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paulv66
Posted on: Wed May 17, 2017 11:25 am
Posts: 958 Location: Ukraine Joined: Tue Mar 01, 2016 10:03 pm
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Blind spot
Sometimes I really struggle to solve a problem and end up going around in circles and concluding that the puzzle must be unsolvable. When this happens, I start again from scratch and go really slowly, checking step by step for any assumptions I might have made about the only possible numbers that can go in certain cells or cages. I generally find that I have made an unwarranted assumption and looking at the alternative(s) generally leads to resolution of the problem.
A case in point is yesterday's difficult 9x9 (SPOILER ALERT - Don't read on if you haven't solved it yet). There's a 22 cage near the upper left hand corner. Somehow, I got the idea in my mind that the only possible solutions were 985 and 976. As 976 was rendered impossible by the 6 and 7 in A3 and B3, this left 589 as the only solution and this led to me getting stuck over and over again. When I finally realised that the cage is L shaped and 949 is therefore another possible solution (d'oh!), I solved the remainder of the puzzle fairly quickly.
I was just wondering if other people tend to run into the same problem.
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beaker
Posted on: Wed May 17, 2017 10:32 pm
Posts: 931 Location: Ladysmith, BC, Canada Joined: Fri May 13, 2011 1:37 am
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Re: Blind spot
Sometimes, when looking at a cage a set of numbers will "pop" into my head (brain) and I get hung up on those.......then when the rest of the puzzle doesn't "fit" , then I go back and try all the possible combinations and one of them (that I hadn't thought of was the obvious right choice).....happens (most of the time) when I am in hurry to solve my puzzles!!!
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eclipsegirl
Posted on: Thu May 18, 2017 2:09 pm
Posts: 692 Joined: Wed Apr 16, 2014 9:20 pm
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Re: Blind spot
Yes, it happens to me. I feel so dumb when I figure it out.
ETA: I have one right now on a book puzzle, B34V6 - from 51 Advanced Puzzles Extra (or Vol 2) I usually do not mind negative numbers and subtraction cages but this puzzle is wicked.
Last edited by eclipsegirl on Thu May 18, 2017 11:47 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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marblevolcano
Posted on: Thu May 18, 2017 9:52 pm
Posts: 279 Joined: Sun May 22, 2016 2:17 pm
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Re: Blind spot
Ditto! Sometimes I forget one of the possibilities for a cage and completely ignore it... I become convinced that the puzzle is unsolvable
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diane123
Posted on: Sat May 20, 2017 12:30 pm
Posts: 19 Joined: Wed Mar 26, 2014 10:16 pm
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Re: Blind spot
Wicked is the perfect description for B34V6! I have worked at this puzzle off and on for quite some time and have yet to solve it. I think it is one of Patrick's most difficult/challenging puzzles.
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eclipsegirl
Posted on: Sat May 20, 2017 3:55 pm
Posts: 692 Joined: Wed Apr 16, 2014 9:20 pm
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Re: Blind spot
@ diane123, IF I am able to solve the puzzle, I will let you know.
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diane123
Posted on: Sat May 20, 2017 6:12 pm
Posts: 19 Joined: Wed Mar 26, 2014 10:16 pm
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Re: Blind spot
In January I e-mailed Patrick and asked him how many people had solved B34V6 and he replied that 8 people had. So, some puzzlers have figured it out, but not a lot.
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eclipsegirl
Posted on: Sat May 20, 2017 6:30 pm
Posts: 692 Joined: Wed Apr 16, 2014 9:20 pm
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Re: Blind spot
I have solved it and contacted you by private message. You can also contact me by private message, if you want.
I wonder how many have solved it now?
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pnm
Posted on: Sat May 20, 2017 8:23 pm
Posts: 3301 Joined: Thu May 12, 2011 11:58 pm
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Re: Blind spot
eclipsegirl wrote: I wonder how many have solved it now? 9 (NINE) people have so far submitted a correct solution..
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eclipsegirl
Posted on: Sun May 21, 2017 12:25 am
Posts: 692 Joined: Wed Apr 16, 2014 9:20 pm
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Re: Blind spot
There are several faster, better puzzlers than me.
I bet it is due to the access being limited to the 3rd annual subscription for all of us newbies. (sixth semi annual ?)
I am honored to be a solver of that frustating puzzle :namaste emoji that isn't supported:
@diane123, No contact from you. Do not fret. I would not give you (or anyone) the solution. I would only indicate where an error in logic has been made. Personally, when I solved my "blind spot" I felt like an idiot because my math was in error.
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