Kakuro Blocks
Earl Talbot
There is no straight up, easy way in solving kakuro puzzles.
You either sweat it out, thinking of possible combinations, or
do the tedious paper and pencil method. Usually, people spend
more time trying to think of combinations than actually filling
in the puzzles. You know the buzz people get after solving
kakuro puzzles? It usually comes after a person boasts of
solving his puzzle just as his friends pointed out that he got
double 8's in a single block.
But there is a way to stop and prevent this kind of
frustration. This is not about a miracle kakuro trick; rather,
this is an age-old stand-by that few people take care to know.
There are numbers in kakuro puzzles that only have a single
valid combination and possibly, a limited number of cells.
These number combinations and cells are called kakuro blocks.
Accordingly, there are people who swear by using kakuro blocks
to make puzzle-solving easier. This is not surprising since
kakuro blocks shorten puzzle-solving time, thereby allowing
players to solve more puzzles.
But before we get on with kakuro blocks' advantages, let us
first define what they are. Kakuro blocks, simply put, is just
a list of digits that provide special clues. These clues are
often in the form of possible combinations. Also, these are
blocks of a definite size and sum that only have a solution in
terms of a single choice of digits. These blocks are reserved
for a definite combination; only one valid set of digits can
fill these in. Kakuro blocks come in cells that require as
little as two digits or in blocks that require as many as seven
or eight digits. Kakuro blocks base their combinations on the
rules of the puzzles. In the puzzles, only the digits 1 to 9
can be used. Also, each number can only be used once in each
sum. Consequently, each kakuro block uses only digits less than
10 and assigns each digit to combinations without repetition.
After defining kakuro blocks and their functions, let us
examine the advantages of using them in solving kakuro puzzles.
Since the blocks follow the rules of kakuro, the risks or
possibilities of incurring mistakes are minimized. We all know
that an unnoticed mistake in a kakuro puzzle leads to other
mistakes, especially if the wrong block is not isolated. Basing
other answers on a wrong block or digit often causes problems in
solving the puzzles and can eventually lead to redoing the whole
thing. Thus, more time and effort are wasted.
Kakuro blocks also save time. Since the blocks provide the only
legit combinations for some sums, players only need to identify
the digits' correct positions. The blocks also enable the use
of techniques such as "unique intersects", "locked values", and
"reducing combination". In using "unique intersects", the player
only has to look for kakuro blocks with shared cells. Logically,
the common number of both blocks is positioned inside the shared
box. "Locked values" refer to isolating block values. "Reducing
combination" is usually employed if a non-kakuro block
intersects with kakuro blocks. Since the non-kakuro block has
many possible combinations, crossing kakuro blocks limits the
choices. With these tricks, solving kakuro puzzles is a cinch.
Indeed, solving kakuro puzzles is easier with kakuro blocks.
They minimize mistakes and shorten solving time. In addition,
they are also easy to memorize. In fact, the more frequent you
use these blocks, the more you would be familiar with them.
Thus, memorizing them takes no time at all. These blocks are
also very easy to find; just browse through any site that
offers kakuro puzzles and solving strategies.
About The Author: For more valuable information on kakuro
puzzles, please visit
http://www.free-kakuro-puzzles.com
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