sudoku

[seperis]

I will never comprehend how anyone can do even an easy sudoku in under five minutes. My best time is like 6.02 and I was chewing on things that should never be chewed on and also, it was a freakishly easy puzzle.

I'm not saying anyone out there is practicing mathematical black arts, but really.

Comments

[anjak-j.livejournal.com]

*blushes*

I have a Sudoku Java game on my mobile phone and I can do an easy one in less than 2 minutes 30 seconds (though my average time is about 3 minutes)...and the hardest one, my best time is 6 minutes 16 seconds...

God, I feel like some kind of freak now...

[daeuiel.livejournal.com]

You're not a freak, you're AWESOME. :O

[anjak-j.livejournal.com]

*blushes*

[seperis.livejournal.com]

....

GOD.

HOW DO YOU DO THAT?

And seriously, that *is* awesome.

I do reserve the right to mutter about the dark arts in your general vicinity, however.

[anjak-j.livejournal.com]

Erm, not to brag but I guess numbers are my thing. I passed my GCSE (UK school-leavers exam) in Maths when I was 13. Plus, I never used to be without a Sudoku book as it is a great distraction technique - I'd do 100 a day if it stopped me cutting the crap out of myself.

One thing a lot of people don't consider in Sudoku is that what isn't in the boxes can be a clue as well. Like, for instance, if you have two squares in the same row or 3x3 cell that can only contain the same two numbers - for example, 1 & 2 - then 1 & 2 cannot go in any other squares in that row / 3x3 cell. Which is handy if there are only three empty boxes cos that gives you the number for the third one.

For the record, this is about the only logic puzzle I am good at. I stink at those 'Rose lives next to Bill, who doesn't own the red Porsche, but does live in a house with an even number' dealies...they make my head hurt.

[bramble-rose.livejournal.com]

Just butting in here, but my question for you guys that do them really fast. Do you ever guess, or are you always positive about the numbers you put in?

[anjak-j.livejournal.com]

You should never need to guess with Sudoku - it's a logic puzzle and a process of elimination to put the right number in the cell.

That said, my mind does wander sometimes and I do screw them up occasionally.

[bramble-rose.livejournal.com]

We get these murder sudoku puzzles in the sunday paper, they're like 5-black stars (vs white stars which aren't as hard) and there are times where I think they don't give enough numbers and you have to eventually guess at blank squares to finish the games. It's an educated guess, where you have two possibilities for a square but there isn't any way to eliminate one...you never see those? Because that means I'm missing something :(