Solve 17th May NYT hard Sudoku at one step. Even to get first valid digit is hard. Use our powerful Sudoku technique for critical breakthrough.
NYT Hard Sudoku 17th May 2024: One Step Solution
Digit subset reduction of [1,6,8] in left middle major square from C1 DS [1,6,8, 3,5,7] creates Cycles [3,5,7] in C1, naked single R1C1 1 and Cycle (6,8) in C1.
Naked singles: R5C3 4, R8C2 1 by parallel scan for 1 on C2.
Long reduction naked single R3C2 9. Naked singles R4C2 2, R4C3 9, R1C2 4, R2C2 4.
DS reduction of [6,7] in to middle major square from DS [1,3,8, 6,7] in R3 creates Cycles (1,3,8) and (6,7) in R3. Cycle (2,4,9) in the major square.
Digits [8,9] in left and right middle major square creates Cycles (8,9) and (2,3,4,5) in R6.
Hidden single R4C5 4, Cycles (1,5) in R5, (2,9) in C5, hidden single R2C4 4.
Naked single R6C5 8, R6C6 9, R5C6 1, R5C5 5.
Breakthrough naked single R7C6 8 by DS reduction of [2,3,4].
Naked singles R3C6 3, R3C5 1, R3C4 8. Cycle (2,4) in C6.
Critical breakthrough by powerful parallel digit scan for 8 on C9: R9C9 8. This would been difficult to locate otherwise.
Other cells a formality. Intermediate stage shown for better understanding.
Start for solution from naked single R9C1 6.
NYT Hard Sudoku 17th May 2024: One Step Solution: Intermediate stage
NYTimes Hard Sudoku 17th May 2024: One Step Solution: Final stage
Start with R9C1 6.
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