1-9 |
| The numbers inputted into a sudoku grid to complete a puzzle. Each number 1 to 9 must appear only once in each row and column of the grid. |
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3d |
| Modern version of current hit-game Sudoku. Based upon the idea of completing 6 puzzles to form a cube. |
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3x3 (4x4, 5x5, 16, 16x16, 9x9) |
| Defines the size of the grid upon which the Sudoku puzzle is based. The 'traditional' japanese puzzle is based upon a grid of 9x9 containing smaller grids of 3x3. Other popular variants include the 16x16 grid, containing smaller grids of 4x4. |
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best sudoku player |
| Jana Tylova, a 31-year-old economist from Most in the Czech Republic, is the first and current holder of the World Sudoku Championship title. 85 finalsts from around the world competed in the competition, organised by the World Puzzle Federation. The World Sudkou Championships were held in Lucca, Tuscany in March 2006. http://www.wsc2006.com/eng/index.php
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candidate number (candidate numbers, pencil mark, pencil marks) |
| The possible numbers that could be placed in a cell at a given point during the solving of a puzzle. By temporarily noting candidate numbers, it may be possible to use further reasoning to elimate candidate numbers, so that only one remains and can then be entered into the cell with confidence. |
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cell |
| The individual squares making up a sudoku Grid, a row, a column or a region. |
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codenumber |
| The name given to the Sudoku puzzle by The Daily Mail when they first published their version of the game. The paper later adopted the more recognised term Sudoku as it gained popularity throughout the UK. |
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competition |
| The World Sudoku Championships, as organised by the World Puzzle Federation is recognised as the definitive championship and is held each year to determine the Best Sudoku Player in the world. |
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diagonal sudoku |
| A variant on the normal Sudoku game. Diagonal Sudoku places an additional restriction in that as well as using the numbers 1-9 (assuming 9x9 grid) once and once only in every row, column and region, the numbers 1-9 must also be used in the two diagonals of the grid, forming an X shape. Compare with Magic Square and Latin Square. |
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fiendish (difficult, easy, extreme, hard, killer sudoku) |
| Various difficulty ratings used to grade the complexity of a particular Sudoku puzzle - ratings typically run from Easy through to Fiendish although different sources often use different terms and there is no common agreed standard or mechinsm for measuring the complexity. |
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forum |
| The definitive Sudoku Forum is that hosted by Wayne Gould as www.sudoku.com. |
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generator (creator) |
| A piece of software use to generate Sudoku Puzzles on demand. Normally various paramters can be set to determine the complexity of the generated puzzle. True afficianados prize puzzles that are both symetrical (ie. the pattern of given numbers rotates around the grid) and can only solve to one unique answer. There is some debate as to whether the puzzle should also be solvable with no guessing or branching. Compare with Helper and Sudoku Solver. |
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gould (wayne gould) |
| Wayne Gould is a retired Hong Kong high court judge who is attributed to bringing the Sudoku puzzle to the UK. Having seen a partially completed Sudoku puzzle in a book store in Tokyo, he spent the next 6 years developing a computer program to create sudoku puzzles. He took his Sudoku puzzle to The Times newspaper, which launched its first Sudoku puzzle (called Su Doku) on 12 November 2004. |
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helper |
| A piece of software capable of 'suggesting' possible next moves when playing a Sudoku puzzle. Typically, such tools allow the user to enter the raw puzzle from sources such as a newspaper, and then provide hints as one progresses. Compare with Generator and Sudoku Solver. |
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interactive |
| Another term for Sudoku puzzles playable online over the Internet. |
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japanese puzzle (japanese) |
| Typically used to describe the 'traditional' 9x9 based Sudoku grid, as published by Nikoli in Japan from April, 1984. |
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java |
| A programming language often used to create software that must run on a variety of different hardware and operating systems. Java is often used to program Sudoku games that can be played online over the Internet. |
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latin squares (latin square) |
| A latin square is a square matrix of rows and columns, the cells of which are populated with different symbols and arranged so that each symbol appears only once in each row and each column. This differs from sudoku puzzles in that it does not contain the additional restriction of a sub-grid (known as Region). Compare with Magic Square and Diagonal Sudoku. |
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line |
| Generic term for a row or column in a Sudoku puzzle. |
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magic squares (magic square) |
| A magic square is an arrangement of numbers in a square, such that the numbers in all rows, all columns, and both diagonals add up to the same number. Compare with Latin Square and Diagonal Sudoku. |
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mobile |
| There are many versions of the Sudoku puzzle for mobile phones. Typically, these can be downloaded to the phone for the cost of a premium rate text. |
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nikoli (monthly nikolist) |
| The Japanese publisher coined the term 'su doku' in the 80s, 'Su' means number, while 'doku' means single or bachelor, pointing to how each column, row or box cannot contain a repeated number. Nikoli published the puzzle in their magazine 'Monthly Nikolist' |
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number place (numberplace) |
| The term sometimes used by Americans in place of Sudoku. The Sudoku puzzle was first published in the US under this name. |
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pappocom |
| Pappocom is the computer program developed by wayne gould to produce sudoku puzzles |
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pda (palm, pocket pc) |
| A handheld computer such as the Palm Pilot. There are many sudoku games available for such devices and the quality display and superior processing power often leads for a better gaming experience than other electronic handheld versions of the game. |
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puzzle logic (logic, reasoning) |
| There are numerous methods of solving Sudoku puzzles. The puzzles are logic based and should always be solvable by reason alone. |
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region |
| The name given to the inner grid/sub grid of a Sudoku puzzle. For example, a 9x9 puzzle will contain 9 3x3 regions. |
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rules |
| Sudoku also known as Number Place, is a logic-based placement puzzle. The aim of the canonical puzzle is to enter a numerical digit from 1 through 9 in each cell of a 9×9 grid made up of 3×3 subgrids (called regions), starting with various digits given in some cells (the givens). Each row, column, and region must contain only one instance of each numeral. Completing the puzzle requires patience and logical ability. |
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samurai |
| Samurai sudoku is a variation of the original Sudoku Puzzle that consists of five interlocking 9x9 Sudoku grids that overlap at the corner regions. To complete the puzzle all five grids must be solved. |
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solution (answer, answers) |
| The completed grid of a sudoku puzzle. It is commonly accepted that every puzzle should be solvable and should have only one unique answer. |
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strategy (strategies, techniques, sudoku strategy, solve, solving) |
| There are numerous methods of solving Sudoku puzzles. The puzzles are logic based and should always be solvable by reasoning alone. The various strategies and techniques for solving are predominantly a way of classifying the reasoning used at various stages in the puzzle. Basic strategies include: Cross Hatching - looking along each line (column/row) in order to spot numbers by a process of elimination. Marking up - entering candidate numbers (ie all possible numbers remaining) for a given cell, and then applying further reasoning and elimination to the candidates. X-Wing (x wing) - method that can eliminate certain candidates from squares. Its name comes from the pattern formed by the numbers. |
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su doku |
| A common form of spelling Sudoku. In particular, Su Doku is the name adopted by The Times newspaper when it first published the puzzle. |
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sudoku (su do ku, su-doku) |
| Sudoku also known as Number Place, is a logic-based placement puzzle. The aim of the canonical puzzle is to enter a numerical digit from 1 through 9 in each cell of a 9×9 grid made up of 3×3 subgrids (called regions), starting with various digits given in some cells (the givens). Each row, column, and region must contain only one instance of each numeral. Completing the puzzle requires patience and logical ability |
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sudoku game |
| An individual Sudoku puzzle or a piece of software which allows one to 'play' sudoku. |
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sudoku league |
| A method of competing in sudoku competitions. Several newspapers and other organisations run Sudoku leagues. |
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sudoku samurai |
| A term used to define someone who excels at solving Sudoku puzzles - for example, 'She is a Sudoku Samurai'. In addition, the term Samurai is also a puzzle variant. |
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sudoku shop |
| We currently have no definition for this term, please help us out and write one. |
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sudoku software (sudoku program) |
| Any piece of software related to Sudoku - either in the form of a generator, helper, Sudoku solver or a combination of all three. |
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sudoku solver (solver, solvers) |
| A piece of software capable of solving a given puzzle. Sudoku solvers are typically used either by players who are unable to determine the next move, or to validate a completed solution, or to prove that a puzzle is solvable to one unique solution. Compare with Helper and Sudoku Generator. |
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sudoku style |
| We currently have no definition for this term, please help us out and write one. |
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sudoku-style |
| We currently have no definition for this term, please help us out and write one. |
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sumdoku |
| A sudoku variant and puzzle magazine published by H. Bauer Publishing |
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