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Sudoku strategy guide

Skyscraper: compare two offset strong links

A Skyscraper uses two parallel strong links for one digit. One end of each link aligns to form the base; the other two ends form the roofs.

Key idea

At least one roof must be true, so any candidate that sees both roofs is impossible.

See the move, step by step

Follow candidate 7 through columns 1 and 6.

Step 1 of 4

Find two parallel strong links

Columns 1 and 6 each contain exactly two relevant 7 candidates.

Columns being compared

Step 2 of 4

Identify the base and roofs

R3C1 and R3C6 form the aligned base. R1C1 and R2C6 are the two roof cells.

Two strong-link columnsSkyscraper candidates

Step 3 of 4

Use both roofs

R1C4 sees R1C1 along row 1 and R2C6 inside box 2. It therefore cannot be 7.

Skyscraper chainCandidate to remove

Step 4 of 4

Preserve the chain

The roof values remain unknown, but one is guaranteed true and the shared peer stays eliminated.

SkyscraperUpdated target

Try it on today's puzzle

Search rows or columns with exactly two candidates for one digit. One pair of endpoints must align while the roofs remain offset.

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