PUZZLE TECHNIQUES

EMPTY BLOCK LINE TECHNIQUE (1)

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THE EMPTY BLOCK LINE TECHNIQUE

We can apply the Empty Block Line technique in situations that meet 2 conditions:

• We have a block with 3 empty cells next to or below each other. We call this an Empty Block Line (= EBL).
• We have 6 different digits if we add:
• the digits in the line (=row or column) of the EBL with
• tge digits in the block of the EBL.

We clarify everything below with an example.

• Column 1 contains an EBL. In block 7 (= bottom left) there are 3 empty cells on top of each other that belong to column 1.
• Column 1 contains the numbers 4, 9 and 6.
• Block 7 contains the numbers 1, 2 and 8.

So we have 6 different numbers together! The numbers 1, 2 and 8 of block 7 can only be placed in column 1 where the question marks are located.

• We place the numbers 1, 2 and 8 where the question marks are and meanwhile we scan the numbers present in the row and the block to which the question marks belongs to see if we can eliminate certain numbers.
• R2C1: 2 is in this block and 1 is present in row 2. So we can only place 8.
• R1C1: 2 is in this block and we have just placed 8 correctly. So we can only place 1.
• R5C1: we have just placed 1 and 8. So we can only place 2.
• We follow the same method and can now also place numbers 3, 5 and 7 in column 1.

SUDOKU EMPTY BLOCK LINE TECHNQIE (PART 1)

The empty block line technique is a very useful strategy for making rapid progress. For more clarity watch our video about this new method.