What is the smallest number of clues in Sudoku?

This paper explores the ”Minimum Sudoku Problem,” that says there must be at least 17 clues in order for a Sudoku Board to have a unique solution. We prove uniqueness up to seven clues for 9x9 boards.

What is the minimum number of Sudoku clues?

Puzzles must have at least 17 clues to have a valid solution.

What is the smallest Sudoku Solver?

The shortest Java Sudoku solver is 258 bytes. Contributors: David Singleton created the algorithm and did the initial reduction work. Mick Killianey and David Beaumont reduced it to 299 bytes.

What is the minimum number of filled in squares for Sudoku?

For a standard 9×9 sudoku, the minimum is 17 squares. It had long been known that at least 16 were required and that 17 was sufficient.

What is the 45 rule in Sudoku?

The 45 rule is a basic solving-technique in Killer Sudoku. Each house (row, column, nonet) must add to 45 (the sum of the digits 1 through 9).

17 Givens - The Sudoku Minimum - How Hard To Solve?

Is Sudoku good for the brain?

Sudoku keeps your brain active and reduces the risk of Alzheimer's, a most common cause of dementia that affects a person's thinking and behavioural skills. Stimulates your mind: The game works on your logical thinking process as you are absorbed in solving a puzzle and eventually improve your number skills.

Can there be 2 solutions to a Sudoku puzzle?

A well-formed Sudoku puzzle is one that has a unique solution. A Sudoku puzzle can have more than one solution, but in this case the kind of logical reasoning we described while discussing solving strategies may fall short.

Are there unsolvable Sudoku puzzles?

Realistically, no! There are 6,670,903,752,021,072,936,960 possible solvable Sudoku grids that yield a unique result (that's 6 sextillion, 670 quintillion, 903 quadrillion, 752 trillion, 21 billion, 72 million, 936 thousand, 960 in case you were wondering). That's way more than the number of stars in the universe.

What is the 159 rule in Sudoku?

Normal sudoku rules apply: Each row, column, and region indicated by thick borders in the grid must contain the digits 1 to 9 once each. 159: Digits in column 1 indicate the column in which the digit 1 appears in that row (e.g. if r4c1 is a 6, r4c6 is a 1).

What is the rule of 3 Sudoku?

If three candidates can be found in only the same three Cells of a region (Row, Column or Square), then one of these candidates is the solution for the first of these Cells, a second one is the solution for the second Cell and the last candidate is the solution for the third Cell.

What is the last possible number rule in Sudoku?

Last possible number is a simple strategy that is suitable for beginners. It is based on finding the missing number. To find the missing number you should take a look at the numbers that are already exist in the 3x3 block you are interested in, and in the rows and columns connected with it.

What is Sudoku 4 cell rule?

Rules of Quadruple Sudoku

The object of the puzzle is to fill in the whole 9x9 grid with numbers 1 through 9 (one number per cell) so that each row, each column, and each of the nine 3x3 boxes contains all the nine different numbers 1 through 9. The clues are in the form of sets of four special clue-numbers.

What is Sudoku rule of 1?

Rule 1 - Each row must contain the numbers from 1 to 9, without repetitions. The player must focus on filling each row of the grid while ensuring there are no duplicated numbers. The placement order of the digits is irrelevant. Every puzzle, regardless of the difficulty level, begins with allocated numbers on the grid.

What is the trick to solving Sudoku puzzles?

Is there math behind Sudoku?

To solve a Sudoku puzzle, one needs to use a combination of logic and trial-and-error. More math is involved behind the scenes: combinatorics used in counting valid Sudoku grids, group theory used to describe ideas of when two grids are equivalent, and computational complexity with regards to solving Sudokus.

What is the ambiguity rule in Sudoku?

During this process the designer must be careful not to remove two numbers that would cause an ambiguity (where those two numbers could be swapped and the puzzle could be completed two different ways, therefore having two solutions). This is what is called the sudoku ambiguity rule.

What is the hardest Sudoku game?

Expert Sudoku is a game for experienced Sudoku players with a very high level of difficulty. This hardest Sudoku puzzle is characterized by the fact that only a few numbers are shown in the Sudoku square, which consists of 9 small squares, where the cells are located 3x3.

What is a hidden triple in Sudoku?

"Hidden triples" applies when three cells in a row, column, or 3x3 block contain the same three Notes. These three cells also contain other candidates, which may be removed from them. It will be easier to understand this technique if you look at the example. Take a look at the highlighted cells.

Can all Sudoku puzzles be solved without guessing?

The short answer is yes. Every proper Sudoku puzzle can be solved without ever having to make a guess. Another way of thinking about it is that every Sudoku puzzle can be solved logically. Even though it may require highly complicated solving techniques you're not familiar with.

What is a nonet in Sudoku?

Nonet – Another term for the boxes or regions of a Sudoku. In some variants nonets are not equally shaped. Proper Sudoku – A Sudoku with one solution. Sudokus are always expected to be proper Sudokus unless the puzzle setter specifies otherwise. Region – Another term for the boxes of a Sudoku.

Is Sudoku high IQ?

From this case study it can be concluded that an individual who is skilled at solving Sudoku puzzles likely has a high general IQ. The results of the weak correlation between Sudoku scores and the WAIT test indicates that in some cases a high Sudoku doesn't necessarily mean a high general IQ.

What kind of person is good at Sudoku?

Orderly, Methodical Mind

The best Sudoku players know how to cut through the visual clutter of a Sudoku grid and start scanning immediately for the most valuable clues and information that they need – they know how to apply a process to the Sudoku grid where they can see which places are the most promising.

Does Sudoku prevent dementia?

“Just sitting down and doing Sudoku isn't probably going to be the one key thing that's going to prevent you from developing Alzheimer's disease,” she said. Moreover, doing only one type of puzzle or another is not the key either. The brain needs to be exercised, just like any other muscle in the body.

Are 1 and 9 consecutive in Sudoku?

Consecutive Sudoku Rules

The rules of Consecutive Puzzles are as follows: Place the numbers 1-9 once in each row, column and 3x3 bold-lined box in the grid. Green bars between squares indicate that the values in those squares are consecutive.

Is there 0 in Sudoku?

The cool thing about this enigma is that only two possible answers can fill each blank: zero and one—and each grid has a sole solution.