Variations on Tournament Sudoku-by5 Logic Puzzles (Vol 1) Step-by-Step Instructions for Puzzle 40   (287/369) Diff: 29/9.9777.7654.4462.6999.9999.9999.8951 Printable puzzle or puzzle with step-by-step solutions The numbers in the puzzle below refer to the step number at which the value of the location can be deduced. Locations without step numbers contain the initial values found in corresponding puzzle in your edition of the book.

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 for 'HyperSudoku-Xtreme' puzzles.

Step 1. There are 11 independent moves.

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

Step 2. There are 11 independent moves.

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

Step 3. There are 7 independent moves.

• The only spot left for 5 in the 3rd 3x3 square in the upper left puzzle is at (9, 3).
• The only spot left for 9 in the 2nd column in the upper right puzzle is at (14, 8).
• The only spot left for 7 in the 3rd column in the upper right puzzle is at (15, 2).
• The only spot left for 6 in the 6th 3x3 square in the center puzzle is at (14, 11).
• The only spot left for 6 in the 2nd 3x3 inner square in the center puzzle is at (12, 9).
• The only spot left for 2 in the 3rd 3x3 inner square in the center puzzle is at (9, 14).
• The only spot left for 2 in the 2nd diagonal in the lower left puzzle is at (4, 18).

Step 4. There are 7 independent moves.

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

Step 5. There are 7 independent moves.

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

Step 6. There are 7 independent moves.

• The only spot left for 8 in the 9th column in the upper left puzzle is at (9, 1).
• The only spot left for 4 in the 2nd diagonal in the upper right puzzle is at (21, 1).
• The only spot left for 8 in the 2nd column in the center puzzle is at (8, 11).
• The only spot left for 2 in the 2nd 3x3 inner square in the center puzzle is at (12, 8).
• The only spot left for 5 in the 8th column in the lower left puzzle is at (8, 18).
• The only spot left for 7 in the 7th 3x3 square in the lower left puzzle is at (2, 21).
• The only spot left for 7 in the 9th 3x3 square in the lower left puzzle is at (9, 20).

Step 7. There are 6 independent moves.

• The only spot left for 8 in the 8th column in the upper left puzzle is at (8, 4).
• The only spot left for 4 in the 9th column in the upper left puzzle is at (9, 6).
• The only spot left for 2 in the 9th 3x3 square in the upper left puzzle is at (7, 9).
• The only spot left for 8 in the 1st diagonal in the upper left puzzle is at (2, 2).
• The only spot left for 4 in the 2nd diagonal in the upper left puzzle is at (1, 9).
• The only spot left for 3 in the 4th 3x3 square in the center puzzle is at (8, 12).

Step 8. There are 5 independent moves.

• The only spot left for 4 in the 2nd column in the upper left puzzle is at (2, 3).
• The only spot left for 4 in the 4th 3x3 square in the upper left puzzle is at (3, 5).
• The only spot left for 8 in the 9th 3x3 square in the upper left puzzle is at (7, 8).
• The only spot left for 3 in the 4th column in the center puzzle is at (10, 7).
• The only spot left for 3 in the 4th 3x3 inner square in the center puzzle is at (12, 13).

Step 9. There are 4 independent moves.

• The only spot left for 4 in the 2nd row in the upper left puzzle is at (7, 2).
• The only spot left for 4 in the 2nd 3x3 square in the upper left puzzle is at (6, 1).
• The only spot left for 4 in the 1st row in the center puzzle is at (14, 7).
• The only spot left for 4 in the 2nd 3x3 square in the center puzzle is at (11, 9).

Step 10. There are 4 independent moves.

• The only spot left for 4 in the 8th column in the upper right puzzle is at (20, 6).
• The only spot left for 4 in the 9th 3x3 square in the upper right puzzle is at (19, 9).
• The only spot left for 4 in the 9th 3x3 square in the center puzzle is at (15, 15).
• The only spot left for 4 in the 2nd 3x3 inner square in the center puzzle is at (13, 10).

Step 11. There are 4 independent moves.

• The only spot left for 9 in the 9th row in the upper right puzzle is at (21, 9).
• The only spot left for 9 in the 7th column in the upper right puzzle is at (19, 4).
• The only spot left for 4 in the 3rd column in the center puzzle is at (9, 11).
• The only spot left for 4 in the 5th 3x3 square in the lower right puzzle is at (18, 17).

Step 12. There are 6 independent moves.

• The only spot left for 9 in the 5th column in the upper right puzzle is at (17, 7).
• The only spot left for 9 in the 1st 3x3 square in the upper right puzzle is at (13, 3).
• The only spot left for 9 in the 3rd 3x3 square in the upper right puzzle is at (20, 1).
• The only spot left for 9 in the 5th 3x3 square in the upper right puzzle is at (16, 5).
• The only spot left for 9 in the 3rd column in the center puzzle is at (9, 15).
• The only spot left for 2 in the 5th 3x3 square in the lower right puzzle is at (17, 17).

Step 13. There are 2 independent moves.

• The only spot left for 9 in the 9th 3x3 square in the center puzzle is at (13, 13).
• The only spot left for 9 in the 9th 3x3 square in the lower left puzzle is at (7, 20).

Step 14. There are 6 independent moves.

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

Step 15. There are 12 independent moves.

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

Step 16. There are 16 independent moves.

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

Step 17. There are 21 independent moves.

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

Step 18. There are 15 independent moves.

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

Step 19. There are 14 independent moves.

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

Step 20. There are 21 independent moves.

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

Step 21. There are 20 independent moves.

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

Step 22. There are 15 independent moves.

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

Step 23. There are 17 independent moves.

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

Step 24. There are 15 independent moves.

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

Step 25. There are 11 independent moves.

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

Step 26. There are 8 independent moves.

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

Step 27. There are 9 independent moves.

• The only spot left for 6 in the 2nd 3x3 square in the upper left puzzle is at (6, 3).
• The only spot left for 1 in the 4th 3x3 square in the upper left puzzle is at (1, 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 6 in the 2nd diagonal in the upper left puzzle is at (4, 6).
• The only spot left for 1 in the 7th column in the lower left puzzle is at (7, 16).
• The only spot left for 1 in the 2nd 3x3 square in the lower left puzzle is at (4, 15).
• The only spot left for 6 in the 6th 3x3 square in the lower left puzzle is at (9, 16).
• The only spot left for 1 in the 8th 3x3 square in the lower left puzzle is at (6, 21).
• The only spot left for 1 in the 9th 3x3 square in the lower left puzzle is at (9, 19).

Step 28. There are 5 independent moves.

• The only spot left for 1 in the 8th row in the upper left puzzle is at (4, 8).
• The only spot left for 5 in the 5th 3x3 square in the upper left puzzle is at (5, 6).
• The only spot left for 1 in the 7th 3x3 square in the upper left puzzle is at (2, 9).
• The only spot left for 6 in the 8th 3x3 square in the upper left puzzle is at (5, 8).
• The only spot left for 5 in the 2nd diagonal in the upper left puzzle is at (2, 8).

Step 29. There is 1 independent move.

• The only spot left for 5 in the 8th 3x3 square in the upper left puzzle is at (4, 9).