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 Blind spot 
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Posted on: Wed May 17, 2017 11:25 am




Posts: 956
Location: Ukraine
Joined: Tue Mar 01, 2016 10:03 pm
Post 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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Posted on: Wed May 17, 2017 10:32 pm




Posts: 931
Location: Ladysmith, BC, Canada
Joined: Fri May 13, 2011 1:37 am
Post 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" [cursing] , 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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Posted on: Thu May 18, 2017 2:09 pm




Posts: 691
Joined: Wed Apr 16, 2014 9:20 pm
Post 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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Posted on: Thu May 18, 2017 9:52 pm




Posts: 279
Joined: Sun May 22, 2016 2:17 pm
Post 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 [razz]


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Posted on: Sat May 20, 2017 12:30 pm




Posts: 19
Joined: Wed Mar 26, 2014 10:16 pm
Post 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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Posted on: Sat May 20, 2017 3:55 pm




Posts: 691
Joined: Wed Apr 16, 2014 9:20 pm
Post Re: Blind spot
@ diane123,
IF I am able to solve the puzzle, I will let you know.


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Posted on: Sat May 20, 2017 6:12 pm




Posts: 19
Joined: Wed Mar 26, 2014 10:16 pm
Post 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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Posted on: Sat May 20, 2017 6:30 pm




Posts: 691
Joined: Wed Apr 16, 2014 9:20 pm
Post 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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Posted on: Sat May 20, 2017 8:23 pm




Posts: 3296
Joined: Thu May 12, 2011 11:58 pm
Post Re: Blind spot
eclipsegirl wrote:
I wonder how many have solved it now?


9 (NINE) people have so far submitted a correct solution.. [scared]


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Posted on: Sun May 21, 2017 12:25 am




Posts: 691
Joined: Wed Apr 16, 2014 9:20 pm
Post 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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