Have you ever heard of a Sudoku puzzle? If so, have you ever completed one? If not, would you like to complete one? If interested, this pearl provides you with a foolproof procedure to solve Sudoku puzzles.
The goal for a Sudoku puzzle is to fill in every blank cell with the correct number. As you proceed, the correct cell numbers will become evident, which leads you to the next step. Some puzzles are fairly easy, some are moderately difficult and some are very difficult. Refer to the attachments for practice puzzles listed from easy (Puzzle-01) to very difficult (Puzzle-20).
The key to completing a Sudoku puzzle is organization and accuracy. If you are using the attached pre-formatted puzzles, just print them out and start solving them. They are presented in an Word format, which is the easiest to solve a Sudoku puzzle, especially when you need to guess. If you are formatting your own puzzles, it is easiest to do it in "Word", but can be done on paper. To format a puzzle: 1) Use any Sudoku puzzles from books, newspapers, on line, etc. 2) Print out a Sudoku “Starting Grid” (a PDF of it is in the attachments). 3) Fill in the starting grid with the puzzle numbers, making sure you do it exactly—one mistake and the puzzle is void. It also helps to shade in the cells above the original numbers, as shown below, using a highlighter pen
For a detailed example of how to successfully complete a Sudoku Puzzle, refer to the attached PBF "Solving Sudoku Puzzles"., which is on the bottom of the attached list.
Bottom Line on Soving Sudoku Puzzles:
Format the puzzle accurately.
Follow the "5-step procedure" exactly—if you jump around you will make mistakes:
1) Enter the obvious numbers
2) Cross out the row numbers that are the same as the obvious numbers
3) Cross out the column numbers that are the same as the obvious numbers
4) Cross out the numbers in each 3x3 Grid that are the same as the obvious numbers
5) Fill in the obvious row, column and 3x3 Grid numbers that complete a row, column or 3x3 Grid with every number from 1 to 9.
If necessary, guess a number by using the “2-cell-set” approach when there are no new obvious numbers popping up.
If no more pop-ups or 2-cell-sets, you will need to guess at one number and work through it to see if it is valid.
NOTE-1: If you are a strong left brain person (analyzer or relator), following this 5-step-procedure will be natural. If you are a strong right brain person (director or socializer) you will tend to jump around and you will make mistakes.
If you make a mistake, you have to start all over again to find your mistake, but if you solve the puzzle in Word, it is easy to do..
NOTE-2: You can format and solve your own Sudoku Puzzles or use the attached puzzles. You can just print out one of the attached PDF puzzles and solve them on paper.
It is best to use a "Word" file to create the formatted puzzle with the "possible numbers" filled in and save the Word file.
Then copy that initial table and past it below, before you start solving the puzzle, thus, when you mess up to start working on it without messing up the initial table, which you may need to start over. Also, save the file as you move along.
When solving puzzles using a Word file, perform the following procedure, especially with difficult puzzles.
1) After formatting and determining the possible numbers, copy that table and paste it well below the formatted table so that if you mess up, you have a clean table to go back to, to start all over.
2) When you need to guess using a 2-cell-set, for example two cells that have a 2,8, make two copies of that last table and paste them below that table, labeling one table's cells 2 & 8 and the other tables cells 8 & 2. You can then start solving it using the 5-step procedure. By doing this you will have a nice clean table when you hit a dead end, which is when you end up with a row, a column or a 3x3-Grid with the same number twice.
3) Keep copying and pasting two tables until the puzzle is solved.
I hope that you enjoyed learning about solving Sudoku puzzles. See the attachments for a list of puzzles; from easy (01) to difficult (20), along with a blank starting grid to create your own spreadsheet puzzles from books, newspapers, etc.—HAVE FUN!