Category Archives: Puzzle Reviews

Reviews of preselected puzzles from published collections. Summary review table, and highlight analysis.

Beeby Carries UHC 223 to a Second Cluster

Posted on October 13, 2020 by

This post reports how the Beeby solver comes to life after the Single Alternate Sue de Coq trial , and nibbles Heine’s ultrahardcore 223 to a second coloring cluster. Beeby notes the ANL isas a simple chain, but it’s AIC … Continue reading →

Posted in Extreme Solving, Heine, Puzzle Reviews | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Single Alternate Sue Unlocks ultrahardcore 223

Posted on October 6, 2020 by

This post reports how both review solvers run out of humanly practical options, and the arduous SASdC trial that unties the knot. At the halfway point of the review UHC 223 starts tough, conceding four clues in basic. Those 6f: to … Continue reading →

Posted in Extreme Solving, Heine, Puzzle Reviews | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Two Clues and Pattern Coloring Beat 179

Posted on September 29, 2020 by

This post carries a pair of clues, gained a trial of an alternative pair of clues,  to a solution to Stefan Heine’s ultrahardcore 179. The resolution requires a pattern analysis on the 5-panel, aided by two coloring clusters. Going back … Continue reading →

Posted in Extreme Solving, Heine, Puzzle Reviews | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

A Partial Pattern Trial on ultrahardcore 179

Posted on September 22, 2020 by

This post starts with the 5-panel freeform  analysis to compare with yours and then moves on with the partial pattern trial suggested in the last post, of 8 patterns containing 8r2c9. My 5-panel patterns are much less promising  than the … Continue reading →

Posted in Extreme Solving, Heine, Puzzle Reviews | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Preparing a Pattern Trial on UHC 179

Posted on September 15, 2020 by

This post does Basic and reports humanly practical results from the two review solvers on  ultrahardcore 179. Then for a stall breaking trial, we turn to  the limited value patterns, and their discovery through the X-panel view and freeform drawing.  … Continue reading →

Posted in Extreme Solving, Heine | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

A Pattern Trial Defeats ultrahardcore 135

Posted on September 8, 2020 by

This post reports on the value pattern trial of the last post, its results, and the relatively easy march to a two cluster coloring solution of Stefan Heines ultrahardcore 135. The trial starts with the three 7 clues and naked … Continue reading →

Posted in Extreme Solving, Heine, Puzzle Reviews | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Deeby Hauls ultrahardcore 135 into Court

Posted on September 1, 2020 by

In this post, Beeby leads the way, but the instructive methods bring us only to a partial value pattern trial. The trial date is next week. After the usual slink marking Sysudoku basic,     ultrahardcore 135 has a busy … Continue reading →

Posted in Extreme Solving, Heine, Puzzle Reviews | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Sudokuwiki Finishes ultrahardcore 91

Posted on August 25, 2020 by

This post shows the Sudokuwiki solver path to the coloring finish of trial wounded ultrahardcore 91. Last week it was with Phillip Beeby’s solver. You could use either solver as a model, depending on how you would rather spend your … Continue reading →

Posted in Extreme Solving, Heine, Puzzle Reviews | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Beeby Finishes ultrahardcore 91

Posted on August 18, 2020 by

The Beeby series continues on trial wounded ultrahardcore 91 until the expanding coloring cluster can  take it home. Is your trial-less solution ready? Next up t is  a 1-way from 1r6c3 that is exended back to 3r2c3 for a second … Continue reading →

Posted in Extreme Solving, Heine, Puzzle Reviews | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Beeby Carries the Post Trial Against ultrahardcore 91

Posted on August 11, 2020 by

This post and the next continue on uhc 91, after last week’s SASdC trial eliminated red candidates of a red/orange cluster and left two clues. Phil Beeby’s solver chisels on the crystalized structure, conducting an ALS_XZ clinic, until the slink … Continue reading →

Posted in Extreme Solving, Heine, Puzzle Reviews | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment