How to Play Samurai Sudoko
- 1). Resist solving the individual five puzzles and don't solve the center puzzle first. The puzzle must be solved as a whole, taking into consideration the shared blocks.
- 2). Examine each of the five 9-X-9 sudoku grids. Each grid is made up of nine, 3-X-3 regions or blocks. The object is to fill in the empty cells in each block using the numbers 1 through 9 only once. When completing each block, be mindful that each row and column in the 9-X-9 grid can only contain the numbers 1 through 9 once.
- 3). Pick one of the outer four puzzles to start with. Look for rows or columns that may already contain eight of the nine numbers. Fill in the missing numbers where possible.
- 4). Look for blocks that already have several numbers filled in. When filling in these blocks, scan the entire rows and columns of the grid for each number and with the process of elimination; fill in as many numbers as you can. With each number filled in, more clues to other numbers become available. Concentrate on filling in as many definite numbers as possible including the shared blocks with the center puzzle.
- 5). Check your logic twice. One bad entry due to illogical thinking can corrupt the entire puzzle. Avoid guessing for the same reason.
- 6). Move onto another outer sudoku puzzle if you cannot fill in any more cells. Repeat the process of filling in definite numbers and numbers in the shared blocks using the same logic, scanning and elimination methods.
- 7). Work on the center puzzle when one or two definite numbers in the shared blocks have been filled in. Use the same logical process to fill in the cells. If you get stuck, go back to the first puzzle and start the process over. You may have missed a number which may be all that is needed to complete the puzzle.
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