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Steve K’s Solution to Easter Monster, part 1, the SK-Loop

 

 

 

Points. Easter Monster is one of the most difficult Sudoku puzzles known. The initial solution proposed by Steve Kurzhal  is both beautiful and logically interesting ons

 

 

Easter Monster

 

Easter Monster, below, is one of the toughest known puzzles with an almost symmetrical crisscross pattern typical many monsters. Steve's logical method produces a first stage solution whose simplicity contrasts with the puzzle's difficulty. Part of the simplicity is due to the puzzles symmetry.

 

 

 

Rank 0 Solution

 

The solution structure has 16 sets and 16 linksets where 12 sets have three candidates each and the rest have only two. These 32 sets form a fully linked rank 0 structure with no overlapping sets or linksets. The structure is multi-looped like a common rank 0 fish or perhaps a swordfish because the largest sets have only three candidates. A total of 13 candidates are eliminated from link sets. The loop with eliminations are shown here.

 

 

 

 

Stereoscopic 3D view of SK-Loop

 

The SK-Loop is so symmetrical it is worth the effort to view it in its full 3D beauty. Below is a stereoscopic image of the SK-Loop in 3D. Instructions: Look at the screen holding an A4 or letter size piece of paper between your eyes, long way, so the left eye sees only the left image and the right eye sees only the right image. Now relax your eyes, or think about focusing your eyes on a distant object, like a mountain. Slowly the two images should come together and you will see one single stereo 3D image.

 

 

 

 

 

Early 3D Photography

 

A bit off topic, but early 3D photography dates back to the 1850s!. Here is an early image of a procession in London, England. Use the same proceedure used above to see the stereoscopic view.

 

 

 

 

Logical Sub-Units

 

An interesting point is that the solution was found by building a logical structure from a number of identical equivalent. The loop can be made from eithr 8 two-set units or 4 four-set untis. Below is one of  two row subunits. There are an additional 2 column subunits. The four-set subunits are generally called AAHS and have a rank of 2.

 

 

The subunit seen sideways in 3D. .