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Another Language by jovi_al and shye
🕑 Added 2022-10-18 18:38:16 +0000 UTCAn absolutely extraordinary puzzle for you to try today from two of the best setters around: jovi_al and shye have created a classic sudoku which incorporates some very very interesting logic. (Just watch what a standard computer solver has to do to solve it!!)
Rest assured, there is an elegant and logical way to crack it and we're going to be giving a prize for the best solution guide we receive by 31 October. We'll send the best entries we get to jovi and shye and they'll judge the winner! Send your entries to:
crackingthecryptic@gmail.com
Good luck!
Simon & Mark
Link to the puzzle:
https://app.crackingthecryptic.com/sudoku/Bprm939jf2
Comments
Amelia Wanders
Finally finished it last night! Typing up a guide today!
Sam Degheldere
I've got it down to one assumption I can't seem to prove but works well and then one bifurcation that breaks quickly.
Sumyrda
Ok, I finished it, but I also had to make an assumption on symmetry of where the 9s go, that I can't prove.
I enjoyed the puzzle but I made an assumption in my solve based on symmetry and the fact that the puzzle was created by a human. It worked out but I am confident it wasn't the intended method and I cannot for the life of me figure out why my assumption had to be true from a logical perspective... I feel like I'm close enough to know that it's going to be very interesting and beautiful logic but I'm not quite close enough to fully see it.
Okay, this took me a looong time. Was stuck for hours but refused to befurcate! In the end I had to use symmetry, and in a way uniquenes, to continue. Not really proud of that step but couldn't really find any other way to do it, would be interested if anyone else could give me some insight.
It's a strange puzzle, because I mostly had it flowing pretty well aside from one very stubborn bifurcation point about halfway through. The wrong guess took until very nearly the end of the puzzle to cause a contradiction, while the right guess made it smooth sailing from that point on. It's peculiar because my actual time find the solution of the puzzle is much shorter than I'd expect from one CTC says is this challenging, but I'm still not clear on how to write it as a solution Simon and Mark would be proud of. Has this been anyone else's experience?
23:21. I noticed something elegant, but I don't have the capacity to explain it, and I'm not even sure it's what jovi_al and shye would be looking for. I can't wait to see the winning solution so that I can know if I was on the right track. I do know that, thanks to CTC, I am at least able to spot things now that would have gone way over my head before!
Chuck Simmons
"interesting logic": The break-in isn't something you don't see everyday...
Sam Degheldere
So many chocolate teapots on my solve.
Robyn Thomas
Well... 18:47 for me... but I just followed the standard rules to their logical conclusion; it didn't seem hard and I didn't notice any interesting logic really. Maybe it passed me by!
Jon McGrath
Was able to do it the hard way but definitely interested in what the elegant way is!
Never mind--they want the best solution _guide_
No, it means they are looking for the best solve path. The most elegant and beautiful description of the logic. God knows it will not be mine! ;P
I don't understand--does this mean there isn't a unique solution?
Philipp Blume
That was so good! Thank you shye and jovi for your creativity and vision.
