The
The Art
Art of
of
Sudoku
Sudoku
by
by
The
The Art
Art of
of
Sudoku
Sudoku
by
by
The Art of Sudoku The Art of Sudoku © 2012 by Thomas Snyder © 2012 by Thomas Snyder All rights reserved. No part of this book All rights reserved. No part of this book
may be used or reproduced in any may be used or reproduced in any manner without written permission from manner without written permission from
the publisher. the publisher. Grandmaster Puzzles Grandmaster Puzzles 419 Saint Emilion Ct 419 Saint Emilion Ct Mountain View, CA 94043 Mountain View, CA 94043 www.gmpuzzles.com www.gmpuzzles.com ISBN 978-0-9850094-0-3 ISBN 978-0-9850094-0-3 2 4 6 8 9 7 5 3 2 4 6 8 9 7 5 3
Introduction
Introduction
It is rather easy to be a prolic creator of sudoku It is rather easy to be a prolic creator of sudoku these days. Since the “boom” in attention for this numbers these days. Since the “boom” in attention for this numbers puzzle, making a sudoku generator is now a common puzzle, making a sudoku generator is now a common homework assignment in introductory CS classes. With an homework assignment in introductory CS classes. With an efcient algorithm, a computer can generate more puzzles in efcient algorithm, a computer can generate more puzzles in a minute than even I can solve in a lifetime. Quantity is not a minute than even I can solve in a lifetime. Quantity is not what interests me as a
what interests me as a puzzle solver and designer though.puzzle solver and designer though. Computer-generated
Computer-generated puzzles puzzles will will look look like like randomrandom splatterings of ink compared to the ones found here, where splatterings of ink compared to the ones found here, where the human touch has created aesthetically pleasing and the human touch has created aesthetically pleasing and logically interesting challenges no computer ever could. logically interesting challenges no computer ever could. From interesting grid designs to patterns in the digits, there is From interesting grid designs to patterns in the digits, there is a lot to see
a lot to see and savor here. At rst glance that “double zero”and savor here. At rst glance that “double zero” pattern looks kind of special, but take a longer look to pattern looks kind of special, but take a longer look to realizerealize that both zeroes use the
that both zeroes use the exact same digits in the exact sameexact same digits in the exact same spots which is truly unique. Seek and you’ll
spots which is truly unique. Seek and you’ll nd a downwardnd a downward spiral of numbers, a puzzle that groups the evens and the spiral of numbers, a puzzle that groups the evens and the odds separately
odds separately, and a , and a smiley face that might put a smiley face that might put a smile onsmile on your face. And that’s just the rst few pages. By the end you’ll your face. And that’s just the rst few pages. By the end you’ll work through sudoku that seem impossible to start until you work through sudoku that seem impossible to start until you discover the challenging - but organic - logical step that was discover the challenging - but organic - logical step that was put in by hand. Whether you’ve solved a handful
put in by hand. Whether you’ve solved a handful of sudoku orof sudoku or thousands, I’m condent you’ve never experienced puzzles thousands, I’m condent you’ve never experienced puzzles quite like these before.
quite like these before. Y
You’ll ou’ll nd nd the the sudoku sudoku organized organized from from fairly fairly easy easy toto fairly hard, but depending on your skill spotting particular fairly hard, but depending on your skill spotting particular types of deductions your
types of deductions your experience may vary. Enjoy!experience may vary. Enjoy! -Thomas -Thomas SnyderSnyder
Rules: Place a single digit from 1 to 9 into each empty Rules: Place a single digit from 1 to 9 into each empty cell so that
cell so that no digit repeats in any no digit repeats in any row, column, or boldrow, column, or bold 3x3 region.
Thomas Snyder
4 The Art of Sudoku 5
2
1
8 5 3 4
1 2 7 3
6 8 4 2
5 9 6 7
2 4 1 6
4 6 1 8
1 6 5 7
2 8 4 5
4 6 7
3 2 1
2
4
3
2 1
8
1 5 6 8
2 9 3 1
7
1 4
5
8
3
1 3 5
4 7 2
Thomas Snyder
6 The Art of Sudoku 7
4
3
2 6 8
4 3 2 6 8
6 1 2 4 3
6 1 2
6 7 8
4 5 6 7 8
1 2 3 4 5
1 2 3
2 4 7 1
8
9 2 4 7 1
3
7 8
9
4
2 3
7
5
6 4
2
1 2 3 4 5
6
1 2 3 4
Thomas Snyder
8 The Art of Sudoku 9
6
5
7
5 4 3
8
6
2
3
7
2
1 4
8 3 1 9 5
9 4
8 6
2
5 6 7
8
3
5
7 8 2 3 4
8 7 6 5
6 2
7
4
7 1
6
3
5 4 3 2
1 2 3 4
2
5
1 4
3
6
8 5
4 5 6 7
Thomas Snyder
10 The Art of Sudoku 11
8
7
4 6 3
8 4
6 9
1
5
9 7 2
3
4 3
5 2
5
2 8
1
4
3 6
7
1 2
4 6
6 8
7 5
2 4
9 1
5 7 6 8
1 3 2 4
6 8 7 9
2 4 3 5
5 7
6 8
1 3
2 4
Thomas Snyder
12 The Art of Sudoku 13
10
9
7 3 6
1 8 5
2 4 6
7
2 1 4
4 9
5 8
2 1 5
7
7 3 8
4 5 6
1 2 3
6 5 4 9 7 3
9
9 8 7
6
6 2
9 3 2 4 6 1 8
1 2 7 5 9
7
3
2
5 2
8 4
Thomas Snyder
14 The Art of Sudoku 15
12
11
9
7
2
8
1
3
1 3 2 5 6 9
5
6
4
5
8 7
1 4
1
6
8
2
5
7
3 4 7 8 2 5
8 7 4
3 5
1 8 9 7
9
4 3 8
6 3
8
5
9 6
3 7 5
6
1 9 3 8
4 5
1 2 3
Thomas Snyder
16 The Art of Sudoku 17
14
13
5 6 7 8 9
4
3 8 5 4 7 6
2
3
1 6 5 2 9 3 8
9
8
2 6 7 4 9
7
2
3
8
9
2
4
8
1
3
7
9
2
6
8
1
5
7
9
4
6
8
3
5
7
2
4
6
1
3
5
Thomas Snyder
18 The Art of Sudoku 19
16
15
8 2
6 5
3
6 7 8
1
9
7
3
5
4
2 8 7 6
5
6
2
2
6
6
1 2 3
5
1 8
4 3
5 4 3
8 6
5 3
7 5
4 6
8 5 6 3 1
3
3 9 6 2 1
9 1
2 3
8 4
3 7
4 5 6
Thomas Snyder
20 The Art of Sudoku 21
18
17
8 4 1 5
2
7 4 9 1
3 5 4 6
5
5 6 7 8
2 1 3 9
6
1 2 3 4
5 7 3 2 4
4
5 9 6
2
5 4
8 1
9 3
6 5
6 2
3 4
8
4 6 1
3
1 3 5 7 9
Thomas Snyder
22 The Art of Sudoku 23
20
19
1 3 2 4 6
5
6 7 5 3 1
4 5
2
8 3
4 5
1
6
7
2 4 6 8 1
6
9 3 5 2 4
1 3
9 7 4
5 4 6
2 3
5
1 4 5 6 9
9
7 8
8 7 6
5 4 3
2 1
Thomas Snyder
24 The Art of Sudoku 25
22
21
2 9 7
4 5 8
5 3 1
1 6 8
4 2 7 3 6 9
6 1 5
7 4 2
4 5 6
1 2 3
7 8 9
3
6
7 8 6 4
5
5
2 3 4
6 7 8
2
5
4 7 1 6
4
5
1 2 3
Thomas Snyder
26 The Art of Sudoku 27
24
23
5
6 7
1 2 3
8
4
5
6 7 1 2 3
8
4
5
1 2 3
6 7
4
9
8
8 1
9 6
3
2 8
4
2
9
7
2
7
8
6
5
1
4
2
1
9
1 3
5
1 2
4 3
Thomas Snyder
28 The Art of Sudoku 29
26
25
6 2 7 9
8 6 2
7
3
4 8 7 1 5 9
6
4
3 4 6 2 5 8
1
6
7 8 4
2 3 4 5
8 5 6
5 2 3
7 5 1
8
6 2 3
4
5
2
4
1 6 5
3
2 4 1
2 4 7
1 6 4
Thomas Snyder
30 The Art of Sudoku 31
28
27
7
9
7
6
5 8 1
3 6 9 4
1 4 7 8 5
2 5 8 9
3 6 9
4
7
5
6
7 2 5 4 8
3
7
1 3 7 2 6
1
5
4
8
3 7 8 5 6
2
6
1 5 2 7 3
Thomas Snyder
32 The Art of Sudoku 33
30
29
7
9
6
4
8
5 4 3
4 5 3
1 6 3
1 7 2
1
2
7
7
2 6
8
5
9
2
2 1 6
7
8 9 4
4
8
2
1
6
3
1
4 5 6
7
7 4 5
1
9
Thomas Snyder
34 The Art of Sudoku 35
32
31
8 9
2
7
3
9 1 5 7 6
7
6
4 9 5 2 1
7
8
3 4 8 2 1
9
3
6
1 2
8
3
6
7
5 2
7
5
4 7 6 5
8
4
1 2 3 9
1
3
7 1
3
2
8
4
Thomas Snyder
36 The Art of Sudoku 37
34
33
8
9
4 7
6
7
4
3
6
1
7
5
2
9
4
3
5
3
2
3 6
5
9
2 3 4 5 6 7 8
1
9
6
4
4
3
5 8
1 2
9
5
1
2
6 7 4 1
8
1 2 3
7
Thomas Snyder
38 The Art of Sudoku 39
