (cannot be {45678} because 6,7 only in R7C5), 9 locked for N5

24. R3C9 = R9C7 (step 19) = {24}
24a. All cells in N6 except for R56C8 “see” at least one of R3C9 or R9C7 -> R56C8 must contain at least one of 2,4 -> 9(3) cage in N6 = {126/234} (cannot be {135} which doesn’t contain 2 or 4), no 5, 2 locked for N6

25. R4C89 + R6C9 (step 15) = {378/459/567}
25a. 18(3) cage at R4C7 (step 15a) = {189/378/459} (cannot be {468} which clashes with R4C89 + R6C9), no 6

26. 6 in C7 locked in R2378C7 (step 17) = {1678/2569/4567}
26a. 2 of {2569} must be in R3C7 -> no 9 in R3C7

27. 45 rule on N1 1 outie R1C4 = 1 innie R3C1 = {34}
27a. All cells in N3 except for R2C789 “see” either R1C4 or R3C1 -> R2C789 must contain one of 3,4 (R2C789 cannot contain both because R1C7 + R3C9 contains one of 3,4)
27b. Killer pair 3,4 in R1C7 + R3C9 and R2C789, locked for N3, clean-up: no 9 in R2C9
[Note that 3,4 have already been eliminated from R2C8 but the logic above reads better when saying R2C789.]

28. 16(3) cage in N1 (step 16a) = {169/178/268/457} (cannot be {259} because R3C3 only contains 1,6,7,8)
28a. 4 of {457} must be in R2C2 -> no 5 in R2C2

29. 45 rule on N7 1 outie R9C4 = 1 innie R7C1 = {12}
29a. All cells in N9 except for R8C789 “see” either R7C1 or R9C4 -> R8C789 must contain at least one of 1,2
[Similar comment to note after step 27, no 1,2 in R8C7.]

30. R8C89 contains at least one of 1,2
30a. R8C8 = 1 => 17(3) cage in N9 = {179}
30b. R8C9 = 2 => R7C8 = 5 => 17(3) cage in N9 (step 18a) = {179} (cannot be {359} when R7C8 = 5)
30c. -> 17(3) cage in N9 = {179} -> R9C9 = 9, R7C7 + R8C8 = {17}, locked for N9, clean-up: no 4 in R8C3, no 6 in R8C9, no 4 in 11(2) cage in N9

31. R7C159 (step 10) = {168/267}
31a. Killer pair 1,7 in R7C159 and R7C7, locked for R7, clean-up: no 4 in R8C1

32. 9 in C7 locked in 18(3) cage at R4C7, locked for N6
32a. 18(3) cage at R4C7 (step 25a) = {189/459}, no 3,7

33. R1C7 = 3 (hidden single in C7), R1C4 = 4, R1C3 = 8, R1C6 = 2, R9C6 = 3 (step 8), R9C7 = 2, R9C4 = 1, R9C3 = 7, R7C1 = 1 (step 29), R6C1 = 7, R6C9 = 5, R7C9 = 8, R7C7 = 7, R8C8 = 1, R7C5 = 6, R3C5 = 9 (step 6), R3C9 = 2 (step 4), R3C1 = 4 (step 2), clean-up (working across in nonets, rather than rows): no 1 in R1C2, no 6 in R2C3, no 1,5 in R3C2, no 7 in R23C4, no 5 in R23C6, no 6 in R1C8, no 5 in R2C7, no 7 in R3C8, no 4 in 18(3) cage at R4C7 (step 32a), no 5 in 7(2) cage in N9

34. Naked triple {189} in 18(3) cage at R4C7, locked for C7 and N6, clean-up: no 6 in 9(3) cage in N6 (step 24a)

35. R4C89 = {67} (hidden pair in N6), locked for R4

36. R2C7 = 4 (hidden single in C7), R1C8 = 9, R2C9 = 7, R3C8 = 5, R12C5 = [71], R3C7 = 6, R1C9 = 1, R2C8 = 8, R23C4 = [53], R23C6 = [68], R3C2 = 7, R2C1 = 2, R2C3 = 3, R1C2 = 5, R1C1 = 6, R2C2 = 9, R3C3 = 1, R4C89 = [76], R8C7 = 5, R9C8 = 6, R8C3 = 9, R9C2 = 4

and the rest is naked singles.
Walkthrough by manu:
thanks for yours WT's that show several interesting solving roads were possible here. I am happy when I make a puzzle for which its possible
Here is another way

The main step is 4)e). The general idea is the following : proving that all digits of a cage X(n) belong to a cage Y(n+1) . The last digit of Y(n+1) must be Y-X, and Y-X does not belong to the cage X(n). Here, X=5, Y=9, n=2, 5(2)=r19c7, 9(3) at n6.

(prelims from Sudocue)

1)Outies for n5 : r3c5+r7c5= 16 : {6789}

2)Innies for n8 : r7c5+r9c4+r9c6=10.
=> r7c5=(67), r9c46={12/13}
=> 1 locked at r9c46 for n8 and r9

3)Innies for n9 : r7c9+r9c7= h10(2) = [82/73/64]
=> (cage sum for 13(2)) :r6c9=(567)

4)a) Innies-outies for n6+n9 : r3c9=r9c7= (234) (cloned cells)
=> digit at r3c9=r9c7 locked for c8 and n6 at r56c8.
b) Innies for n3 : r1c7+r3c9=h5(2)=[14/23/32]
c) Innies-outies for n3 : r4c8+r4c9=10+r1c7, so :
=> r4c8 – r1c7 = 10 – r4c9 > 0 : r4c8 <> r1c7
=> r4c9 – r1c7 = 10 – r4c9 > 0 : r4c8 <> r1c7
d) Since r6c9 >=5 > r1c7, we deduce from step c) that digit at r1c7 is locked for n6 at cage 9(3)
e) We deduce from steps a)+d) that both digits of h-cage h5(2)n3 are locked at cage 9(3)n6: the third cell of 9(3)n6 is 9 – 5 = 4.
=> h5(2)n3 <> 4 : h5(2)n3={23} locked for n3
=> 9(3)n6 = {234} locked for n6

The puzzle is cracked now.


5)a) Cloned cells : r9c7=r3c9=(23)
=> naked pair {23} locked for c7 at r19c7
=> r7c9<>6, r6c9<>7
b) 5(2)n8={23} locked for r9
c) 8(2)n7=[71]
d) Innie for n7 : r7c1=1 => r6c1=7
e) Outie for n4 : r3c1=4.
f) Innie for n1 : r1c3= 8 => r1c4=4

6)a) 5(2)n2={23} locked for r1
b) 1 locked for n2 at r12c5 : r12c5=8(2)={17} locked for c5 and n2.
c) r7c5=6 => r9c6=3 (step 2)), r9c7=2=r3c9 (cloned), r1c67=[23]
d) Step 3) => r7c9=8. R6c9=5.
e) Last combo : 18(3)n6={189} locked for n6 and c7
f) 9(2)n1<>{18} : r3c2<>1
g) Hidden single for r3 : r3c3=1
=> 16(3)n1={169} locked for n1.
h) Last combos : 8(2)n1=[53], 9(2)n1=[27]

7) a) Outie for n5 : r3c5=9
=> 14(2)n2={68} locked for 2 and c6
b) Last combo : 15(3)n3={267}, {67} locked for r4+n6
c) 7(2)n9={34} locked for n9
=> 11(2)n9= {56} locked for n9
=> 17(3)n9=[719]
d) 30(5)n5 <> 1 since {15789} is impossible since r7c5=6
e) 4 locked for n4 and c3 at r456c3

Singles for the rest
Discussion:
manu’s introduction to the puzzle

there is no S.S score mentionned here for this one, and it's not a forgetting, because I
am tired with questions of rating :rambo: . I'd like you feel free about all kind of moves you
could use with this puzzle. The considerations of rating deprive me of pleasure with solving killers,
since I generally search for the most direct and neat road solving killer, without other goal. But no solving path or approach is better than another one, so please, no competition for a "best" WT. :ok:

The most important : have pleasure with this puzzle. 8-)

Andrew

I've noted your comments about rating. For some time now I've been posting my rating comments in hidden text and leaving them like that when I converted my walkthroughs from TT to normal text. I've been doing that after Ed asked us to post rating comments in hidden text; I hope all others will do the same. Then Ed, manu or anyone else who doesn't want to see rating comments can avoid them. It also means that hints about the types of moved used for a walkthrough will be hidden.

I hope this is acceptable.

udosuk

Let's forget about ratings and forget about elegancy.

Bottom line: it's a very enjoyable puzzle. Thanks! :alien:

manu

udosuk wrote:
Let's forget about ratings and forget about elegancy.

Why about elegancy ? Being "so what" about the ratings does not mean forgetting about elegancy .

Your WT is really different to mine, and there is an interesting move you did not seem to have seen, which could avoid you some combo analysis ;)

Happy that you like this assassin, and that several solving paths are possible here : this is a pleasure for a puzzle maker who does not like competition. 8-) 8-)

udosuk

manu wrote:
Why about elegancy ? Being "so what" about the ratings does not mean forgetting about elegancy .

manu earlier wrote:
But no solving path or approach is better than another one, so please, no competition for a "best" WT. :ok:

I take it from what you said above that you wanted to stop talks about elegancy, as in no WT is better/more elegant than others. :?: :?: :?:

manu wrote:
Your WT is really different to mine, and there is an interesting move you did not seem to have seen, which could avoid you some combo analysis ;)
First I can't see I've used any combo analysis in my walkin. (For me "combo analysis" means analysing three or more combinations of 4-cell or 5-cell given/hidden cages, and in my walkin I only analysed 2-cell or 3-cell given/hidden cages, and never had more than two possible combinations in all analyses.)

Also, if "no solving path or approach is better than another one", then all my moves should be of the same interesting level as all yours, and you also haven't seen the interesting moves I found before reading my walkin, which could avoid your whatever analyses. ;)

manu

udosuk wrote:
I take it from what you said above that you wanted to stop talks about elegancy, as in no WT is better/more elegant than others. :?: :?: :?:

You did not understand. Nobody can say that a walkthrough is better than another one. I did not like the way you have criticized Andrew's WT. It is not a question of elegancy : elegancy is only a personal point of view.End.

udosuk wrote:
manu wrote:
Your WT is really different to mine, and there is an interesting move you did not seem to have seen, which could avoid you some combo analysis ;)
First I can't see I've used any combo analysis in my walkin. (For me "combo analysis" means analysing three or more combinations of 4-cell or 5-cell given/hidden cages, and in my walkin I only analysed 2-cell or 3-cell given/hidden cages, and never had more than two possible combinations in all analyses.)

In this forum, you must accept ideas different of yours. Yes, I think you have done combo analysis, because the way you explain your steps is sometimes hazy, and I consider that what you have done is a kind of combo analysis. But it's not a criticism. I have no problem with combo analysis. To be honest, there are very nice moves in your WT that I was not able to find. I have only said my approach was different to yours : not better. Why don't you accept that ??

udosuk wrote:
Also, if "no solving path or approach is better than another one", then all my moves should be of the same interesting level as all yours, . ;)

I do agree ! I have never said my moves were more interesting than yours !

udosuk wrote:
and you also haven't seen the interesting moves I found before reading my walkin, which could avoid your whatever analyses

Why are you so aggressive ??? Once again, I did not say my WT was better to yours. It's a different one. Yes, there is sthg interesting with this puzzle you have not used. Yes, I had not found some of the nice moves you have written in your WT. No WT is better to another one.

I cannot accept the word "whatever analyses" you have used, unless you are a kind of "show off" : in this case, your place should not be in this forum.

END OF DISCUSSION :evil:
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Andrew
PostPosted: Thu May 03, 2012 7:46 pm 
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Location: Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada
Assassin 178 "Blind Dates" by Børge (October 2009) here

Børge posted a set of 6 related puzzles under this collective title. All were posted with "udosuk style Killer Cages"; there are three versions of each diagram 
8-)    "Hot" Image "Pale" and  Image "White".

Each puzzle featured an "arrow into the heart" them, slightly varied in the hardest variants.

Discussion on diagram colouring and number of variants posted:
Joe Casey

Thanks for fixing us up with these Blind Dates, Børge. I've only spent time with one so far; I like symmetrical, but a tiny asymmetry is quite fetching, especially when there's an interesting personality too.

One small suggestion: heavy make-up is eye-catching, but distracts from the essential bone structure, such as the nonet dividers. Could either desaturate the colours or darken the dividers.

Børge

Sorry about that.
I did not image anyone actually solving on these coloured images. Their main purpose is to clarify the cage layout, but I did spend some time fine tuning the colours to try to achive a pleasing and alluring appearance.
I have added links to white background versions in my original post.

In THIS SkyDrive FOLDER you can find my original Excel workbook RA #178 hot.xls allowing you to change the makeup and the nonet dividers to suite your personal preferences.
There you can also find all six Blind Dates. I do not consider this breaking the convention that "Variants of the current Assassin should not be posted until next week's Assassin has been claimed".
Just bending/circumventing it a little bit. :uberviking:

Joe Casey

Thanks. I do indeed print the puzzle pictures and scribble on them till I get them solved. Pale colours are nice, and as you say, bring out the cages clearly: I wouldn't want to discourage that. Only if the colours are too strong relative to the dividers does it become a little confusing.

Børge

I called all the dates in, had them redone with paler make-up and darker eye-liner and shot new photos, to which I have added links in my original post.
The white background versions have also been improved. Stringed some code together that automatically colours the cage cells connector tubes with the same colour as the cells they connect.

You might want to revisit The SkyDrive Folder.

Børge

The posting of Assassins in the Killer Puzzles forum is guided by a number of conventions, which are not especially easy to find since they are "hidden" in the "Assassin schedule" thread and in various other threads in the Killer Puzzles forum.

IMHO all these conventions, their rationales and the objectives that are to be achieved by having them in the first place, should all be clearly stated in the sticky thread "Advice for Newbies and Regulars". In addition, in regular intervals it should be carefully examined if the stated objectives have been achieved, and if not, the conventions and/or the objectives should be adjusted. IMVHO the current conventions have not at all achieved the objectives that I think they are supposed to achieve.
Next week I might be posting a separate thread regarding this. I think it is time to do a thorough examination and discussion of this stuff.

One convention guiding the posting of Assassins is: "Variants of the current Assassin should not be posted until next week's Assassin has been claimed".
The rationale behind this convention is presumably to avoid "rewarding" others for not stepping in and claiming next week's puzzle, i.e. to assure that their is a new Assassins every week.

On the other hand, if next week's puzzle is not claimed and no variants of the current Assassin are posted, the interest in the forum could degrade. I think having no puzzles is the worst scenario. Hence I have decided to post the remaining four Blind Dates. Anyway I do not think you will have any success with them all, except for maybe with the "Tall Blonde". They are all pretty vain and self-opinionated, and exceptionally difficult to get.

manu

We really need new puzzle makers, so I am glad that Börge is interested in our killer puzzles. I think his first ones were really interesting. Thanks ! :applause: Hope you will post others

Borge wrote:
On the other hand, if next week's puzzle is not claimed and no variants
of the current Assassin are posted, the interest in the forum could degrade.
I think having no puzzles is the worst scenario.

It's a really interesting question : some participants, like Ronnie G , have raised this question ("three weeks rule" for instance) yet. We should think about that : I am afraid this forum becomes less active too. Since your last versions of A 178 are "variations" of v1, I have personally nothing against you have posted them whereas the next assassin is not claimed. :(

Borge wrote:
Since I have no experience solving killers, I cannot rate them,
judge their solvability, present or comment walkthroughs, or give any useful
comments at all.

I wonder if you have solved the other versions (> v1) by yourself. This is a problem for me, since I (and some others I guess) have some hesitations in trying to solve your last 'difficult' versions of A178 if you cannot assert there are solvable without T&E moves.

Børge

manu wrote:
Borge wrote:
Since I have no experience solving killers, I cannot rate them,
judge their solvability, present or comment walkthroughs, or give any useful
comments at all.
I wonder if you have solved the other versions (> v1) by yourself. This is a problem for me, since I (and some others I guess) have some hesitations in trying to solve your last 'difficult' versions of A178 if you cannot assert there are solvable without T&E moves.
I have not solved or tried to solve any of the six A178 killer/assassin puzzles myself. This is what I tried to say with the sentence you have quoted. Sorry that I did not express myself clearly enough.

Archive Note References to A177 have been corrected to A178.
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Andrew
PostPosted: Thu May 03, 2012 10:19 pm 
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Assassin 178 V0.75 "Short Blonde" by Børge (October 2009) here
Puzzle Diagrams: 
Image Image Image
Code: Select, Copy & Paste into solver:
3x3::k:2842:5409:1290:1290:6166:2316:2316:3360:2587:5409:2842:1291:1291:6166:3085:3085:2587:3360:3348:5409:1544:4611:6166:4098:3335:3360:1810:3348:1544:4611:4611:4609:4098:4098:3335:1810:3865:3865:3865:4609:4098:4609:3864:3864:3864:1301:2825:4612:4612:4609:4357:4357:3334:2067:1301:5150:2825:4612:2583:4357:3334:4639:2067:5150:1053:2832:2832:2583:2574:2574:2076:4639:1053:5150:3601:3601:2583:1807:1807:4639:2076:
Solution: 
+-------+-------+-------+
| 5 8 1 | 4 7 3 | 6 2 9 |
| 4 6 3 | 2 9 5 | 7 1 8 |
| 7 9 2 | 6 8 1 | 5 3 4 |
+-------+-------+-------+
| 6 4 7 | 5 1 2 | 9 8 3 |
| 9 1 5 | 3 4 8 | 2 7 6 |
| 3 2 8 | 9 6 7 | 4 5 1 |
+-------+-------+-------+
| 2 5 9 | 1 3 6 | 8 4 7 |
| 8 3 4 | 7 2 9 | 1 6 5 |
| 1 7 6 | 8 5 4 | 3 9 2 |
+-------+-------+-------+
Quote:
Børge: Here come your first two Blind Dates.
Hopefully they will be both nice and entertaining and not dreadfully boring.
I now leave the limelight to you, the tough, learned and experienced enchanters.
SS score: 0.97.

Andrew: Thanks Børge for your first Assassins! I decided to start with the easier one and enjoyed it; even though it has a low SS score I still had to think hard at one stage so it's definitely an Assassin.
After the first two placements the "arrow into the heart" was very helpful for the next three placements.
Rating: 1.0.

Walkthrough by Andrew:
Thanks Børge for your first Assassins! I decided to start with the easier one and enjoyed it; even though it has a low SS score I still had to think hard at one stage so it's definitely an Assassin.

After the first two placements the "arrow into the heart" was very helpful for the next three placements.

Rating Comment. I'll rate A178 V0.75 at 1.0. I had to do a bit of combination and permutation analysis.

Here is my walkthrough for A178 V0.75. Thanks Afmob for pointing out that there was an error at the beginning of the original step 14; I've re-worked steps 14 and 15 and also made a few minor corrections and clarifications to earlier steps.

Prelims

a) 11(2) cage in N1 = {29/38/47/56}, no 1
b) R1C34 = {14/23}
c) R1C67 = (18/27/36/45}, no 9
d) 10(2) cage in N3 = {19/28/37/46}, no 5
e) R2C34 = {14/23}
f) R2C67 = {39/48/57}, no 1,2,6
g) R34C1 = {49/58/67}, no 1,2,3
h) 6(2) cage at R3C3 = {15/24}
i) 13(2) cage at R3C7 = {49/58/67}, no 1,2,3
j) R34C9 = {16/25/34}, no 7,8,9
k) R67C1 = {14/23}
l) 11(2) cage at R6C2 = {29/38/47/56}, no 1
m) 13(2) cage at R6C8 = {49/58/67}, no 1,2,3
n) R67C9 = {17/26/35}, no 4,8,9
o) 4(2) cage in N7 = {13}
p) R8C34 = {29/38/47/56}, no 1
q) R8C67 = {19/28/37/46}, no 5
r) 8(2) cage in N9 = {17/26/35}, no 4,8,9
s) R9C34 = {59/68}
t) R9C67 = {16/25/34}, no 7,8,9
u) 21(3) cage in N1 = {489/579/678}, no 1,2,3
v) 24(3) cage at R1C5 = {789}
w) 20(3) cage in N7 = {389/479/569/578}, no 1,2
x) 10(3) cage at R7C5 = {127/136/145/235}, no 8,9

Steps resulting from Prelims
1a. 4(2) cage in N7 = {13}, locked for N7, clean-up: no 2,4 in R6C1, no 8 in R6C2, no 8 in R8C4
1b. 24(3) cage at R1C5 = {789}, locked for C5 and N2, clean-up: no 1,2 in R1C7, no 3,4,5 in R2C7
1c. Naked pair {13} in R69C1, locked for C1, clean-up: no 8 in R2C2
1d. 1 in N1 locked in R123C3, locked for C3

2. 45 rule on C1234 1 innie R5C4 = 3, clean-up: no 2 in R12C3, no 8 in R8C3
2a. 45 rule on R6789 1 innie R6C5 = 6, clean-up: no 5 in R7C3, no 7 in R7C7, no 2 in R7C9
2b. 45 rule on C5 2 remaining innies R45C5 = 5 = {14}, locked for C5 and N5
2c. 45 rule on R1234 1 outie R5C5 = 1 innie R4C5 + 3 -> R5C5 = 4, R4C5 = 1, R5C6 = 8 (cage sum), clean-up: no 5 in R3C3, no 6 in R3C9, no 2 in R8C7
2d. Naked triple {235} in R789C5, locked for N8, clean-up: no 6,9 in R8C3, no 7,8 in R8C7, no 9 in R9C3, no 2,4,5 in R9C7

3. 16(4) cage at R3C6 = 4{129/156/237} (cannot be 4{138} because R4C6 only contains 2,5,7,9), no 8
3a. 1 of 4{129/156} must be in R3C6, only 2,3 of 4{237} can be in R3C6 -> R3C6 = {123}
3b. 6 of 4{156} must be in R4C7 -> no 5 in R4C7

4. 45 rule on R12 3 outies R3C258 = 20 = {389/479/569/578}, no 1,2

5. 45 rule on C12 3 outies R357C3 = 16
5a. Max R3C3 = 4 -> min R57C3 = 12, no 2,4 (R7C3 cannot be 4 because no 8 in R5C3), clean-up: no 7,9 in R6C2

6. 45 rule on C12 2 innies R46C2 = 1 outie R5C3 + 1
6a. Max R46C2 = 9 -> no 9 in R5C3

7. 18(3) cage at R3C4 = {189/279/369/459/567} (cannot be {378} because no 3,7,8 in R3C4, cannot be {468} because no 4,6,8 in R4C4)
7a. 2 of {279} must be in R3C4 -> no 2 in R4C34

8. 45 rule on R89 3 outies R7C258 = 12 = {129/138/156/237/345} (cannot be {147} because R7C5 only contains 2,3,5, cannot be {246} which clashes with R7C1)
8a. Min R7C25 = 6 -> max R7C8 = 6
8b. 1 of {156} must be in R7C8 -> no 6 in R7C8

9. 45 rule on N7 4 innies R7C13 + R89C3 = 21 = {2469/2478/2568}
9a. 2,4 of {2478} must be in R7C1 + R8C3 -> no 7 in R8C3, clean-up: no 4 in R8C4
9b. 5 of {2568} must be in R8C3 -> no 5 in R9C3, clean-up: no 9 in R9C4

10. Naked pair {68} in R9C34, locked for R9, clean-up: no 1 in R9C67, no 2 in R8C8

11. R9C67 = [43], clean-up: no 6 in R1C6, no 5 in R1C7, no 8 in R2C7, no 5 in R6C9, no 7 in R8C6, no 6 in R8C7, no 5 in 8(2) cage in N9

12. R3C4 = 6 (hidden single in N2) , R9C34 = [68], clean-up: no 7 in R4C1, no 7 in R4C8, no 5 in R6C2, no 5 in R8C3
12a. R4C34 = 12 = [39/57/75], no 4,8,9 in R4C3

13. R67C3 = {89} (hidden pair in C3), CPE no 9 in R7C4, clean-up: no 4 in R6C2

14. R45C3 = {57} (hidden pair in C3), locked for N4, clean-up: no 1 in R3C3, no 9 in R4C4 (step 12a)
14a. Naked pair {57} in R4C34, locked for R4, clean-up: no 8 in R3C7, no 2 in R3C9
14b. Naked pair {24} in R38C3, locked for C3, clean-up: no 1 in R12C4
14c. Naked pair {24} in R12C4, locked for C4 and N2, clean-up: no 7 in R1C7
14d. Naked pair {24} in 6(2) cage at R3C3, CPE no 4 in R3C2
14e. Naked triple {135} in R123C6, locked for C6, clean-up: no 9 in R8C7

15. R7C4 = 1 (hidden single in C4), R6C34 = 17 = [89], R7C3 = 9, R6C2 = 2, R4C2 = 4, R3C3 = 2, R8C34 = [47], R4C34 = [75], R4C6 = 2, R67C6 = [76], R6C7 = 4 (cage sum), R8C67 = [91], R6C8 = 5, R7C7 = 8, R7C1 = 2, R6C1 = 3, R5C3 = 5, R9C1 = 1, R8C2 = 3, R7C8 = 4, R8C8 = 6, R9C9 = 2, clean-up: no 7,8,9 in R1C1, no 1,5 in R1C6, no 4,6 in R1C9, no 9 in R2C2, no 8 in R2C8, no 5,8,9 in R3C1, no 7,9 in R3C7, no 3,5 in R3C9, no 9 in R4C8, no 5 in R7C9

and the rest is naked singles and a cage sum.
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Andrew
PostPosted: Thu May 03, 2012 10:44 pm 
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Joined: Wed Apr 23, 2008 6:04 pm
Posts: 1895
Location: Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada
Assassin 178 V1 "Short Redhead" by Børge (October 2009) here
Puzzle Diagrams: 
Image Image Image
Code: Select, Copy & Paste into solver:
3x3::k:2827:5150:2318:2318:4102:3344:3344:2847:2826:5150:2827:2319:2319:4102:2321:2321:2826:2847:1302:5150:2583:4867:4102:3842:1811:2847:3090:1302:2583:4867:4867:5633:3842:3842:1811:3090:2824:2824:2824:5633:3842:5633:4359:4359:4359:2328:3865:4356:4356:5633:3333:3333:3092:3349:2328:3361:3865:4356:4105:3333:3092:2592:3349:3361:1804:2842:2842:4105:3100:3100:3085:2592:1804:3361:2331:2331:4105:2333:2333:2592:3085:
Solution: 
+-------+-------+-------+
| 7 5 8 | 1 3 4 | 9 2 6 |
| 9 4 2 | 7 8 6 | 3 5 1 |
| 3 6 1 | 9 5 2 | 4 8 7 |
+-------+-------+-------+
| 2 9 4 | 6 7 1 | 8 3 5 |
| 1 7 3 | 5 4 8 | 6 9 2 |
| 5 8 6 | 3 2 9 | 1 7 4 |
+-------+-------+-------+
| 4 2 7 | 8 1 3 | 5 6 9 |
| 8 1 9 | 2 6 5 | 7 4 3 |
| 6 3 5 | 4 9 7 | 2 1 8 |
+-------+-------+-------+
Quote:
Børge: Here come your first two Blind Dates.
Hopefully they will be both nice and entertaining and not dreadfully boring.
I now leave the limelight to you, the tough, learned and experienced enchanters.
SS score: 1.27.

Afmob: Thanks for this fun Assassin, Borge!
The cracking move I used might be a bit over the top but it leads to a short solution path and I really enjoyed finding it.
Rating: Hard 1.25.

manu: Here is another way to get the "short redhead":

Andrew:
In the Assassin schedule thread, Børge wrote:
You will see your first two Blind Dates "the Short Blonde" and "the Short Redhead" on 2009/10/22 at 20:00 GMT.
They are identical twins, except they give different answers and one of them is much easier to get than the other.
That's certainly true. "The Short Redhead" was more of a challenge than "the Short Blonde".
Afmob and manu both had interesting ways to crack V1.
Rating: 1.25.

Walkthrough by Afmob:
Thanks for this fun Assassin, Borge!

The cracking move I used might be a bit over the top but it leads to a short solution path and I really enjoyed finding it.

A178 V1 Walkthrough:

1. R456
a) Overlap of R5+C5 = R5C5 = 4
b) Innie R6789 = R6C5 = 2
c) Innie C1234 = R5C4 = 5
d) Innie C5 = R4C5 = 7
e) Innie R5 = R5C6 = 8
f) 11(3) = 3{17/26} -> 3 locked for R5+N4
g) 9 locked in 17(3) @ R5 for N6

2. C1234 !
a) Innies+Outies C12: -14 = R5C3 - R46C2 -> R5C3 <> 6,7; R4C2 <> 1,2,4
b) ! Innies C12 = 25(4) = 9{178/268/367} -> 9 locked for C2+N4
c) ! Grouped Hidden Killer quad (1234) in each of 19(3), 11(2) and R3C3 (each can only have one of (1234)) for C34
since each of the three 9(2)s, R5C3 and 17(3) can only have one of (1234)
-> 19(3) <> 5, 11(2) <> 5,6 and R3C3 = (1234)
d) 19(3) = 9{28/37/46} because R4C4 = (369) -> 9 locked for C4
e) 17(3) = 6{38/47} since R6C6 = (136)
f) Hidden Single: R6C1 = 5 @ N4 -> R7C1 = 4
g) 5(2) = {23} -> R4C1 = 2, R3C1 = 3
h) 7(2) = {16} locked for N7
i) 13(3) = {238} -> R8C1 = 8; 2,3 locked for C2+N7

3. R6789
a) Hidden Single: R9C3 = 5 @ N7 -> R9C4 = 4
b) 11(2) = {29} -> R8C3 = 9, R8C4 = 2
c) R7C3 = 7 -> R6C2 = 8
d) 17(3) = {368} -> R6C3 = 6, R6C4 = 3, R7C4 = 8
e) Naked pair (47) locked in R6C89 for R6+N6
f) R6C7 = 1, R6C6 = 9 -> R7C6 = 3
g) 12(2) @ R6C8 = {57} -> R6C8 = 7, R7C7 = 5
h) 12(2) @ R8C6 = {57} -> R8C7 = 7, R8C6 = 5
i) R6C9 = 4 -> R7C9 = 9

4. R123
a) 11(2) @ N1 = [65/74]
b) Hidden Single: R2C1 = 9 @ N1, R1C7 = 9 @ N3 -> R1C6 = 4
c) 11(2) @ N3 <> 2
d) 1 locked in 11(3) @ N3 <> 5

5. Rest is singles.

Rating: Hard 1.25. I used a Grouped Hidden Killer quad.

The great thing about this move is, that it's already applicable after the initial placement R5C4 = 5:

Grouped Hidden Killer quad (1234) in 19(3), R3C3, R5C3 and 11(2) (and each of them can only have one of (1234)) for C34 since the three 9(2)s and 17(3) together can only have four of the eight possible (1234).
Walkthrough by manu:
Here is another way to get the "short redhead" :

Edit : Some corrections have been added : thanks Andrew.

It's not a really neat way, but the main steps are 3)a) and 3)b) : 7 locked at r67c3 and r3c3<>4

1)a) 45-rule for c5+r5 : 90=82+r5c5 : r5c5=4
b) Innie for r6789 : r6c5=2
c) Innie for c1234 : r5c4=5
d) Innie for r5 : r5c6=8
e) Innie for c5 : r4c5=7

2)a) 11(3)n4 = 3{17/26} : 3 locked for n4 and r5
b) Innies for c12 : r5c1+r4c2+r5c2+r6c2=h25(4).
c) Max r5c1+r5c2= 10 => (step b)) Min r4c2+r6c2=15
=> r4c2=(689), r3c3=(124)
Max r4c2+r6c2=117 => Min r5c1+r5c2=8 => Max r5c3 = 3
d) Outies for c12 : r3c3+r5c3+r7c3=h11(3) :
=> r7c3<>9, r6c2<>6
e) Since h25(4) n4 (step b)) cannot contain 4, h25(4) <> {4678}
=> h25(4) contains 9 : 9 locked for c2 and n4 at r46c2
f) Hidden single for c3 : r8c3=9, r8c4=2.

3)a) Cage sums for the three cages 9(2): r129c3 <>7 => 7 locked for c3 at r67c3.
=> CPE r7c4<>7, r6c2<>7 and r7c3<>8
b) 7 locked for c3 at r67c3 :
(i) r6c3=7 => (step 2)a)) 11(3)n4 contains 6 : r4c2<>6
(ii) r7c3=7 => r6c2=8 => r4c2=9 (step 2)e))
We deduce that r4c2 <> 6. r3c3<>4
c) Naked pair {89} locked for c2 and n4 at r46c2
d) Step 2)b) => r5c1+r5c2=8 => r5c3=3
e) r6c3<>4 : [4{58}] blocked by r5c46=[58], and [4{67}] impossible since r67c4<>7 (step 3)a))
f) Cage sums for the three cages 9(2): r129c3 <> 4 => Hidden single for c3 : r4c3=4

The puzzle is now cracked

4)a) Cage 19(3) at n2 : {469} with {69} locked for c4.
b) 17(3)n4 does not contain 9 => 17(3) <> {179} : No 1
=> Naked single : r6c4=3
=> Last combo : 17(3)=[638]
c) 16(3)n8={169} locked for n8 and c5
16(3)n2={358} locked for n2.
d) 11(3)n4={137} {17} locked for n4 and r5. R4c1=2, r3c1=3
e) 15(2)n4=[87], 10(2)n1=[19], r67c1=[54]. Innie of n7 : r9c3=5, r9c4=4
f) Hidden single for n5 : r6c6=9 => 13(3)n5=[913]

The rest is straightforward
Walkthrough by Andrew:
In the Assassin schedule thread, Børge wrote:
You will see your first two Blind Dates "the Short Blonde" and "the Short Redhead" on 2009/10/22 at 20:00 GMT.
They are identical twins, except they give different answers and one of them is much easier to get than the other.
That's certainly true. "The Short Redhead" was more of a challenge than "the Short Blonde".

Afmob and manu both had interesting ways to crack V1.

Rating Comment. I'll rate my A178 V1 at 1.25. I used combination analysis, CPEs and locking cages. I thought about rating it Easy 1.25 but my combination analysis is a lot harder than for V0.75, for example in step 14a. Also the 45s in steps 12 and 14 are very well hidden; congratulations Børge for a cage pattern that did that. I took a long time to spot them and actually saw the 45 in step 14 first but then realised that the one in step 12 is more powerul so I used it first.

Here is my walkthrough for A178 V1. Thanks Afmob for pointing out typos and a combo elimination that I'd overlooked.

Prelims

a) 11(2) cage in N1 = {29/38/47/56}, no 1
b) R1C34 = {18/27/36/45}, no 9
c) R1C67 = (49/58/67}, no 1,2,3
d) 11(2) cage in N3 = {29/38/47/56}, no 1
e) R2C34 = {18/27/36/45}, no 9
f) R2C67 = {18/27/36/45}, no 9
g) R34C1 = {14/23}
h) 10(2) cage at R3C3 = {19/28/37/46}, no 5
i) 7(2) cage at R3C7 = {16/25/34}, no 7,8,9
j) R34C9 = {39/48/57}, no 1,2,6
k) R67C1 = {18/27/36/45}, no 9
l) 15(2) cage at R6C2 = {69/78}
m) 12(2) cage at R6C8 = {39/48/57}, no 1,2,6
n) R67C9 = {49/58/67}, no 1,2,3
o) 7(2) cage in N7 = {16/25/34}, no 7,8,9
p) R8C34 = {29/38/47/56}, no 1
q) R8C67 = {39/48/57}, no 1,2,6
r) 12(2) cage in N9 = {39/48/57}, no 1,2,6
s) R9C34 = {18/27/36/45}, no 9
t) R9C67 = {18/27/36/45}, no 9
u) 20(3) cage in N1 = {389/479/569/578}, no 1,2
v) 11(3) cage in N3 = {128/137/146/236/245}, no 1
w) 19(3) cage at R3C4 = {289/379/469/478/568}, no 1
x) 11(3) cage at R5C1 = {128/137/146/236/245}, no 9
y) 10(3) cage in N9 = {127/136/145/235}, no 8,9

1. 45 rule on C1234 1 innie R5C4 = 5, clean-up: no 4 in R12C3, no 6 in R8C3, no 4 in R9C3
1a. 45 rule on R6789 1 innie R6C5 = 2, clean-up: no 7 in R7C1
1b. R5C4 + R6C5 = 7 -> R4C5 + R5C6 = 15 = {69/78}

2. 45 rule on C6789 1 innie R5C6 = 1 outie R5C5 + 4 -> R5C5 = {34}, R5C6 = {78}, clean-up: no 6,9 in R4C5 (step 1b)
2a. 45 rule on R1234 1 innie R4C5 = 1 outie R5C5 + 3 -> R4C5 = 7, R5C5 = 4, R5C6 = 8, clean-up: no 5 in R1C7, no 1 in R2C7, no 3 in R3C3, no 5 in R3C9, no 4 in R8C7, no 1 in R9C7
2b. 15(4) cage at R3C6 = 4{128/137/236}, no 5,9
2c. 1 of {128} must be in R4C6, 7 of {137} must be in R3C6 -> no 1 in R3C6
2d. 1 in C7 locked in R3456C7, CPE no 1 in R4C8, clean-up: no 6 in R3C7

3. 11(3) cage at R5C1 = {137/236}, 3 locked for R5 and N4, clean-up: no 2 in R3C1, no 7 in R3C3, no 6 in R7C1
3a. 9 in R5 locked in 17(3) cage at R5C7, locked for N6, clean-up: no 3 in R3C9, no 3 in R7C7, no 4 in R7C9

4. 19(3) cage at R3C4 = {289/379/469/568} (cannot be {478} because R4C4 only contains 3,6,9)
4a. 7 of {379} must be in R3C4 -> no 3 in R3C4

5. 45 rule on C12 3 outies R357C3 = 11 = {128/137/146/236}, no 9, clean-up: no 1 in R4C2, no 6 in R6C2
5a. 45 rule on C12 2 innies R46C2 = 1 outie R5C3 + 14
5b. Min R46C2 = 15 -> no 2,4 in R4C2, clean-up: no 6,8 in R3C3
5c. Max R46C2 = 17 -> max R5C3 = 3

6. 45 rule on C89 2 outies R35C7 = 1 innie R6C8 + 3, IOU no 3 in R3C7, clean-up: no 4 in R4C8
6a. 45 rule on C89 2 outies R57C7 = 1 innie R4C8 + 8, IOU no 8 in R7C7, clean-up: no 4 in R6C8
6b. 45 rule on C89 2 innies R46C8 = 1 outie R5C7 + 4
6c. R46C8 cannot total 6 -> no 2 in R5C7
6d. 45 rule on C89 3 outies R357C7 = 15 = {159/249/267/456}
6e. 6 of {267} must be in R5C7 -> no 7 in R5C7
6f. R5C7 = {169} -> R46C8 = 5,10,13 = [23/28/37/58/67], no 5 in R6C8, clean-up: no 7 in R7C7
[I originally saw that R357C7 cannot be [267] because R46C8 cannot be [55]. Then I looked for simpler steps to avoid this two column clash.]

7. 45 rule on R12 3 outies R3C258 = 19 = {289/379/469/478/568}, no 1

8. 45 rule on R89 3 outies R7C258 = 9 = {126/135/234}, no 7,8,9

9. 45 rule on N7 4 innies R7C13 + R89C3 = 25
9a. Max R7C13 + R9C3 = 21 -> min R8C3 = 4, clean-up: no 8,9 in R8C4
9b. 25(4) has five combinations containing 9, which must be in R8C3, and {4678} -> no 5 in R8C3, clean-up: no 6 in R8C4
[Alternatively for step 9b, the only way R7C13 + R9C3 can total 20 is {578} -> no 5 in R8C3 ...]

10. 45 rule on N9 4 innies R7C79 + R89C7 = 23 = {2489/2579/3569/4568} (cannot be {2678} because R7C7 only contains 4,5,9, cannot be {3479/3578} which clash with the 12(2) cage)
10a. 2 of {2579/2678} must be in R9C7 -> no 7 in R9C7, clean-up: no 2 in R9C6

11. R46C2 = R5C3 + 14 (step 5a)
11a. R5C3 = {123} -> R46C2 = 15,16,17 = {69/78/79/89}
11b. 20(3) cage in N1 = {389/479/569/578}
11c. 3,4 of {389/479} must be in R13C2 (R13C2 cannot be {79/89} which clash with R46C2), no 3,4 in R2C1

12. 45 rule on C12 4 innies R456C2 + R5C1 = 25 = {1789/2689/3679}, 9 locked for C2 and N4, clean-up: no 2 in R1C1
12a. 20(3) cage in N1 = {389/479/569/578}
12b. 9 of {569} must be in R2C1 -> no 6 in R2C1

13. R8C3 = 9 (hidden single in C3), R8C4 = 2, clean-up: no 7 in R12C3, no 3 in R8C67, no 5 in R9C1, no 7 in R9C3, no 3 in R9C9
13a. 7 in C3 locked in R67C3, CPE no 7 in R6C2 + R7C4, clean-up: no 8 in R7C3
13b. 9 in N4 locked in R46C2
13c. R46C2 = R5C3 + 14 (step 5a)
13d. R46C2 = {69/89} = 15,17 -> R5C3 = {13}

14. 17(3) cage at R5C7 = {179/269}
14a. 45 rule on C89 4 innies R456C8 + R5C9 = 21 = {1578/2379/2568} (cannot be {1389/1569} because no 7 in R5C7 so R5C89 cannot be {19}, cannot be {3567} because 17(3) cannot have both of 6,7)
14b. 2,6 of {2568} must be in R5C89 -> no 6 in R4C8, clean-up: no 1 in R3C7
14c. 1 in C7 locked in R456C7, locked for N6
14d. R456C8 + R5C9 = {2379/2568}, 2 locked for N6

15. 15(4) cage at R3C6 (step 2b) = 4{128/137/236}
15a. 2,7 only in R3C6 -> R3C6 = {27}

16. 1 in R3 locked in R3C13, locked for N1, clean-up: no 8 in R12C4

17. 19(3) cage at R3C4 (step 4) = {289/469/568} (cannot be {379} because no 3,7,9 in R4C3), no 3,7
17a. 2,5 of {289/568} must be in R4C3 -> no 8 in R4C3

18. 1 in N1 locked in R3C13
18a. 45 rule on N1 4 innies R12C3 + R3C13 = 14 = {1238/1256/1346} with 6 or 8 in R12C3
18b. 45 rule on N7 3 remaining innies R7C13 + R9C3 = 16 = {178/268/367/457} (cannot be {358} because R7C3 only contains 6,7)
18c. 2 of {268} must be in R9C3 (R79C3 cannot be {68} which clashes with R12C3), no 2 in R7C1, clean-up: no 7 in R6C1

19. 45 rule on N7 3(2+1) remaining outies R6C12 + R9C4 = 17
19a. R6C12 cannot total 16 -> no 1 in R9C4, clean-up: no 8 in R9C3
19b. Min R6C2 + R9C4 = 11 -> no 8 in R6C1, clean-up: no 1 in R7C1

20. 17(3) cage at R6C3 = {179/359/368/467} (cannot be {458} because no 4,5,8 in R6C4)
20a. 7 of {179/467} must be in R6C3 -> no 1,4 in R6C3
20b. 4 in C3 locked in R34C3, CPE no 4 in R3C4

21. 7 in C4 locked in R129C4 -> 2 in C3 locked in R129C3 (locking 9(2) cages), locked for C3, clean-up: no 8 in R4C2
21a. Naked pair {69} in R4C24, locked for R4

22. 19(3) cage at R3C4 (step 17) = {469/568}
22a. 6 locked in R34C4, locked for C4, clean-up: no 3 in R129C3

23. R5C3 = 3 (hidden single in C3)
23a. R46C2 = R5C3 + 14 (step 5a)
23b. R5C3 = 3 -> R46C2 = 17 = [98], R3C3 = 1, R7C3 = 7, R4C4 = 6, clean-up: no 3 in R1C1, no 4 in R4C1, no 6 in R6C9, no 4 in R7C7, no 5 in R7C9, no 8 in R9C4

24. 15(4) cage at R3C6 (step 2b) = 4{128/137}, 1 locked for R4 -> R4C1 = 2, R3C1 = 3, clean-up: no 8 in R1C1, no 5 in R3C7, no 6 in R5C12 (step 3), no 6 in R6C1, no 4,5 in R8C2
24a. Naked pair {17} in R5C12, locked for R5 and N4, clean-up: no 8 in R7C1
24b. Naked triple {269} in R5C789, locked for N6
24c. Naked pair {45} in R67C1, locked for C1, clean-up: no 6,7 in R2C2, no 3 in R8C2

25. Naked pair {16} in 7(2) cage in N7, locked for N7 -> R8C1 = 8, clean-up: no 4 in R8C6, no 3 in R9C4, no 4 in R9C9
25a. R8C1 = 8 -> R79C2 = 5 = {23}, locked for C2 and N7 -> R9C3 = 5, R9C4 = 4, R67C1 = [54], R4C3 = 4, R3C4 = 9 (step 22), R6C3 = 6, clean-up: no 9 in R1C1, no 3 in R12C4, no 8 in R3C9, no 3 in R4C9, no 8 in R7C9, no 7 in R8C8

26. Naked pair {17} in R12C4, locked for C4 and N2 -> R67C4 = [38], R34C6 = [21], R4C7 = 8 (step 24), R6C6 = 9, R6C8 = 7, R7C7 = 5, R6C9 = 4, R7C9 = 9, R6C7 = 1, R7C6 = 3 (cage sum), R79C2 = [23], R3C7 = 4, R4C8 = 3, R34C9 = [75], R8C8 = 4, R9C9 = 8, R8C67 = [57], clean-up: no 6 in R1C67, no 4 in R2C6, no 2,6 in R2C7, no 2,6 in R2C8, no 6 in R9C67

and the rest is naked singles and a cage sum.
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Andrew
PostPosted: Thu May 03, 2012 11:18 pm 
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Joined: Wed Apr 23, 2008 6:04 pm
Posts: 1895
Location: Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada
Assassin 178 V1.5 "Tall Blonde" by Børge (October 2009) here
Puzzle Diagrams: 
Image Image Image
Code: Select, Copy & Paste into solver:
3x3::k:2830:7450:7450:7450:4104:6171:6171:6171:2834:7450:2830:2320:2320:4104:2321:2321:2834:6171:1293:7450:2575:4867:4104:3842:1811:6171:3082:1293:2575:4867:4867:5633:3842:3842:1811:3082:2825:2825:2825:5633:3842:5633:4359:4359:4359:2316:3863:4356:4356:5633:3333:3333:3092:3339:2316:5661:3863:4356:4102:3333:3092:4892:3339:5661:1816:2838:2838:4102:3093:3093:3097:4892:1816:5661:5661:5661:4102:4892:4892:4892:3097:
Solution: 
+-------+-------+-------+
| 7 5 8 | 1 3 4 | 9 2 6 |
| 9 4 2 | 7 8 6 | 3 5 1 |
| 3 6 1 | 9 5 2 | 4 8 7 |
+-------+-------+-------+
| 2 9 4 | 6 7 1 | 8 3 5 |
| 1 7 3 | 5 4 8 | 6 9 2 |
| 5 8 6 | 3 2 9 | 1 7 4 |
+-------+-------+-------+
| 4 2 7 | 8 1 3 | 5 6 9 |
| 8 1 9 | 2 6 5 | 7 4 3 |
| 6 3 5 | 4 9 7 | 2 1 8 |
+-------+-------+-------+
Quote:
Børge: … I think having no puzzles is the worst scenario. Hence I have decided to post the remaining four Blind Dates. Anyway I do not think you will have any success with them all, except for maybe with the "Tall Blonde". They are all pretty vain and self-opinionated, and exceptionally difficult to get.
Since their appearance gives vague hints on how to get the "Short Redhead", I have decided to conceale them a bit.
SS score: 2.56.

Andrew (in 2011): I decided to have one more try at these puzzles, having started A178 V1.5 after finishing the V1.
Børge wrote:
Anyway I do not think you will have any success with them all, except for maybe with the "Tall Blonde". They are all pretty vain and self-opinionated, and exceptionally difficult to get.
They certainly are. I found the "Tall Blonde" and later the "Tall Redhead" very hard going, to the extent that these "young women" got some fairly rough handling …
Rating: At least 2.0.

Walkthrough by Andrew (finished in 2011):
I decided to have one more try at these puzzles, having started A178 V1.5 after finishing the V1.
Børge wrote:
Anyway I do not think you will have any success with them all, except for maybe with the "Tall Blonde". They are all pretty vain and self-opinionated, and exceptionally difficult to get.
They certainly are. I found the "Tall Blonde" and later the "Tall Redhead" very hard going, to the extent that these "young women" got some fairly rough handling in the form of contradiction moves. Also if the 16(3) cages at R1C5 and R7C5, 11(3) cage at R5C1 and 17(3) cage at R5C7 hadn’t quickly reduced to two combinations I probably wouldn’t have been able to solve it; those pairs of combinations were very helpful for some of the contradiction moves.

Rating Comment. Yet again I found myself making comparisons with my walkthrough for A74 Brick Wall. My number of contradiction moves and the length of a few of them made me consider rating this puzzle higher but after returning to this puzzle I never ground to a halt as I did several times for A74 Brick Wall. I'll therefore rate A178 V1.5 "Tall Blonde" at least 2.0. Also, in my opinion, "Tall Blonde" should have been called A178 V2.

Since finishing this puzzle several weeks ago, I've spent time looking again at A74 Brick Wall and also at other hard variants on Ruud's site including A55 V2, the puzzle quote by Mike as a typical example of a 2.0 rated puzzle.

Here is my walkthrough for A178 V1.5 "Tall Blonde".

Prelims

a) 11(2) cage in N1 = {29/38/47/56}, no 1
b) 11(2) cage in N3 = {29/38/47/56}, no 1
c) R2C34 = {18/27/36/45}, no 9
d) R2C67 = {18/27/36/45}, no 9
e) R34C1 = {14/23}
f) 10(2) cage at R3C3 = {19/28/37/46}, no 5
g) 7(2) cage at R3C7 = {16/25/34}, no 7,8,9
h) R34C9 = {39/48/57}, no 1,2,6
i) R67C1 = {18/27/36/45}, no 9
j) 15(2) cage at R6C2 = {69/78}
k) 12(2) cage at R6C8 = {39/48/57}, no 1,2,6
l) R67C9 = {49/58/67}, no 1,2,3
m) 7(2) cage at R8C2 = {16/25/34}, no 7,8,9
n) R8C34 = {29/38/47/56}, no 1
o) R8C67 = {39/48/57}, no 1,2,6
p) 12(2) cage at R8C8 = {39/48/57}, no 1,2,6
q) 19(3) cage at R3C4 = {289/379/469/478/568}, no 1
r) 11(3) cage at R5C1 = {128/137/146/236/245}, no 9

1. 45 rule on C1234 1 innie R5C4 = 5, clean-up: no 4 in R2C3, no 6 in R8C3
1a. 45 rule on R6789 1 innie R6C5 = 2, clean-up: no 7 in R7C1
1b. R5C4 + R6C5 = 7 -> R4C5 + R5C6 = 15 = {69/78}

2. 45 rule on R5 2 remaining innies R5C56 = 12 = [39/48]
2a. 45 rule on C6789 1 innie R5C6 = 1 outie R5C5 + 4 -> R5C5 = 4, R5C6 = 8, R4C5 = 7 (step 1b), clean-up: no 1 in R2C7, no 3 in R3C3, no 5 in R3C9, no 4 in R8C7
2b. 15(4) cage at R3C6 = 4{128/137/236}, no 5,9
2c. 1 of {128} must be in R4C6, 7 of {137} must be in R3C6 -> no 1 in R3C6

3. 11(3) cage at R5C1 = {137/236}, 3 locked for R5 and N4, clean-up: no 2 in R3C1, no 7 in R3C3, no 6 in R7C1
3a. 9 in R5 only in 17(3) cage at R5C7, locked for N6, clean-up: no 3 in R3C9, no 3 in R7C7, no 4 in R7C9

4. 1,2 in N9 only in R7C8 + R8C9 + R9C78, locked for 19(5) cage at R7C8, no 1,2 in R9C6

5. 45 rule on R12 3 outies R3C258 = 19, no 1

6. 45 rule on R89 3 outies R7C258 = 9 = {126/135/234}, no 7,8,9

7. 19(3) cage at R3C4 = {289/379/469/568} (cannot be {478} because R4C4 only contains 3,6,9)
7a. 7 of {379} must be in R3C4 -> no 3 in R3C4

8. 45 rule on N7 3 innies R7C13 + R8C3 = 1 outie R9C4 + 16
8a. Max R7C13 + R8C3 = 24 -> max R9C4 = 8

9. R34C1 = {14}/[32], R67C1 = {18/45}/[63/72] -> combined cage R3467C1 = {14}[63]/{14}[72]/[32]{18}/[32]{45}
9a. R3467C1 = {14}[63] => 11(3) cage at R5C1 (step 3) = {137} => no 2 in R5C1
or R3467C1 = {14}[72]/[32]{18}/[32]{45}, 2 locked for C1
-> no 2 in R5C1

10. 5 in R3 only in R3C2578
10a. R3C258 = 19 (step 5) = {289/379/469/478/568}
10b. R3C258 = {568} or 7(2) cage at R3C7 = [52] -> 2 of {289} must be in R3C2, no 2 in R3C8 (blocking cages)

11. 19(5) cage at R7C8 = {12349/12358/12367/12457}
11a. 8 of {12358} must be in N9 => 12(2) cage at R8C8 = {39/57} => R7C7 = 4 (hidden single in N7), R6C8 = 8 -> no 8 in R9C8

12. 19(5) cage at R7C8 = {12349/12358/12367/12457}
12a. {12349/12358} => R7C9 = 6 (hidden single in N9), R6C9 = 7 => no 7 in R9C9
or {12367/12457} => no 7 in R9C9
-> no 7 in R9C9, clean-up: no 5 in R8C8

[I then had a forcing chain which eliminated 8 from R8C9 but that was superseded by the following contradiction move.]

13. 9 in R5 locked in 17(3) cage at R5C7 (step 3a) = {179/269}
13a. R3C258 = {568} or 7(2) cage at R3C7 = [52] (step 10b)
13b. 19(5) cage at R7C8 = {12349/12358/12367/12457} cannot be {12358}, here’s how
8 of {12358} must be in N9 => 12(2) cage at R8C8 = {39} (cannot be [75] because {12358} “sees” R9C9), locked for N9 => 3 of {12358} must be in R9C6 => R9C9 = 9, R7C9 = 6 (hidden single in N9), R6C9 = 7, R7C7 = 4 (hidden single in N9) => R6C8 = 8, R34C9 = {48} (only remaining combination) => R3C9 = 8, 17(3) cage at R5C7 = {269} (only remaining combination) => R5C9 = 2
so cannot place 5 in R3 because R3C9 = 8 blocked R3C258 = {568} and R5C9 = 2 blocks 7(2) cage at R3C7 = [52]
-> 19(5) cage at R7C8 = {12349/12367/12457}, no 8

[At this stage I can see that if 19(5) cage = {12349/12457} then R7C9 = 6, R6C9 = 7, 17(3) cage at R5C7 = {269}, no 5 in R3C7 so R3C258 = {568}. What I don’t yet know is what happens if 19(5) cage = {12367}.]

14. 19(5) cage at R7C8 = {12349/12367/12457}
5 of {12457} cannot be in R9C6, here’s how
R9C6 = 5 => 4,7 of {12457} locked for N9 => 12(2) cage at R8C8 = {39}, R7C9 = 6 (hidden single in N9), R6C9 = 7, R78C7 = {58} (hidden pair in N9) => R7C7 = 8 (12(2) cage at R6C8 cannot be [75] which clashes with R6C9), R6C8 = 4, R8C7 = 5, R8C6 = 7, R34C9 = [48] (cannot be [93] which clashes with R9C9), R4C8 = 5 (hidden single in N6), R3C7 = 2 => all combinations for 15(4) cage at R3C6 (step 2b) = 4{128/137/236} because is blocked by R3C7 = 2 and R8C6 = 7
-> no 5 in R9C6

15. 19(5) cage at R7C8 = {12349/12367/12457}
6 of {12367} cannot be in R9C6, here’s how
R9C6 = 6 => 3,7 of {12367} locked for N9 => 12(2) cage at R8C8 = {48}, R7C9 = 6 (hidden single in N9), R6C9 = 7, R78C7 = {59} (hidden pair in N9) => R7C7 = 9 (12(2) cage at R6C8 cannot be [75] which clashes with R6C9), R6C8 = 3 => all combinations for R34C9 blocked by R6C8 = 3, R6C9 = 7 and R9C9 = {48}
-> no 6 in R9C6

16. R34C9 = {48}/[75/93], R67C9 = [49]/{58/67} -> combined cage R3467C9 = {48}{67}/[75][49]/[93]{58}/[93]{67}
16a. 16(3) cage at R7C5 = {169/358}
[These are for use in later steps.]

17. 19(5) cage at R7C8 = {12349/12367/12457}
3 cannot be in R9C6, here’s how
R9C6 = 3 => R8C8 = 3 (hidden single in N9, R8C67 cannot be [93] because R89C6 = [93] clashes with 16(3) cage at R7C5), R9C9 = 9, R3467C9 = {48}{67} (only remaining combination) => R7C9 = {67} => {12349} clashes with R9C9 and {12367} clashes with R7C9
-> no 3 in R9C6

18. 45 rule on N9 3 innies R7C79 + R8C7 = 1 outie R9C6 + 14
18a. R9C6 = {479} => R7C79 + R8C7 = 18,21,23
R9C6 = 4 => 19(5) cage at R7C8 = {12349/12457}, R7C9 = 6 (hidden single in N9), R6C9 = 7, R78C7 = 12 cannot be [93] because R7C7 = 9, R6C8 = 3, R8C8 = 4 (hidden single in N9), R9C9 = 8 => all combinations for R34C9 blocked by R6C8 = 3, R6C9 = 7 and R9C9 = 8
or R6C6 = {79} => R7C79 + R8C7 = 21,23 cannot contain 3
-> no 3 in R8C7, clean-up: no 9 in R8C6

19. R9C6 = {479} => R7C79 + R8C7 = 18,21,23 (step 18a)
R9C6 = 4 => 19(5) cage at R7C8 = {12349/12457}, R7C9 = 6 (hidden single in N9), R6C9 = 7 => R7C79 + R8C7 = 18 = [765] (cannot be [468] because R8C67 = [48] clashes with R9C6, cannot be [567] because 12(2) cage at R6C8 = [75] clashes with R6C9)
or R9C6 = 7 => R7C79 + R8C7 = 21 = {579/678} (cannot be {489}, locked for N9 => 12(2) cage at R8C8 = [75] because [489] => R6C9 = 5 clashes with R9C9 and [498] => R6C9 = 4 => all combinations for R34C9 blocked by R6C9 = 4, R7C9 = 9 and R9C9 = 5
or R9C6 = 9 => R7C79 + R8C7 = 23 = {689} => R7C9 = 6
-> R7C79 + R8C7 = [765]/{579/678/689}, no 4, clean-up: no 8 in R6C8
19a. 6 of {678/689} must be in R7C9 -> no 8 in R7C9, clean-up: no 5 in R6C9

20. 17(3) cage at R5C7 = {179/269}
20a. R7C79 + R8C7 = [765]/{579/678/689} (step 19)
{579} = 21 => R9C6 = 7 (step 18)
{579} cannot be [579] (because R6C89 = [76] clashes with 17(3) cage at R5C7), cannot be [975] because R8C67 = [75] clashes with R9C6 = 7)
6 of other combinations must be in R7C9
-> no 7 in R7C9, clean-up: no 6 in R6C9
20b. 8 cannot be in R7C7, here’s how
{678} = [867] = 21, R9C6 = 7 (step 18), R6C8 = 4, R6C9 = 7, R4C9 = 8 (hidden single in N6), 17(3) cage at R5C7 = {269} (only remaining combination), locked for N6, 15(4) cage at R3C6 (step 2b) = 4{236} (only remaining combination) => R4C7 = 3, R34C6 = [26], R6C7 = 5 (hidden single in N6, 5 cannot be in R4C8 because 7(2) cage at R3C7 = [25] clashes with R3C6), R67C6 = 8 = [17/62] which clash with R9C6 and R34C6
or {689} = [869] = 23, R9C6 = 9 (step 18), R8C6 = 3 -> R89C6 = [39] clashes with 16(3) cage at R7C5
-> no 8 in R7C7, clean-up: no 4 in R6C8
20c. R7C79 + R8C7 cannot be {678}, here’s how
{678} = [768] = 21, R9C6 = 7 (step 18), R6C8 = 5, R6C9 = 7, R4C9 = 8 (hidden single in N6), 17(3) cage at R5C7 = {269} (only remaining combination), locked for N6, 15(4) cage at R3C6 (step 2b) = 4{236} (only remaining combination) => R4C7 = 3, R34C6 = [26], R6C7 = 4 (hidden single in N6, 4 cannot be in R4C8 because 7(2) cage at R3C7 = [34] clashes with R3C6), R67C6 = 9 = {36} clashes with R4C6
-> R7C79 + R8C7 = [765]/{579}/[968]

21. R7C79 + R8C7 = [765]/{579}/[968]
21a. R7C79 + R8C7 = [765]/{579}
or R7C79 + R8C7 = [968] => 12(2) cage at R8C8 = [75]
-> 5 must be in R7C79 + R8C7 + R9C9, locked for N9

22. 19(5) cage at R7C8 (step 13b) = {12349/12367}, 3 locked for N9, clean-up: no 9 in 12(2) cage at R8C8
22a. 4 of {12349} cannot be in R9C6, here’s how
R9C6 = 4 => R7C79 + R8C7 = 18 (step 18a) = [765], R6C8 = 5, R6C9 = 7, R8C6 = 7, 12(2) cage at R8C8 = [48], R34C9 = [93] (cannot be {48} which clashes with R9C9), R6C7 = 4 (hidden single in N6), R67C6 = 9 = [63], 16(3) cage at R7C5 = {169} (only remaining combination), locked for N8, R7C3 = 9 (hidden single in R7), R6C2 = 6 clashes with R6C6
-> no 4 in R9C6

23. 19(5) cage at R7C8 (step 13b) = {12349/12367}
23a. R9C6 = {79} -> no 7,9 in R8C9 + R9C78

24. R9C6 = {79} -> R7C79 + R8C7 = 21,23 (step 18) = {579}/[968]
[Just restating this for the next two steps.]

25. Consider placements for R9C6
R9C6 = 7
or R9C9 = 9 => R7C79 + R8C7 = 21 = [968] (step 24) => R8C8 = 7 (hidden single in N9)
-> 7 must be in R8C8 + R9C6, CPE no 7 in R8C46, clean-up: no 4 in R8C3, no 5 in R8C7

26. Consider placements for R9C6
R9C6 = 7 => R7C79 + R8C7 = 21 = {579} (step 24) => R8C7 = {79} => R8C6 = {35} => 16(3) cage at R7C5 = {169} (only remaining combination)
or R9C6 = 9
-> 9 must be in R89C5 + R9C6, locked for N8, clean-up: no 2 in R8C3

27. 19(5) cage at R7C8 (step 13b) = {12349/12367} cannot be {12349}, here’s how
{12349} => R9C6 = 9, 16(3) cage at R7C5 (step 16a) = {358} (only remaining combination), locked for N8, R7C79 + R8C7 = 21 = [968] (step 24), R6C9 = 7, 17(3) cage at R5C7 (step 13) = {269} (only remaining combination), locked for R5 => 11(3) cage at R5C1 = {137}, 15(2) cage at R6C2 = {78} => R6C2 = 8, R7C3 = 7, R7C1 = 8 (hidden single in R7), R6C1 = 1 clashes with 11(3) cage at R5C1
-> 19(5) cage at R7C8 = {12367}, no 4,9

[No more contradiction moves!]

28. 19(5) cage at R7C8 = {12367} -> R9C6 = 7, 6 locked for N9, clean-up: no 2 in R2C7, no 7 in R6C9
28a. R9C6 = 7 -> R7C79 + R8C7 = 21 = {579} (step 24), locked for N9, 5 also locked for R7, 7 also locked for C7, clean-up: no 2 in R2C6, no 4 in R6C1, no 4 in R8C6
28b. Naked pair {48} in R69C9, locked for C9, clean-up: no 3,7 in R2C8
28c. Killer pair 5,9 in R34C9 and R7C9, locked for C9, clean-up: no 2,6 in R2C8

29. 16(3) cage at R7C5 (step 16a) = {169} (cannot be {358} which clashes with R8C6), locked for C5 and N8, clean-up: no 5 in R8C3
29a. Naked triple {358} in 16(3) cage at R1C5, locked for N2, clean-up: no 1,6 in R2C3, no 4,6 in R2C7

30. R8C6 = 5 (hidden single in N8), R8C7 = 7, clean-up: no 5 in R6C8, no 4 in R8C4
30a. Naked pair {59} in R7C79, locked for R7, clean-up: no 6 in R6C2

31. 15(4) cage at R3C6 (step 2b) = 4{128/236}, CPE no 2 in R3C7, clean-up: no 5 in R4C8
31a. 8 of 4{128} must be in R4C7 -> no 1 in R4C7

32. 19(3) cage at R3C4 (step 7) = {289/379/469} (cannot be {568} because 5,8 only in R4C3), no 5
32a. 8 of {289} must be in R4C3 -> no 2 in R4C3

33. 17(3) cage at R6C3 = {269/359/368/467} (cannot be {179} because no 1,7,9 in R7C4, cannot be {278/458} because R6C4 only contains 3,6,9), no 1
33a. 7 of {467} must be in R6C3 -> no 4 in R6C3
33b. 4 in N4 only in R4C123, locked for R4, clean-up: no 3 in R3C7
33c. 1 in N5 only in R46C6, locked for C6, clean-up: no 8 in R2C7

34. 45 rule on N3 3 innies R2C7 + R3C79 = 1 outie R1C6 + 10
34a. R2C7 + R3C79 cannot total 12,19 -> no 2,9 in R1C6

35. Naked pair {46} in R12C6, locked for C6 and N2 -> R3C6 = 2, R7C6 = 3, R4C6 = 1, R4C7 = 8 (cage sum), R6C6 = 9, R6C7 = 1 (cage sum), clean-up: no 3,5,7 in R2C3, no 4 in R3C1, no 9 in R3C3, no 6 in 7(2) cage at R3C7, no 7 in 17(3) cage at R5C7 (step 13), no 6 in R6C1, no 8 in R7C1, no 6 in R7C3

36. Naked triple {269} in 17(3) cage at R5C7, locked for R5 and N6 -> R4C8 = 3, R3C7 = 4, R4C9 = 5, R3C9 = 7, R67C9 = [49], R6C8 = 7, R7C7 = 5, R2C7 = 3, R2C6 = 6, R1C6 = 4, R3C4 = 9, R4C4 = 6, R4C3 = 4, R4C1 = 2, R3C1 = 3, R4C2 = 9, R3C3 = 1, R6C2 = 8, R7C3 = 7, R5C3 = 3, R6C1 = 5, R7C1 = 4, R6C34 = [63], R7C4 = 8 (step 33), R9C9 = 8, R8C8 = 4, R8C4 = 2, R8C3 = 9, R9C4 = 4, clean-up: no 8 in R1C1, no 7 in R2C2, no 8 in R2C8, no 3 in R8C2

37. Naked pair {16} in 7(2) cage at R8C2, locked for N7 -> R7C2 = 2, R8C1 = 8, R9C23 = [35]

38. Naked pair {26} in R15C9, locked for C9 -> R2C9 = 1, R8C9 = 3, R2C4 = 7, R2C3 = 2, R1C34 = [81], R2C1 = 9, R2C8 = 5, R1C9 = 6

and the rest is naked singles.
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Andrew
PostPosted: Fri May 04, 2012 2:55 am 
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Joined: Wed Apr 23, 2008 6:04 pm
Posts: 1895
Location: Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada
Assassin 178 V2 "Tall Redhead" by Børge (October 2009) here
Puzzle Diagrams: 
Image Image Image
Code: Select, Copy & Paste into solver:
3x3::k:5397:5143:2321:2321:4102:3338:3338:2841:4626:5143:5397:2320:2320:4102:2315:2315:4626:2841:1302:5143:5397:4867:4102:3842:4626:2841:3096:1302:5397:4867:4867:5633:3842:3842:4626:3096:2823:2823:2823:5633:3842:5633:4360:4360:4360:2330:5652:4356:4356:5633:3333:3333:6163:3356:2330:3355:5652:4356:4105:3333:6163:2589:3356:3355:5652:2830:2830:4105:3084:3084:6163:2589:5652:3355:2319:2319:4105:2317:2317:2589:6163:
Solution: 
+-------+-------+-------+
| 7 5 8 | 1 3 4 | 9 2 6 |
| 9 4 2 | 7 8 6 | 3 5 1 |
| 3 6 1 | 9 5 2 | 4 8 7 |
+-------+-------+-------+
| 2 9 4 | 6 7 1 | 8 3 5 |
| 1 7 3 | 5 4 8 | 6 9 2 |
| 5 8 6 | 3 2 9 | 1 7 4 |
+-------+-------+-------+
| 4 2 7 | 8 1 3 | 5 6 9 |
| 8 1 9 | 2 6 5 | 7 4 3 |
| 6 3 5 | 4 9 7 | 2 1 8 |
+-------+-------+-------+
Quote:
Børge: … I think having no puzzles is the worst scenario. Hence I have decided to post the remaining four Blind Dates. Anyway I do not think you will have any success with them all, except for maybe with the "Tall Blonde". They are all pretty vain and self-opinionated, and exceptionally difficult to get.
Since their appearance gives vague hints on how to get the "Short Redhead", I have decided to conceale them a bit.
SS score: Unsolvable.

Andrew (in 2011): And then the "Tall Redhead" got even more rough handling …
I think that "Short Brunette" and "Tall Brunette" will probably remain lonely "young women". Their cage patterns are so different from the ones I've just posted that they took away most/all of the steps that I used.
Rating: At least 2.5.

Walkthrough by Andrew (in 2011):
And then the "Tall Redhead" got even more rough handling in the form of contradiction moves and, in at least one case, a contradiction within a contradition. Again if the 16(3) cages at R1C5 and R7C5, 11(3) cage at R5C1 and 17(3) cage at R5C7 hadn’t quickly reduced to two combinations I probably wouldn’t have been able to solve it; those pairs of combinations were very helpful for some of the contradiction moves. Also in this case the three 9(2) cages in C34 and the two 9(2) cages in C67 were very helpful and provided interest to some of the contradiction moves.

Rating Comment. This one was even harder than the previous one; several of my contradiction moves were very long and sometimes complicated with some of them using most of the cells of C34567. I'll therefore rate A178 V2 "Tall Redhead" at least 2.5, the highest rating I've ever given for a completed puzzle. Also, in my opinion, "Tall Redhead" should have been called A178 V3.

Here is my walkthrough for A178 V2 "Tall Redhead"

Prelims

a) R1C34 = {18/27/36/45}, no 9
b) R1C67 = {49/58/67}, no 1,2,3
c) R2C34 = {18/27/36/45}, no 9
d) R2C67 = {18/27/36/45}, no 9
e) R34C1 = {14/23}
f) R34C9 = {39/48/57}, no 1,2,6
g) R67C1 = {18/27/36/45}, no 9
h) R67C9 = {49/58/67}, no 1,2,3
i) R8C34 = {29/38/47/56}, no 1
j) R8C67 = {39/48/57}, no 1,2,6
k) R9C34 = {18/27/36/45}, no 9
l) R9C67 = {18/27/36/45}, no 9
m) 20(3) cage in N1 = {389/479/569/578}, no 1,2
n) 11(3) cage in N3 = {128/137/146/236/245}, no 9
o) 19(3) cage at R3C4 = {289/379/469/478/568}, no 1
p) 11(3) cage at R5C1 = {128/137/146/236/245}, no 9
q) 10(3) cage in N9 = {127/136/145/235}, no 8,9

1. 45 rule on C1234 1 innie R5C4 = 5, clean-up: no 4 in R1C3, no 4 in R2C3, no 6 in R8C3, no 4 in R9C3
1a. 45 rule on R6789 1 innie R6C5 = 2, clean-up: no 7 in R7C1
1b. R5C4 + R6C5 = 7 -> R4C5 + R5C6 = 15 = {69/78}

2. 45 rule on R5 2 remaining innies R5C56 = 12 = [39/48]
2a. 45 rule on C6789 1 innie R5C6 = 1 outie R5C5 + 4 -> R5C5 = 4, R5C6 = 8, R4C5 = 7 (step 1b), clean-up: no 5 in R1C7, no 1 in R2C7, no 5 in R3C9, no 4 in R8C7, no 1 in R9C7
2b. 15(4) cage at R3C6 = 4{128/137/236}, no 5,9
2c. 1 of {128} must be in R4C6, 7 of {137} must be in R3C6 -> no 1 in R3C6

3. 11(3) cage at R5C1 = {137/236}, 3 locked for R5 and N4, clean-up: no 2 in R3C1, no 6 in R7C1
3a. 9 in R5 locked in 17(3) cage at R5C7, locked for N6, clean-up: no 3 in R3C9, no 4 in R7C9
3b. 17(3) cage at R5C7 = {179/269}
3c. 16(3) cages at R1C5 and R7C5 = {169/358}
[For use with later contradiction moves]

4. 45 rule on C12 3 outies R357C3 = 11 = {128/137/146/236/245}, no 9

5. 19(3) cage at R3C4 = {289/379/469/568} (cannot be {478} because R4C4 only contains 3,6,9)
5a. 7 of {379} must be in R3C4 -> no 3 in R3C4

6. R34C1 = {14}/[32], R67C1 = {18/45}/[63/72] -> combined cage R3467C1 = {14}[63]/{14}[72]/[32]{18}/[32]{45}
6a. R3467C1 = {14}[63] => 11(3) cage at R5C1 (step 3) = {137} => no 2 in R5C1
or R3467C1 = {14}[72]/[32]{18}/[32]{45}, 2 locked for C1
-> no 2 in R5C1

7. 1 in C4 only in R12679C4 -> R1C34 = [81] or R2C34 = [81] or 17(3) cage at R6C3 = {179} with R6C3 = {79} or R9C34 = [81] -> no 8 in R6C3 (locking-out cages)

8. 17(3) cage at R6C3 = {179/269/359/368/467} (cannot be {278/458} because R6C4 only contains 1,3,6,9)
8a. 2,8 of {269/368} must be in R7C4, 6 of {467} must be in R6C4 -> no 6 in R7C4

9. 10(3) cage in N9 = {127/136/145/235} cannot be {235}, here’s how
10(3) cage = {235} => 1 in N9 must be in 24(4) cage at R6C8 = {1689}, 9 locked for N9, R6C8 = {68} so consider the two candidates for R6C8
If R6C8 = 6 => R9C7 = 4 (hidden single in N9), R7C9 = 6 (hidden single in N9), R6C9 = 7 but R6C89 = [67] clashes with 17(3) cage at R5C7
Or if R6C8 = 8 => R9C7 = 4 (hidden single in N9), R9C6 = 5, R7C9 + R8C7 = {78} (hidden pair in N9) => R8C7 = 8 (R8C67 cannot be [57] which clashes with R9C6), R8C6 = 4, R7C9 = 7 (hidden single in N9), R6C9 = 6, 17(3) cage at R5C7 (step 3b) = {179} (only remaining combination), locked for R5) => 11(3) cage at R5C1 = {236}, locked for N4 => R34C1 = {14}, locked for C1 => R67C1 = [72], R8C34 = [56/92], R9C4 = 7 (hidden single in N8), R9C3 = 2 clashes with R7C1
-> 10(3) cage in N9 = {127/136/145}, 1 locked for N9

10. 45 rule on N9 3 innies R7C9 + R89C7 = 1 outie R6C8 + 11

11. 24(4) cage at R6C8 cannot be 1{689}, here’s how
24(4) cage = 1{689}, 6,8,9 locked for N9, R6C8 = 1 => R7C9 + R89C7 = 12 (step 10) = {237/345}
Cannot be {237} = [732] => R6C9 = 6 and R6C89 = [16] clashes with 17(3) cage at R5C7
Cannot be {345} = [534] => R8C6 = 9, R9C6 = 5 and R89C6 = [95] clashes with 16(3) cage at R7C5
-> no 1 in R6C8

12. 19(3) cage at R3C4 (step 5) = {289/379/469/568} cannot be {568}, here’s how
19(3) cage = {568} = [856], 9 in N5 only in R6C46, locked for R6, R8C3 = 9 (hidden single in C3), R8C4 = 2, 9 in C4 only in 17(3) cage at R6C3 = {179} (only remaining combination) => 4 in C4 only in R129C4 => 5 in one of R129C3 clashes with R4C3
-> 19(3) cage at R3C4 = {289/379/469}, no 5

13. 19(3) cage at R3C4 = {289/379/469} cannot be {379}, here’s how
19(3) cage = {379} = [793] => 17(3) cage at R6C3 (step 8) = {179/269/467}
Cannot be {179} = 7{19} => 2 in C4 only in R1289C4 => either 7 in one of R129C3 clashes with R6C3 or 9 in R8C3 clashes with R4C3
Cannot be {269} = [692] because R6C6 = 1, R4C6 = 6 => R3C6 + R4C7 = {23} (step 2b) => R4C7 = 2, 17(3) cage at R5C7 (step 3b) = {179} (only remaining combination), locked for R5 => 11(3) cage at R5C1 = {236} which clashes with R6C3
Cannot be {467} = [764] because R4C6 = 1, R6C6 = 9, 13(3) cage at R6C6 = {139} => R7C6 = 3, R8C4 = 9 (hidden single in C4) and R7C6 + R8C4 clash with 16(3) cage at R7C5)
-> 19(3) cage at R3C4 = {289/469}, no 3,7

14. 17(3) cage at R6C3 (step 8) = {179/269/359/368/467} cannot be {269}, here’s how
17(3) cage = {269} => R7C4 = 2, R6C34 = {69} => 1 in C4 only in R129C4 => 8 must be in R129C3, locked for C3 => R8C34 cannot be [83], 3 in C4 only in R129C4 => 6 must be in R129C3, locked for C3 => R6C34 = [96], R4C4 = 9, 19(3) cage at R3C4 (step 13) = {289} (only remaining combination) => R3C4 = 8, R4C3 = 2 => no 7 in R129C4, R8C4 = 7 (hidden single in C4), R8C3 = 4, 16(3) cage at R1C5 (step 3c) = {169} (only remaining combination), locked for C5 and N2, 16(3) cage at R7C5 = {358}, locked for N8, R9C4 = 1 (hidden single in C4), R8C6 = 9, R8C7 = 3 => R9C67 cannot be [63] => R9C6 = 4, R7C6 = 6, R6C67 = 7 = [34], R2C67 cannot be [54], R1C6 = 5 (hidden single in C6), R1C7 = 8, R4C6 = 1, 15(4) cage at R3C6 (step 2b) = 4{128} (only remaining combination) => R4C7 = 8 which clashes with R1C7
-> 17(3) cage at R6C3 = {179/359/368/467}, no 2

15. 17(3) cage at R6C3 = {179/359/368/467} cannot be {467}, here’s how
17(3) cage at R6C3 = {467} => R6C4 = 6, R4C4 = 9, R8C3 = 9 (hidden single in C3), R8C4 = 2, 19(3) cage at R3C4 (step 13) = {289} (cannot be {469} because caged X-Wing for 4,6 in 19(3) and 17(3) cages, no other 4,6 in C34 => no 5 in R129C3, R357C3 (step 4) = {128/137} so cannot place 5 in C3) => R3C4 = 8, 16(3) cage at R1C5 (step 3c) = {169}, locked for C5 and N2, 16(3) cage at R7C5 = {358}, locked for N8, R4C3 = 2 => no 7 in R129C4 => R7C4 = 7 (hidden single in C4), R9C4 = 1 (hidden single in C4), R7C6 = 9 (hidden single in C6) => R6C67 = 4 = {13}, R9C6 = 6 (hidden single in C6), R9C7 = 3, R6C7 = 1, 17(3) cage at R5C7 (step 3b) = {269}, locked for N6, R8C6 = 4, R8C7 = 8 => no remaining candidates in R4C7
-> 17(3) cage at R6C3 = {179/359/368}, no 4
15a. 6 of {638} must be in R6C3 -> no 6 in R6C4

16. 19(3) cage at R3C4 (step 13) = {289/469} cannot be {289}, here’s how
19(3) cage at R3C4 = {289} => R4C4 = 9, R3C4 + R4C3 = {28}, 17(3) cage at R6C3 (step 15) = {179/368} (cannot be {359} which clashes with R4C4 because 5 only in R6C3)
Cannot be {179} = [917] => R46C6 = {36}, locked for C6, no 1 in R129C3 => no 8 in R129C3, R357C3 (step 4) = {137/146/236/245} (cannot be {128} which clashes with R4C3) => 8 in C3 only in R48C3
If R4C3 = 8 => R3C4 = 2, R3C6 = 7, R4C67 = [31], 17(3) cage at R5C7 (step 3b) = {269} (only remaining combination), locked for R5 => 11(3) cage at R5C1 = {137}, R1289C4 = {3468} with 3,6 in two of the 9(2) cages (because R8C34 = [56] clashes with [54] in one of the 9(2) cages, locking-out cages, and R8C34 = [83] clashes with R4C3) => two 9(2) cages must be [36] and [63], 3,6 locked for C3 => R357C3 (step 4) cannot be {245} because R5C3 only contains 1,7
Or if R8C3 = 8, R8C3 = 3 => 16(3) cage at R7C5 (step 3c) = {169}, R4C3 = 2, R3C4 = 8 => 16(3) cage at R1C5 (step 3c) = {169} clashes with 16(3) cage at R7C5
Cannot be {368} = [638] => R3C4 = 2, R6C6 = 1, R4C6 = 6 => R3C6 + R4C7 (step 2b) = {23} => R4C7 = 2, 17(3) cage at R5C7 (step 3b) = {179} (only remaining combination), locked for R5 => 11(3) cage at R5C1 = {236} which clashes with R6C3
-> 19(3) cage at R3C4 (step 13) = {469}, no 2,8, CPE no 4 in R3C3

17. 17(3) cage at R6C3 (step 15) = {179/359/368} cannot be {359}, here’s how
17(3) cage = {359} => R6C3 = 5, R67C4 = {39}, locked for C4 => R4C4 = 6, R3C4 = 4, R4C3 = 9, no 2 in R8C34, R67C4 = [93] (cannot be [39] because R6C6 = 9 (hidden single in N5), R6C7 + R7C6 = 4 = {13} => R6C7 = 1, R7C6 = 3 and R7C46 = [39] clashes with 17(3) cage at R7C5), R46C6 = {13} (hidden pair in N5), locked for C6, 16(3) cage at R7C5 = {169}, locked for C5 and N8, 16(3) cage at R1C5 = {358}, locked for N2, R1C6 = 9 (hidden single in N2), R1C7 = 4, no 5 in R9C6, R8C34 = [38/47] => R8C67 = {57} (only remaining combination, cannot be [48] which clashes with R8C34) => R8C34 = [38], R9C4 = {27} => R9C34 = {27}, locked for R9, R9C6 = 4, R9C7 = 5, R8C67 = [57], R7C6 = 2 (cannot be 7 because 13(3) cage at R6C6 cannot be [157/337]) => R6C67 = 11 = [38], R4C6 = 1, 15(4) cage at R3C6 (step 2b) = 4{137} (only remaining combination) => R3C6 = 7, R4C7 = 3, R2C6 = 6 (hidden single in C6), R2C7 = 3 clashes with R4C7
-> 17(3) cage at R6C3 = {179/368}, no 5
17a. 8 of {368} must be in R7C4 -> no 3 in R7C4

18. 17(3) cage at R6C3 = {179/368}
18a. Consider 17(3) cage = {179} => caged X-wing for 9 in 19(3) cage at R3C6 and 17(3) cage at R6C3, no other 9 in C34 => no 2 in R8C34, 2 in C4 only in R129C4 => 7 must be in R129C3, locked for C3 => 7 of {179} must be in R7C4
18b. 7,8 of {179/368} only in R7C4 -> R7C4 = {78}, no 7 in R6C3
18c. R6C34 = {19}/[63]

19. 13(3) cage at R6C6 = {139/148/157/238/256/346} (cannot be {247} because no 2,4,7 in R6C6)
19a. 3 of {139} must be in R7C6 (R6C67 cannot be {13}/[93] which clash with R6C34), 1 of {148/157} must be in R6C6 -> no 1,9 in R7C6

20. Consider combinations for 17(3) cage at R6C3 = {179/368}
20a. {179} => caged X-wing for 9 in 19(3) cage at R3C6 and 17(3) cage at R6C3, no other 9 in C34
Or {368} = [638] => 16(3) cage at R7C5 (step 3c) = {169}, locked for N8
-> no 9 in R8C4, clean-up: no 2 in R8C3

21. 15(4) cage at R3C6 (step 2b) = 4{128/137/236}, 2 cannot be in R4C7, here’s how
R4C7 = 2, R34C6 = {36}, locked for C6, 2 in N4 only in 11(3) cage at R5C1 (step 3) = {236}, locked for N4 => R6C3 = {19} => 17(3) cage at R6C3 (step 18) = {179} => R6C34 = {19}, locked for R6 => no remaining candidates in R6C6
-> no 2 in R4C7
21a. 15(4) cage at R3C6 = 4{128/137/236}, 2,7 only in R3C6 -> R3C6 = {27}

22. 45 rule on C89 3 outies R357C7 = 15
22a. Consider placements for R3C6
R3C6 = 2
Or R3C6 = 7, no 6 in R1C7, no 2 in R29C7, R4C67 = {13}, locked for R4, R34C9 = {48}, caged X-Wing for 4 in 19(3) cage at R3C4 and R34C9, no other 4 in R34C1, no 1 in R34C1 => R34C1 = [32], 11(3) cage at R5C1 = {137}, locked for N4 => R6C3 = {69}, 17(3) cage at R6C3 = {179/368} => R6C4 = {13}, naked pair {13} in R4C6 + R6C4, locked for N5 => R6C6 = {69}, naked pair {69} in R6C36, locked for R6, 17(3) cage at R6C3 = {179/368} = [638]/[917] => R6C34 = [63] => R6C6 = 9, R6C7 + R7C6 = [13] or R6C34 = [91], R4C6 = 3 => 3 locked in R47C6, locked for C6, no 6 in R29C7, 2,6 in C7 only in R357C7 = 15 = {267} => R7C7 = 7 => no 2 in R29C6 => R7C6 = 2 (hidden single in C6)
-> 2 must be in R37C6, locked for C6, clean-up: no 7 in R29C7

23. 15(4) cage at R3C6 (step 2b) = 4{128/137/236}
23a. Consider placements for R3C6
R3C6 = 2 => R4C67 = [18/36/63]
Or R3C6 = 7 => R4C67 = {13} => R7C7 = 7 (from analysis in step 22a) => R7C4 = 8, 17(3) cage at R6C3 = [638] => R4C67 = [13]
-> R4C67 = [13/18/36/63], no 1 in R4C7

24. 15(4) cage at R3C6 (step 2b) = 4{128/137/236} cannot be 4{137}, here’s how
R3C6 = 7 => R4C67 = [13], R357C7 = {26}7 and R6C6 = {69} (from analysis in step 22a), R7C6 = 2 (hidden single in C6) => R6C67 = 11 = [65] => cannot place 1 in C7
-> 15(4) cage at R3C6 = 4{128/236} -> R3C6 = 2, clean-up: no 7 in R12C3
24a. R4C67 (step 23a) = [18/36/63]

25. 13(3) cage at R6C6 (step 19) = {139/148/157/346}
4 cannot be in R6C7, here’s how
R6C7 = 4 => R67C6 = {36}, locked for C6 => R4C67 = [18], R6C34 = [19] (cannot be [63] which clashes with R6C6), R4C4 = 6, R6C6 = 3, R7C6 = 6, 16(3) cage at R7C5 (step 3c) = {358}, locked for N8, R8C6 = 9 (hidden single in N8), no 5 in R29C6 => R1C6 = 5 (hidden single in C6) => R1C7 = 8 clashes with R4C7
-> no 4 in R6C7
25a. 4 of {346} must be in R7C6 -> no 6 in R7C6

26. 13(3) cage at R6C6 (step 19) = {139/148/157/346}
26a. 13(3) cage = {139/148/157}, 1 locked for R6 => 17(3) cage at R6C3 = (step 18) = {368} = [638]
Or 13(3) cage = {346} = {36}4, 3,6 locked for R6 => 17(3) cage at R6C3 = (step 18) = {179} = {19}7, 1 locked for R6
-> Killer triple 1,3,6 R6C34 and R6C67, locked for R6, clean-up: no 3,8 in R7C1, no 7 in R7C9
26b. Combined cage R3467C1 (step 6) = {14}[72]/[32]{18}/[32]{45}, 2 locked for C1

[Something that’s been there for a long time but it only gives one minor elimination.]
27. 45 rule on N1 3 innies R12C3 + R3C1 = 1 outie R4C2 + 4
27a. Min R12C3 + R3C1 = 6 -> min R4C2 = 2

28. R357C3 (step 4) = {128/137/236/245} (cannot be {146} which clashes with R46C3, ALS block)

29. R357C3 = {128/137/236/245} cannot be {128}, here’s how
R357C3 = {128}, locked for C3 => R12C3 = {356}, R9C3 = {3567} => R12C4 = {346}, R9C4 = {2346} => R9C4 = 2 (R129C4 cannot be {346} which clashes with R34C4, ALS block), R12C4 = {34/36} (cannot be {46}, same ALS block), 3 locked for N2 => 16(3) cage at R1C5 (step 3c) = {169}, locked for N2 => R12C4= {34}, locked for N2 => no remaining candidates in R3C4
-> R357C3 = {137/236/245}, no 8
29a. 4 of {245} must be in R7C3 -> no 5 in R7C3

30. 8 in C3 only in R1289C3 cannot be in R8C3, here’s how
R8C3 = 8 => R8C4 = 3, 16(3) cage at R7C5 (step 3c) = {169}, R9C4 = 2 (hidden single in C4), no 1 in R129C4 => R6C4 = 1 (hidden single in C4) => 17(3) cage at R6C3 = {179} => R7C4 = 7 => cannot place 8 in N8
-> no 8 in R8C3, clean-up: no 3 in R8C4
30a. 8 in C3 only in R129C3 -> 1 must be in one of R129C4, locked for C4
30b. 1 in N5 only in R46C6, locked for C6, clean-up: no 8 in R29C7

31. 17(3) cage at R6C3 (step 18) = {179/368}
31a. 1 of {179} must be in R6C3 -> no 9 in R6C3
31b. Killer pair 1,6 in 11(3) cage at R5C1 and R6C3, locked for N4, clean-up: no 4 in R3C1

32. 19(3) cage at R3C4 = {469}, 6 locked for C4, clean-up: no 3 in R129C3, no 5 in R8C3

33. R357C3 (step 29) = {137/236/245} cannot be {245}, here’s how
33a. R357C3 = {245} = [524] => R12C3 = {168}, naked triple {168} in R126C3, locked for C3 => R9C3 = 7, R8C3 = 3 (hidden single in C3), R8C4 = 8, R7C4 = 7, 17(3) cage at R6C3 (step 18) = {179} => R6C34 = [19], R12C3 = {68} => R12C4 = {13} which clashes with 16(3) cage at R1C5
-> R357C3 = {137/236}, no 4,5, 3 locked for C3, clean-up: no 8 in R8C4
33b. Killer pair 1,6 in R357C3 and R6C3, locked for C3, clean-up: no 3,8 in R129C4

34. R6C4 = 3 (hidden single in C4) => 17(3) cage at R6C3 (step 18) = {368} -> R6C3 = 6, R7C4 = 8, clean-up: no 2 in R57C3 (step 33a), no 5 in R6C9, no 3,5 in 16(3) cage at R7C5 (step 3c)

35. Naked triple {169} in 16(3) cage at R7C5, locked for C5 and N8, clean-up: no 3 in R8C7, no 8 in R9C3, no 3 in R9C7

36. Naked triple {358} in 16(3) cage at R1C5, locked for N2, clean-up: no 8 in R1C7, no 4,6 in R2C7

37. R34C4 = {69} (hidden pair in C4) -> R4C3 = 4 (step 32), R4C1 = 2, R3C1 = 3, clean-up: no 8 in R3C9, no 7 in R6C1, no 5 in R7C1, no 7 in R8C4

38. Naked triple {137} in R357C3, locked for C3 -> R8C3 = 9, R8C4 = 2, clean-up: no 3 in R8C6

39. 8 in C3 only in R12C3, locked for N1

40. 1 in N1 only in 21(4) cage at R1C1 = 1{479/569/578}, no 2
40a. R12C3 = {28} (hidden pair in N1), locked for C3 -> R9C3 = 5, R9C4 = 4, clean-up: no 8 in R8C7
40b. Naked pair {17} in R12C4, locked for N2, clean-up: no 6 in R1C7, no 2 in R2C7

41. 45 rule on N1 2 innies R12C3 = 1 outie R4C2 + 1, R12C3 = {28} = 10 -> R4C2 = 9, R34C4 = [96], R4C6 = 1, R4C7 = 8 (cage sum), R6C6 = 9, R6C7 + R7C6 = 4 => R6C7 = 1, R7C6 = 3, R9C6 = 7, R9C7 = 2, R8C67 = [57], clean-up: no 6 in R1C6, no 4 in R1C7, no 7 in 17(3) cage at R5C7 (step 3b), no 5 in R7C9
41a. R6C89 = {47} (hidden pair in N6), locked for R6

42. R1C67 = [49], R2C6 = 6, R2C7 = 3, R5C7 = 6

43. 10(3) cage in N9 (step 9) = {136} (only remaining combination, cannot be {145} which clashes with R7C7), locked for N9 -> R7C9 = 9, R9C9 = 8, R8C8 = 4, R7C7 = 5, R6C8 = 7, R6C9 = 4, R3C7 = 4, R3C9 = 7, R4C9 = 5, R4C8 = 3, R3C3 = 1, R5C89 = [92], R2C9 = 1, R1C9 = 6, R2C8 = 5 (cage sum), R7C2 = 2 (hidden single in R7), R7C1 = 4 (hidden single in R7), R6C1 = 5

and the rest is naked singles.


I think that "Short Brunette" and "Tall Brunette" will probably remain lonely "young women". Their cage patterns are so different from the ones I've just posted that they took away most/all of the steps that I used.

I assume that since Børge posted all of these puzzles, at least one of the software solvers must have been able to solve each of them and determine that they all have a unique solution and can be solved.
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Andrew
PostPosted: Fri May 04, 2012 4:23 am 
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Posts: 1895
Location: Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada
Assassin 178 V3 "Short Brunette" by Børge (October 2009) here
Puzzle Diagrams: 
Image Image Image
Code: Select, Copy & Paste into solver:
3x3::k:5377:5131:2318:2318:4112:3343:3343:2826:4611:5131:5377:7175:7175:4112:6150:6150:4611:2826:1297:5131:5377:7175:4112:6150:4611:2826:3092:1297:5377:7175:7175:5637:6150:6150:4611:3092:2835:2835:2835:5637:6150:5637:4374:4374:4374:2322:5634:7176:7176:5637:6409:6409:6148:3349:2322:3340:5634:7176:4121:6409:6148:2573:3349:3340:5634:7176:7176:4121:6409:6409:6148:2573:5634:3340:2328:2328:4121:2327:2327:2573:6148:
Solution: 
+-------+-------+-------+
| 7 5 8 | 1 3 4 | 9 2 6 |
| 9 4 2 | 7 8 6 | 3 5 1 |
| 3 6 1 | 9 5 2 | 4 8 7 |
+-------+-------+-------+
| 2 9 4 | 6 7 1 | 8 3 5 |
| 1 7 3 | 5 4 8 | 6 9 2 |
| 5 8 6 | 3 2 9 | 1 7 4 |
+-------+-------+-------+
| 4 2 7 | 8 1 3 | 5 6 9 |
| 8 1 9 | 2 6 5 | 7 4 3 |
| 6 3 5 | 4 9 7 | 2 1 8 |
+-------+-------+-------+
Quote:
Børge: … I think having no puzzles is the worst scenario. Hence I have decided to post the remaining four Blind Dates. Anyway I do not think you will have any success with them all, except for maybe with the "Tall Blonde". They are all pretty vain and self-opinionated, and exceptionally difficult to get.
Since their appearance gives vague hints on how to get the "Short Redhead", I have decided to conceale them a bit.
SS score: Unsolvable.

Andrew (in 2011): I think that "Short Brunette" and "Tall Brunette" will probably remain lonely "young women". Their cage patterns are so different from the ones I've just posted that they took away most/all of the steps that I used.
I assume that since Børge posted all of these puzzles, at least one of the software solvers must have been able to solve each of them and determine that they all have a unique solution and can be solved.

Andrew (in the Unsolvables thread): Børge posted a series of related puzzles for Assassin 178 with the collective title Blind Dates. This puzzle, and the one below, are the two hardest ones. Having solved the earlier ones, some with difficulty, I decided not to try these two.



Assassin 178 V4 "Tall Brunette" by Børge (October 2009) here
Puzzle Diagrams: 
Image Image Image
Code: Select, Copy & Paste into solver:
3x3::k:5390:7442:7442:7442:4103:6163:6163:6163:4623:7442:5390:7171:7171:4103:6146:6146:4623:6163:1293:7442:5390:7171:4103:6146:4623:6163:3082:1293:5390:7171:7171:5633:6146:6146:4623:3082:2824:2824:2824:5633:6146:5633:4358:4358:4358:2316:5649:7172:7172:5633:6405:6405:6160:3339:2316:5653:5649:7172:4105:6405:6160:4884:3339:5653:5649:7172:7172:4105:6405:6405:6160:4884:5649:5653:5653:5653:4105:4884:4884:4884:6160:
Solution: 
+-------+-------+-------+
| 7 5 8 | 1 3 4 | 9 2 6 |
| 9 4 2 | 7 8 6 | 3 5 1 |
| 3 6 1 | 9 5 2 | 4 8 7 |
+-------+-------+-------+
| 2 9 4 | 6 7 1 | 8 3 5 |
| 1 7 3 | 5 4 8 | 6 9 2 |
| 5 8 6 | 3 2 9 | 1 7 4 |
+-------+-------+-------+
| 4 2 7 | 8 1 3 | 5 6 9 |
| 8 1 9 | 2 6 5 | 7 4 3 |
| 6 3 5 | 4 9 7 | 2 1 8 |
+-------+-------+-------+
Quote:
Børge: … I think having no puzzles is the worst scenario. Hence I have decided to post the remaining four Blind Dates. Anyway I do not think you will have any success with them all, except for maybe with the "Tall Blonde". They are all pretty vain and self-opinionated, and exceptionally difficult to get.
Since their appearance gives vague hints on how to get the "Short Redhead", I have decided to conceale them a bit.
SS score: Unsolvable.

Andrew (in 2011): I think that "Short Brunette" and "Tall Brunette" will probably remain lonely "young women". Their cage patterns are so different from the ones I've just posted that they took away most/all of the steps that I used.
I assume that since Børge posted all of these puzzles, at least one of the software solvers must have been able to solve each of them and determine that they all have a unique solution and can be solved.

Andrew (in the Unsolvables thread): Probably even harder; two pairs of cages in R789 have been combined.
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