The Sudoku Method - Volume 1 - Beginner to Advanced

Latest book content update: February 2015 - Now with a possibility to download the puzzles in a pdf file.With its 136 illustrations, "The Sudoku Method - Volume 1 - Beginner to Advanced (Learn how to solve Sudoku puzzles)" is a guide clearly explaining how to solve Sudoku puzzles.It's not a list of tips but a method which introduces progressively the necessary concepts and techniques.It's easy to understand, with no jargon or abbreviations, and assumes no prior knowledge.Does any one of the following questions apply to you ?- Are you sure that you are solving your Sudoku puzzles in an efficient way, without wasting time or efforts, and without guessing ?- Did you ever wonder why Sudoku puzzles were so popular, but didn't attempt to play them ?- Have you ever felt frustrated to not be able to successfully solve a Sudoku puzzle even though it was not rated as difficult ?- Are you looking for an addictive and fun to play puzzle, but don't know how to properly solve it ?- Are you willing to make your mind workout ?This book will:- give a clear explanation of the rules of the Sudoku puzzles and instructions on the best ways to solve them- explain each possible technique to progress and why it is used- offer general advice on how to tackle these puzzles- complement explanations with numerous examples and illustrations- include complete step by step examples of a Sudoku puzzle resolution, from start to finish- show how to solve Sudoku puzzles with or without candidates, using an efficient strategyNo one will be left behind !It will be possible to download the puzzles used as examples in a pdf format from our website (see Appendix).Disclaimer: this book (and the techniques it reveals) will allow you to solve the majority of the published Sudoku puzzles (in general public magazines), but not the most difficult ones (only for experts).A further volume will cover in detail the techniques required for those more challenging puzzles (Wings,Fishes,Chains..). Table of ContentsIntroductionI Description and rules of SudokuII Sudoku difficulty level gradingIII Solving Sudoku puzzlesIV CandidatesV Techniques to solve a Sudoku puzzle without candidates V-1 Only one possible digit in a cell V-1-a Last empty cell in a group V-1-b Generalized case V-2 Only one possible cell in a group for a digit V-2-a Box crosshatching V-2-b Row/column crosshatching V-2-c Crosshatching with incomplete information - Pointing V-2-d Global crosshatchingVI Strategy to solve a Sudoku puzzle without candidatesVII Complete example, from start to finish, of a puzzle resolution without candidatesVIII Extra examples: easy puzzles (not requiring candidates) Example A Example B Example C Example DIX Techniques to solve a Sudoku puzzle using candidates IX-1 How to input the candidates IX-2 Only one candidate in a cell (naked single) IX-3 Only one possible cell in a group for a candidate (hidden single) IX-4 Box candidates aligned IX-5 Row/column candidates boxed IX-6 Naked pair IX-7 Naked triple IX-8 Naked quadruple IX-9 Hidden pair IX-10 Hidden triple IX-11 Hidden quadrupleX Strategy to solve a Sudoku puzzle using candidatesXI Complete example, from start to finish, of a puzzle resolution using candidatesXII Extra examples: puzzles which require candidates Example E Example F Example G Example HConclusion Method Practice and progressAppendix

Review on goodreads.com from Christopher L. (4 stars):"In THE SUDOKU METHOD, Sherlock Houdini illustrates the main tactics for tackling typical Sukoku puzzles. He starts with simple tactics, using "crosshatching" methods. From there, he shows the reader how to use "candidates" to solve tougher puzzles, using tactics such as "Naked" or "Hidden" pairs or triples.

**BIG PLUS**
+ The author writes very clearly.and succinctly. One of the better writers I have seen.
+ The illustrations that depict the various tactics are similarly laid out very well: clear font, clear explanations.
+ The graphics are crisp and clear.

The only gripe I have with this book (and reason for 4 Stars), is that I don't really think the book truly covers "Advanced" topics. The tactics covered are mostly pretty basic, ranging up to intermediate. If the book were titled, "Beginner to Intermediate" I think it would be more accurate. After all, if Volume 1 covers "Advanced," what's left for the next volume--super-dooper advanced?

In any case, I really enjoyed this book. Mr Houdini knows how to write well, and how toexplain complicated topics. With those "flow chart" diagrams, I bet the author is a software engineer--right?

Now that I've had a taste of these tactics, I hope the author produces a book with the more advanced topics. I think he would find a receptive audience.

Sample Sudoku coutesy of the author."

Review from Eric S. (4 stars), (late-to-jazz.blogspot.com and businessbooklook.blogspot.com):"...So first, let me explain what this book is not. It's not a book of Sudoku. There are only a few practice puzzles, and they are not particularly difficult at that. Also, this is not a mathematical treatise or a scholarly analysis of the puzzle and possible solving methods. All this book really is, is a simple, clear, basic beginner's approach to solving Sudoku puzzles. It provides a careful explanation of the rules and how those rules dictate how you solve the puzzle. It also provides some terminology for discussing the puzzle and solving methodologies, hopefully with a mind to providing a structure for thinking about how to solve the puzzles. Then, it provides a walk-through of a couple of different solving methods. It's logical, well organized, clear, and practical.If you are new to Sudoku or one of those people who just doesn't "get" Sudoku, this will be a great book for you. It won't make you an expert, but after reading through this book, anyone should then be able to solve some beginner to moderate level puzzles. If you are already a regular Sudoku-er and have tackled more than a few "deadly", "evil", or "diabolical" puzzles, this book will not tell you anything you don't already know. In fact, although the author basically takes two approaches, in my own mind, they are both essentially the same thing. The only difference is that one of them relies on a more graphic representation of how to go about solving the puzzles, which sort of gives that method a different flavor. Unfortunately, that solving method is also not realistic, as it requires filling the boxes with potential numbers and erasing (I presume) as you go along. (I do the puzzles in pen with my non-dominant (left) hand, to make my brain work harder, so erasing is not an option. )If you've never caught the Sudoku bug but have always felt like you were missing out, this book may be ideal to bring you into the Sudoku solvers' world. If you are already doing Sudoku puzzles on a regular basis, you may find this book helpful for fine tuning your solving strategy, or you may find it a little too basic. That's why I can't quite give it five stars, but it's useful enough and good enough to rate a solid four."