Sudoku in social conversations.

(ii) You have more time to learn one more method, and you feel challenged too, and so you want to learn it.

(iii) Knowing 2 methods helps you solve the puzzles quicker.

(iv) There are those who would claim this to be the smarter method; so why not have a go at this method as well?

(v) Or simply because, it's there! You may have any other of your own reasons as well.

But let's be clear: You don't necessarily have to learn this method to be able to solve Sudokus (unless, of course, YOU WANT to learn), as we've already seen. Possibility Matrix Method is good, and guarantees

solutions to every Sudoku. But just in case YOU decide to learn it, let's face it - this one is not

going to be as easy as the other one. You should have the patience to Should you learn the Conventional method?

go thru this somewhat cerebral method, to learn it completely and to put it to practice. Some, no doubt, learn it spontaneously; but many would need to put in an extra effort. Luckily for you, since you've already learnt the Possibility Matrix method, you'll find it much easier to learn it than others would, despite this being a more difficult method, per se`. For this reason, my recommendation is that you may try to learn this method ONLY after you've solved quite a few puzzles using the Possibility Matrix Method. Let's now try to understand what makes this method more difficult to learn and apply.

 

Sudoku involves solving Cells based on the values in Rows, Columns and Major Squares. When we need to solve a certain Cell by just referring between a Row and a Column, or between a Column and a Major Square, or between a Row and a Major Square, the problem is in 2-D (2 Dimensions).

But when we need to solve for each Cell across all the 3 Dimensions (3- D), Rows, Columns and Major Squares (which is the case with the nottoo-easy Puzzles), that's when it gets a little tricky. It requires what is

called the 'Spatial Ability'. Some of us are inherently good at it, and the Should you learn the Conventional method?

rest of us need to put in an extra effort. While the Conventional Method tries to take the bull by its horns and

attempts to solve the method in 3-D (after solving in 1-D and 2-D to the extent possible), the Possibility Matrix Method tries to find a bypass Approach for How To Solve Sudoku Puzzles that solves it using a simpler method. The Possibility Matrix Method is a mathematical Approach for How To Solve Sudoku Puzzles while the Conventional Method is more of an intuitive Approach for How To Solve Sudoku Puzzles. Not that there

is no mathematics or logic to the Conventional Method; there are, in fact, a set of definite procedures (we call them Approach for How To Solve Sudoku Puzzleses) that have emerged over time, and they are getting fine-tuned by Sudoku enthusiasts. So, newer Approach for How To Solve Sudoku Puzzleses and variations of the old ones are appearing every day.

But to solve a given Sudoku, you keep these Approach for How To Solve Sudoku Puzzleses at the back of your mind, and take an 'on the spot' intuitive decision on which of these Approach for How To Solve Sudoku Puzzleses you would apply, for which cells, and in which order. Though you may make use of the Possibility Matrix even in the Conventional Method, you don't depend on the Possibility Matrix as the tool. You try to avoid using it as much as you can, and you try to assign values to Cells as far as possible. It's strictly not essential, but that's what most people do.

Should you learn the Conventional method?

Of course, you can choose the Approach for How To Solve Sudoku Puzzles that best suits your temperament.

As explained already, the difference between the 2 methods is that, while the Possibility Matrix Method attempts to find the values for every Cell, the Conventional method, by and large, attempts to find the right Cells for every value. Also, some of the Approach for How To Solve Sudoku Puzzleses used in the Conventional Method presume that a given puzzle has one and only one solution. Which is most often the case with puzzles published in reputed magazines. Whereas the Possibility Matrix Method makes no such assumption. And therefore, it can help you find all the solutions (and also the fact of 'No Solution' wherever it is the case).

And interestingly, if you know both the Approach for How To Solve Sudoku Puzzleses, you could combine them as you like. You could use some of the techniques of one Method to solve parts of the puzzle and use some of the techniques of

the other Method to solve the other parts. And you could go back and forth.

So, if you wish to use the Conventional Method, but can't understand (or remember and apply) some of the techniques of the Conventional Method, don't tax yourself. Sudoku is a game, not a school lesson. Learn as much as you can. And when you don't know how to proceed, Should you learn the Conventional method?

fall back on the Possibility Matrix Method. You can, in fact, go back and for the between the two methods.

I advocate learning the Possibility Matrix Method first, which guarantees solutions to Sudoku puzzles of any complexity. Should you learn the Conventional method?et's now learn the Conventional Method to solving Sudoku. LSince we've already learnt the Possibility Matrix method fully and systematically, we will not do many Exercise on How To Solve Sudoku Puzzless at every stage, but we'd rather have some Exercise on How To Solve Sudoku Puzzless at the end of the eBook.

This method consists of unlimited number of Approach for How To Solve Sudoku Puzzleses. I said unlimited number because, if you become a member of any one of the many Sudoku communities, you'll find on-going discussions on the available Approach for How To Solve Sudoku Puzzleses, and research on a few new Approach for How To Solve Sudoku Puzzleses. And with all these Approach for How To Solve Sudoku Puzzleses, you're still not guaranteed a solution. Unless, of course, you include the 'Trial & Error' Approach for How To Solve Sudoku Puzzles (which is strictly not a part of the Conventional Method), to your armory. This is part of the reason why I advocate learning the Possibility Matrix

Method first, which guarantees a solution to every Sudoku puzzle of any complexity.

 

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