HodokuRevisited

Techniques / Single Digit Patterns

Empty Rectangle

Hard

A box where a digit lies only in one row and one column, forming a cross, combined with a strong link.

In a box, if all candidates of a digit lie in one row r and one column c of that box (a cross shape; the cells of the box outside that row and column are empty of the digit), you have an Empty Rectangle.

Now find a column elsewhere where the digit has exactly two candidates, and one of them lies in row r. Let the other one be in row s. If the first end is the digit, it clears row r in the box, so the box's digit must be in column c. If the first end is false, the other end (row s) is the digit. In both cases the digit cannot be at the crossing of row s and column c (if outside the box), so remove it there. Rows and columns can be swapped.

Notation

Empty Rectangle: 1 can be removed from r5c9.

3567357257245249457126813691568935674812957263695692591863742598645714514231457157579321468161468142368149571264759381281329234124657149135713572579234124812461691469
Empty Rectangle: 1 can be removed from r5c9.

pattern fin / link removed

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