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Difficult Sudoku-by5 Group Puzzle
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The small superscript in each undetermined location is the step number at which the location must be fill before all of the locations with subsequent step numbers can be determined. A detailed description of the moves in each step is given below.

Display the puzzle with superscripts showing just the step number for the first few steps in their empty grid locations.

See the puzzle answer grid.

Deductive steps to solve the puzzle

The moves within each step may be done in any order.

All of the moves within a particular step must be done before all of the moves in the subsequent step can be guaranteed to be completed.

Rows are numbered top to bottom, columns from left to right, and rectangles from left to right and then top to bottom. Coordinates are (col, row). Precise details on numbering within each group are specified in the on-line instructions .

Step 1. There are 33 independent moves.

• The only spot left for 2 in the 1st column in the upper left puzzle is at (1, 4).
• The only spot left for 2 in the 1st 3x3 square in the upper left puzzle is at (3, 1).
• The only spot left for 9 in the 2nd 3x3 square in the upper left puzzle is at (6, 3).
• The only spot left for 8 in the 6th 3x3 square in the upper left puzzle is at (7, 4).
• The only spot left for 2 in the 9th 3x3 square in the upper left puzzle is at (9, 8).
• The only spot left for 6 in the 3rd row in the upper right puzzle is at (21, 3).
• The only spot left for 1 in the 7th row in the upper right puzzle is at (21, 7).
• The only spot left for 5 in the 1st 3x3 square in the upper right puzzle is at (14, 3).
• The only spot left for 7 in the 2nd 3x3 square in the upper right puzzle is at (18, 1).
• The only spot left for 4 in the 4th 3x3 square in the upper right puzzle is at (13, 5).
• The only spot left for 8 in the 5th 3x3 square in the upper right puzzle is at (18, 6).
• The only spot left for 1 in the 7th 3x3 square in the upper right puzzle is at (15, 9).
• The only spot left for 3 in the 7th 3x3 square in the upper right puzzle is at (14, 7).
• The only spot left for 6 in the 8th 3x3 square in the upper right puzzle is at (16, 9).
• The only spot left for 3 in the 2nd row in the center puzzle is at (7, 8).
• The only spot left for 1 in the 4th row in the center puzzle is at (7, 10).
• The only spot left for 1 in the 9th row in the center puzzle is at (8, 15).
• The only spot left for 7 in the 9th column in the center puzzle is at (15, 7).
• The only spot left for 1 in the 5th 3x3 square in the center puzzle is at (11, 12).
• The only spot left for 9 in the 6th 3x3 square in the center puzzle is at (13, 12).
• The only spot left for 5 in the 6th 3x3 square in the center puzzle is at (14, 10).
• The only spot left for 5 in the 7th 3x3 square in the center puzzle is at (7, 14).
• The only spot left for 7 in the 9th 3x3 square in the center puzzle is at (14, 15).
• The only spot left for 1 in the 9th 3x3 square in the center puzzle is at (13, 13).
• The only spot left for 1 in the 9th column in the lower left puzzle is at (9, 21).
• The only spot left for 8 in the 4th 3x3 square in the lower left puzzle is at (3, 17).
• The only spot left for 9 in the 8th 3x3 square in the lower left puzzle is at (4, 21).
• The only spot left for 1 in the 2nd row in the lower right puzzle is at (17, 14).
• The only spot left for 7 in the 5th row in the lower right puzzle is at (13, 17).
• The only spot left for 5 in the 8th row in the lower right puzzle is at (16, 20).
• The only spot left for 9 in the 6th 3x3 square in the lower right puzzle is at (20, 16).
• The only spot left for 5 in the 7th 3x3 square in the lower right puzzle is at (13, 19).
• The only spot left for 7 in the 8th 3x3 square in the lower right puzzle is at (18, 19).

Step 2. There are 30 independent moves.

• The only spot left for 2 in the 4th column in the upper left puzzle is at (4, 7).
• The only spot left for 2 in the 5th 3x3 square in the upper left puzzle is at (6, 5).
• The only spot left for 5 in the 6th 3x3 square in the upper left puzzle is at (9, 6).
• The only spot left for 8 in the 9th 3x3 square in the upper left puzzle is at (8, 7).
• The only spot left for 4 in the 1st row in the upper right puzzle is at (19, 1).
• The only spot left for 8 in the 3rd row in the upper right puzzle is at (20, 3).
• The only spot left for 7 in the 4th row in the upper right puzzle is at (17, 4).
• The only spot left for 4 in the 9th column in the upper right puzzle is at (21, 9).
• The only spot left for 8 in the 9th column in the upper right puzzle is at (21, 5).
• The only spot left for 7 in the 4th 3x3 square in the upper right puzzle is at (14, 5).
• The only spot left for 6 in the 6th 3x3 square in the upper right puzzle is at (19, 4).
• The only spot left for 9 in the 7th 3x3 square in the upper right puzzle is at (14, 9).
• The only spot left for 9 in the 2nd row in the center puzzle is at (10, 8).
• The only spot left for 4 in the 4th row in the center puzzle is at (15, 10).
• The only spot left for 3 in the 7th row in the center puzzle is at (12, 13).
• The only spot left for 8 in the 7th column in the center puzzle is at (13, 8).
• The only spot left for 9 in the 7th 3x3 square in the center puzzle is at (8, 14).
• The only spot left for 3 in the 9th 3x3 square in the center puzzle is at (13, 15).
• The only spot left for 8 in the 9th 3x3 square in the center puzzle is at (15, 14).
• The only spot left for 9 in the 7th column in the lower left puzzle is at (7, 17).
• The only spot left for 5 in the 9th column in the lower left puzzle is at (9, 17).
• The only spot left for 8 in the 5th 3x3 square in the lower left puzzle is at (6, 16).
• The only spot left for 8 in the 9th 3x3 square in the lower left puzzle is at (7, 21).
• The only spot left for 8 in the 1st column in the lower right puzzle is at (13, 21).
• The only spot left for 7 in the 8th column in the lower right puzzle is at (20, 20).
• The only spot left for 9 in the 2nd 3x3 square in the lower right puzzle is at (18, 14).
• The only spot left for 5 in the 2nd 3x3 square in the lower right puzzle is at (17, 13).
• The only spot left for 5 in the 6th 3x3 square in the lower right puzzle is at (21, 16).
• The only spot left for 7 in the 6th 3x3 square in the lower right puzzle is at (19, 16).
• The only spot left for 2 in the 8th 3x3 square in the lower right puzzle is at (17, 19).

Step 3. There are 31 independent moves.

• The only spot left for 9 in the 8th column in the upper left puzzle is at (8, 5).
• The only spot left for 9 in the 9th 3x3 square in the upper left puzzle is at (7, 7).
• The only spot left for 1 in the 3rd row in the upper right puzzle is at (17, 3).
• The only spot left for 3 in the 9th row in the upper right puzzle is at (18, 9).
• The only spot left for 6 in the 1st column in the upper right puzzle is at (13, 2).
• The only spot left for 4 in the 5th column in the upper right puzzle is at (17, 7).
• The only spot left for 3 in the 9th column in the upper right puzzle is at (21, 8).
• The only spot left for 8 in the 1st 3x3 square in the upper right puzzle is at (15, 2).
• The only spot left for 1 in the 4th 3x3 square in the upper right puzzle is at (13, 6).
• The only spot left for 3 in the 6th 3x3 square in the upper right puzzle is at (20, 5).
• The only spot left for 6 in the 7th 3x3 square in the upper right puzzle is at (15, 8).
• The only spot left for 2 in the 7th 3x3 square in the upper right puzzle is at (13, 7).
• The only spot left for 7 in the 2nd row in the center puzzle is at (11, 8).
• The only spot left for 3 in the 6th row in the center puzzle is at (15, 12).
• The only spot left for 8 in the 1st column in the center puzzle is at (7, 11).
• The only spot left for 4 in the 2nd column in the center puzzle is at (8, 9).
• The only spot left for 6 in the 7th column in the center puzzle is at (13, 10).
• The only spot left for 3 in the 5th 3x3 square in the center puzzle is at (10, 11).
• The only spot left for 8 in the 7th 3x3 square in the center puzzle is at (9, 13).
• The only spot left for 8 in the 2nd row in the lower left puzzle is at (5, 14).
• The only spot left for 9 in the 3rd column in the lower left puzzle is at (3, 15).
• The only spot left for 7 in the 7th column in the lower left puzzle is at (7, 13).
• The only spot left for 8 in the 8th column in the lower left puzzle is at (8, 18).
• The only spot left for 2 in the 5th 3x3 square in the lower left puzzle is at (4, 18).
• The only spot left for 6 in the 6th 3x3 square in the lower left puzzle is at (8, 17).
• The only spot left for 3 in the 4th row in the lower right puzzle is at (15, 16).
• The only spot left for 9 in the 7th row in the lower right puzzle is at (14, 19).
• The only spot left for 2 in the 1st column in the lower right puzzle is at (13, 16).
• The only spot left for 9 in the 5th column in the lower right puzzle is at (17, 21).
• The only spot left for 5 in the 3rd 3x3 square in the lower right puzzle is at (20, 14).
• The only spot left for 9 in the 5th 3x3 square in the lower right puzzle is at (16, 17).

Step 4. There are 35 independent moves.

• The only spot left for 6 in the 7th row in the upper left puzzle is at (6, 7).
• The only spot left for 7 in the 8th column in the upper left puzzle is at (8, 6).
• The only spot left for 4 in the 3rd 3x3 square in the upper left puzzle is at (7, 1).
• The only spot left for 7 in the 9th 3x3 square in the upper left puzzle is at (9, 9).
• The only spot left for 9 in the 3rd row in the upper right puzzle is at (18, 3).
• The only spot left for 2 in the 9th row in the upper right puzzle is at (19, 9).
• The only spot left for 3 in the 5th column in the upper right puzzle is at (17, 6).
• The only spot left for 2 in the 6th column in the upper right puzzle is at (18, 4).
• The only spot left for 9 in the 9th column in the upper right puzzle is at (21, 4).
• The only spot left for 9 in the 1st 3x3 square in the upper right puzzle is at (13, 1).
• The only spot left for 3 in the 2nd 3x3 square in the upper right puzzle is at (16, 2).
• The only spot left for 2 in the 8th 3x3 square in the upper right puzzle is at (17, 8).
• The only spot left for 4 in the 7th row in the center puzzle is at (11, 13).
• The only spot left for 4 in the 1st column in the center puzzle is at (7, 15).
• The only spot left for 7 in the 2nd column in the center puzzle is at (8, 12).
• The only spot left for 7 in the 4th column in the center puzzle is at (10, 10).
• The only spot left for 8 in the 5th column in the center puzzle is at (11, 15).
• The only spot left for 4 in the 2nd 3x3 square in the center puzzle is at (12, 7).
• The only spot left for 4 in the 4th 3x3 square in the center puzzle is at (9, 11).
• The only spot left for 6 in the 5th 3x3 square in the center puzzle is at (12, 12).
• The only spot left for 2 in the 6th 3x3 square in the center puzzle is at (15, 11).
• The only spot left for 7 in the 8th 3x3 square in the center puzzle is at (12, 14).
• The only spot left for 6 in the 2nd row in the lower left puzzle is at (2, 14).
• The only spot left for 7 in the 5th row in the lower left puzzle is at (2, 17).
• The only spot left for 1 in the 6th row in the lower left puzzle is at (2, 18).
• The only spot left for 7 in the 3rd column in the lower left puzzle is at (3, 21).
• The only spot left for 2 in the 9th column in the lower left puzzle is at (9, 16).
• The only spot left for 6 in the 9th column in the lower left puzzle is at (9, 15).
• The only spot left for 7 in the 1st 3x3 square in the lower left puzzle is at (1, 15).
• The only spot left for 7 in the 6th 3x3 square in the lower left puzzle is at (8, 16).
• The only spot left for 6 in the 9th 3x3 square in the lower left puzzle is at (7, 19).
• The only spot left for 8 in the 5th row in the lower right puzzle is at (21, 17).
• The only spot left for 2 in the 3rd column in the lower right puzzle is at (15, 20).
• The only spot left for 6 in the 4th 3x3 square in the lower right puzzle is at (15, 17).
• The only spot left for 8 in the 5th 3x3 square in the lower right puzzle is at (16, 18).

Step 5. There are 39 independent moves.

• The only spot left for 5 in the 1st row in the upper left puzzle is at (6, 1).
• The only spot left for 7 in the 5th row in the upper left puzzle is at (3, 5).
• The only spot left for 7 in the 1st column in the upper left puzzle is at (1, 2).
• The only spot left for 4 in the 6th column in the upper left puzzle is at (6, 6).
• The only spot left for 1 in the 8th column in the upper left puzzle is at (8, 1).
• The only spot left for 6 in the 9th column in the upper left puzzle is at (9, 5).
• The only spot left for 6 in the 2nd 3x3 square in the upper left puzzle is at (5, 2).
• The only spot left for 5 in the 3rd 3x3 square in the upper left puzzle is at (7, 2).
• The only spot left for 7 in the 5th 3x3 square in the upper left puzzle is at (4, 4).
• The only spot left for 1 in the 6th 3x3 square in the upper left puzzle is at (7, 5).
• The only spot left for 4 in the 8th 3x3 square in the upper left puzzle is at (5, 8).
• The only spot left for 6 in the 9th 3x3 square in the upper left puzzle is at (7, 9).
• The only spot left for 9 in the 5th column in the upper right puzzle is at (17, 5).
• The only spot left for 5 in the 6th column in the upper right puzzle is at (18, 7).
• The only spot left for 4 in the 2nd 3x3 square in the upper right puzzle is at (18, 2).
• The only spot left for 2 in the 4th 3x3 square in the upper right puzzle is at (15, 5).
• The only spot left for 4 in the 5th 3x3 square in the upper right puzzle is at (16, 4).
• The only spot left for 9 in the 8th 3x3 square in the upper right puzzle is at (16, 7).
• The only spot left for 6 in the 1st row in the center puzzle is at (10, 7).
• The only spot left for 6 in the 7th row in the center puzzle is at (14, 13).
• The only spot left for 2 in the 8th row in the center puzzle is at (14, 14).
• The only spot left for 8 in the 4th column in the center puzzle is at (10, 9).
• The only spot left for 2 in the 6th column in the center puzzle is at (12, 9).
• The only spot left for 5 in the 4th 3x3 square in the center puzzle is at (9, 12).
• The only spot left for 2 in the 4th 3x3 square in the center puzzle is at (7, 12).
• The only spot left for 5 in the 5th 3x3 square in the center puzzle is at (12, 11).
• The only spot left for 8 in the 5th 3x3 square in the center puzzle is at (12, 10).
• The only spot left for 2 in the 7th 3x3 square in the center puzzle is at (8, 13).
• The only spot left for 2 in the 8th 3x3 square in the center puzzle is at (10, 15).
• The only spot left for 6 in the 8th 3x3 square in the center puzzle is at (11, 14).
• The only spot left for 2 in the 3rd row in the lower left puzzle is at (5, 15).
• The only spot left for 5 in the 3rd row in the lower left puzzle is at (4, 15).
• The only spot left for 2 in the 7th column in the lower left puzzle is at (7, 20).
• The only spot left for 6 in the 2nd 3x3 square in the lower left puzzle is at (5, 13).
• The only spot left for 4 in the 6th 3x3 square in the lower left puzzle is at (9, 18).
• The only spot left for 3 in the 6th 3x3 square in the lower left puzzle is at (7, 18).
• The only spot left for 4 in the 3rd column in the lower right puzzle is at (15, 18).
• The only spot left for 2 in the 5th 3x3 square in the lower right puzzle is at (18, 17).
• The only spot left for 2 in the 6th 3x3 square in the lower right puzzle is at (21, 18).

Step 6. There are 20 independent moves.

• The only spot left for 8 in the 1st row in the upper left puzzle is at (9, 1).
• The only spot left for 6 in the 4th row in the upper left puzzle is at (3, 4).
• The only spot left for 9 in the 4th column in the upper left puzzle is at (4, 8).
• The only spot left for 8 in the 2nd 3x3 square in the upper left puzzle is at (6, 2).
• The only spot left for 4 in the 4th 3x3 square in the upper left puzzle is at (2, 5).
• The only spot left for 6 in the 5th 3x3 square in the upper left puzzle is at (4, 6).
• The only spot left for 9 in the 5th 3x3 square in the upper left puzzle is at (5, 4).
• The only spot left for 1 in the 4th row in the upper right puzzle is at (20, 4).
• The only spot left for 9 in the 4th 3x3 square in the upper right puzzle is at (15, 6).
• The only spot left for 1 in the 5th 3x3 square in the upper right puzzle is at (16, 5).
• The only spot left for 2 in the 2nd column in the lower left puzzle is at (2, 21).
• The only spot left for 2 in the 1st 3x3 square in the lower left puzzle is at (3, 14).
• The only spot left for 2 in the 8th 3x3 square in the lower left puzzle is at (6, 19).
• The only spot left for 6 in the 2nd row in the lower right puzzle is at (21, 14).
• The only spot left for 2 in the 3rd row in the lower right puzzle is at (16, 15).
• The only spot left for 1 in the 3rd column in the lower right puzzle is at (15, 19).
• The only spot left for 6 in the 8th column in the lower right puzzle is at (20, 19).
• The only spot left for 2 in the 3rd 3x3 square in the lower right puzzle is at (19, 13).
• The only spot left for 1 in the 4th 3x3 square in the lower right puzzle is at (14, 18).
• The only spot left for 3 in the 6th 3x3 square in the lower right puzzle is at (20, 18).

Step 7. There are 26 independent moves.

• The only spot left for 1 in the 5th column in the upper left puzzle is at (5, 9).
• The only spot left for 3 in the 6th column in the upper left puzzle is at (6, 9).
• The only spot left for 3 in the 2nd 3x3 square in the upper left puzzle is at (4, 1).
• The only spot left for 3 in the 3rd 3x3 square in the upper left puzzle is at (9, 3).
• The only spot left for 5 in the 4th 3x3 square in the upper left puzzle is at (2, 4).
• The only spot left for 3 in the 5th 3x3 square in the upper left puzzle is at (5, 5).
• The only spot left for 1 in the 5th 3x3 square in the upper left puzzle is at (6, 4).
• The only spot left for 9 in the 7th 3x3 square in the upper left puzzle is at (3, 9).
• The only spot left for 1 in the 1st row in the upper right puzzle is at (14, 1).
• The only spot left for 5 in the 8th column in the upper right puzzle is at (20, 8).
• The only spot left for 1 in the 3rd 3x3 square in the upper right puzzle is at (19, 2).
• The only spot left for 5 in the 4th 3x3 square in the upper right puzzle is at (15, 4).
• The only spot left for 5 in the 5th 3x3 square in the upper right puzzle is at (16, 6).
• The only spot left for 5 in the 6th 3x3 square in the upper right puzzle is at (19, 5).
• The only spot left for 5 in the 7th row in the lower left puzzle is at (8, 19).
• The only spot left for 5 in the 9th row in the lower left puzzle is at (1, 21).
• The only spot left for 5 in the 8th 3x3 square in the lower left puzzle is at (6, 20).
• The only spot left for 4 in the 1st row in the lower right puzzle is at (18, 13).
• The only spot left for 6 in the 4th column in the lower right puzzle is at (16, 21).
• The only spot left for 4 in the 7th column in the lower right puzzle is at (19, 20).
• The only spot left for 6 in the 2nd 3x3 square in the lower right puzzle is at (17, 15).
• The only spot left for 4 in the 3rd 3x3 square in the lower right puzzle is at (21, 15).
• The only spot left for 3 in the 3rd 3x3 square in the lower right puzzle is at (19, 14).
• The only spot left for 8 in the 3rd 3x3 square in the lower right puzzle is at (20, 13).
• The only spot left for 1 in the 9th 3x3 square in the lower right puzzle is at (21, 21).
• The only spot left for 8 in the 9th 3x3 square in the lower right puzzle is at (19, 19).

Step 8. There are 19 independent moves.

• The only spot left for 1 in the 1st column in the upper left puzzle is at (1, 6).
• The only spot left for 3 in the 2nd column in the upper left puzzle is at (2, 2).
• The only spot left for 5 in the 3rd column in the upper left puzzle is at (3, 3).
• The only spot left for 5 in the 7th 3x3 square in the upper left puzzle is at (1, 9).
• The only spot left for 2 in the 1st row in the upper right puzzle is at (20, 1).
• The only spot left for 2 in the 1st 3x3 square in the upper right puzzle is at (14, 2).
• The only spot left for 9 in the 3rd 3x3 square in the upper right puzzle is at (20, 2).
• The only spot left for 9 in the 9th 3x3 square in the upper right puzzle is at (19, 8).
• The only spot left for 3 in the 9th row in the lower left puzzle is at (5, 21).
• The only spot left for 5 in the 1st 3x3 square in the lower left puzzle is at (2, 13).
• The only spot left for 4 in the 8th 3x3 square in the lower left puzzle is at (5, 20).
• The only spot left for 3 in the 9th 3x3 square in the lower left puzzle is at (8, 20).
• The only spot left for 3 in the 8th row in the lower right puzzle is at (14, 20).
• The only spot left for 3 in the 2nd 3x3 square in the lower right puzzle is at (16, 13).
• The only spot left for 6 in the 5th 3x3 square in the lower right puzzle is at (18, 16).
• The only spot left for 4 in the 5th 3x3 square in the lower right puzzle is at (17, 16).
• The only spot left for 4 in the 7th 3x3 square in the lower right puzzle is at (14, 21).
• The only spot left for 3 in the 8th 3x3 square in the lower right puzzle is at (18, 21).
• The only spot left for 3 in the 9th 3x3 square in the lower right puzzle is at (21, 19).

Step 9. There are 14 independent moves.

• The only spot left for 3 in the 1st column in the upper left puzzle is at (1, 7).
• The only spot left for 1 in the 2nd column in the upper left puzzle is at (2, 8).
• The only spot left for 8 in the 3rd column in the upper left puzzle is at (3, 8).
• The only spot left for 4 in the 3rd column in the upper left puzzle is at (3, 7).
• The only spot left for 8 in the 1st 3x3 square in the upper left puzzle is at (2, 3).
• The only spot left for 4 in the 1st 3x3 square in the upper left puzzle is at (1, 3).
• The only spot left for 1 in the 1st 3x3 square in the upper left puzzle is at (3, 2).
• The only spot left for 3 in the 4th 3x3 square in the upper left puzzle is at (3, 6).
• The only spot left for 1 in the 8th row in the lower left puzzle is at (1, 20).
• The only spot left for 3 in the 2nd column in the lower left puzzle is at (2, 16).
• The only spot left for 1 in the 5th column in the lower left puzzle is at (5, 17).
• The only spot left for 3 in the 5th 3x3 square in the lower left puzzle is at (4, 17).
• The only spot left for 3 in the 7th 3x3 square in the lower left puzzle is at (3, 19).
• The only spot left for 1 in the 8th 3x3 square in the lower left puzzle is at (4, 19).

Step 10. There are 7 independent moves.

• The only spot left for 4 in the 4th column in the lower left puzzle is at (4, 13).
• The only spot left for 1 in the 1st 3x3 square in the lower left puzzle is at (3, 13).
• The only spot left for 3 in the 1st 3x3 square in the lower left puzzle is at (1, 13).
• The only spot left for 1 in the 2nd 3x3 square in the lower left puzzle is at (6, 14).
• The only spot left for 9 in the 4th 3x3 square in the lower left puzzle is at (1, 16).
• The only spot left for 4 in the 5th 3x3 square in the lower left puzzle is at (6, 17).
• The only spot left for 9 in the 7th 3x3 square in the lower left puzzle is at (2, 20).

Step 11. There is 1 independent move.

• The only spot left for 4 in the 1st 3x3 square in the lower left puzzle is at (1, 14).

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