[drunkieowl]

Hello!

I am not the brightest calcudoku solver, so I need some direction with the newest Newsletter puzzle.



I was able to determine that 19 and 31 must be two of the ten options, those were basically handed to us for free using cage 589* in Column 8. Now that I have 8, 14, 19, 22, and 31, I am a little stumped about my next steps. My thoughts so far:

1. The 6x cage and the 8x cage tell me that one of these combinations of numbers must be present:
   • 1,6 (6=1*6, 8=1*8)
   • 1,2,3 (6=2*3, 8=1*8)
   • 2,3,4 (6=2*3, 8=2*4)
   • 1,2,4,6 (6=1*6, 8=2*4)
   • 1,2,3,4,6 are not possible all at once because then the 57+ cage won't be possible
2. In Column 2, the two cages that stood out to me were 23- and 25-. This implies that there must be at least one more number >24 available. I assumed 26 might be that number based on the 57+ cage in Row 3, but it hasn't led me anywhere productive.
3. There is a lot of difference cages that (possibly) provide some crucial information that I might not be seeing:
   1-, 2-, 4-, 5-, 6-, 7-, 12-, 14-, 16-, 17-, 23-, 25-.
   I have a feeling I can deduce the remaining 5 numbers using those cages, but I'm not quite sure how yet.
4. Trying out different number combinations, cages 3/ and 20+ in Row 1 are where I mostly encountered some issues. If I somehow managed to make both of those cages true, then I would get stuck with 16+ in Column 5 or 21+ in Column 8.

I have a feeling that I might be overthinking my steps, but some cages look too good to be true and I immediately assume those are red herrings (50+ in Column 4 being 19+31, 23- in Column 2 being 31-8, 5- in Colum 10 being 19-14 etc.)

I would appreciate any pointers, but no direct answers please if possible. Thank you!

[pnm]

I'm thinking I may have made the puzzle a bit too difficult.

If all 10 numbers are given beforehand, it is nice and easy.
But with only 5 given (the ones in the puzzle and 19, 31) it is actually quite tricky.

Only 8 people have solved it so far (!)

Should I maybe send out some of the remaining 5 numbers ?

[drunkieowl]

I'm thinking I may have made the puzzle a bit too difficult.

If all 10 numbers are given beforehand, it is nice and easy.
But with only 5 given (the ones in the puzzle and 19, 31) it is actually quite tricky.

Only 8 people have solved it so far (!)

Should I maybe send out some of the remaining 5 numbers ?

Not yet!
The way I see it is that those 8 people figured something out that I haven't yet! There are many cages that hold a lot of useful information, I just need to figure out how to piece this information together.

[mikas]

Hints;
1. Cage 1- means that there are two consecutive numbers.
2. List the cages that you can make from the 5 numbers you already know.
3. List the double cages and the large triple cage 62+. Write in them the known number and the variants of the unknown candidate numbers that fit.
4. Start collecting the missing 5 numbers, starting with the most commonly used ones.
5. Mark which pairs of numbers can be swapped and which cannot.
6. Check whether each row and column contains or can contain all the known numbers and only once.
7. If not, replace one of the candidates.
8. Fill in those rows and columns that you can complete, while changing the positions of the pairs.
9. Finally, fill in the large Cages 89+.

It took me about 2,5 hours.

Good luck.
Mikas

[pnm]

Not yet!
The way I see it is that those 8 people figured something out that I haven't yet! There are many cages that hold a lot of useful information, I just need to figure out how to piece this information together.

I could make "solving the Christmas puzzle before Christmas" an achievement,
and then send some hints on the 25th

[frederick]

Interested to give it a go
no help as yet thanks
will be in the new year

[paulv66]

I missed seeing the email for some reason, so I’ve only found out about this puzzle today. One thing I’ve often found helpful is counting the number of odd and even cells. There is only once cell that can be either odd or even, so this helps to identify one of the missing numbers.

That’s the only breakthrough I’ve made so far, but I’ll keep plugging away.

[clm]

I am curious to know how many solutions have been sent till the moment (the newsletter 12 was sent on Dec, 12) .

[pnm]

I am curious to know how many solutions have been sent till the moment (the newsletter 12 was sent on Dec, 12) .

Only 12 (TWELVE) solvers so far ...

So yes, I will send out the list of numbers used, probably on the 25th.

[paulv66]

Please leave it until the 25th. I’d like to try to solve it unaided.

I’ve been very busy the last few days and haven’t even had time to do all the dailies, let alone the Christmas puzzle.