Swordfish

Swordfish in the Rows

When all candidates for digit X in 3 rows are located in only 3 columns, we can eliminate all candidates for digit X from those 3 columns except those located on the defining 3 rows.

Here is a diagram that shows a Swordfish in the rows:

The candidates in the 3 defining rows are marked X. These candidates only occupy 3 columns. Because it is impossible to have more than one instance of a digit in a column, each instance of X in the defining rows must be placed in one of these 3 columns. In other words: the candidates for digit X in these 3 columns must be located in these 3 rows. This allows us to eliminate the remaining candidates in these 3 columns.

Each defining row can contain 2 or 3 candidates for digit X. A minimum Swordfish has a different appearance, but it still fits the definition:

A minimum Swordfish can also be seen as a Fishy Cycle.

Example

The diagrams are useful to understand how this technique works, but as you will see in the following example, a Swordfish is not easy to spot in a pencilmark grid.

Swordfish for digit 9 in rows 3,7,8 and columns 1,5,8.

Swordfish in the Columns

When all candidates for digit X in 3 columns are located in only 3 rows, we can eliminate all candidates for digit X from those 3 rows except those located on the defining 3 columns.

Here is the diagram for this version:

In this diagram, you can also see that is is possible to have 2 defining columns in a single chute. Two of the secondary lines can also be located in a single chute, but it is not possible to have 4 lines of a Swordfish crossing in a single box. In that case, the Swordfish would degenerate into a series of Locked Candidates.

Example

Here is an example of a Swordfish in the columns:

Minimum Swordfish for digit 3 in columns 1,5,7 and rows 1,5,7.

Practice Sudokus

The following puzzles will help you practice this technique:

Select and copy each string and paste it into a computer program that accepts this input.

Sudoku Games

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Sudoku strategies

• Coloring
• Singles
• Fish
  • X-Wing
  • Swordfish
  • Squirmbag
  • Finned Fish
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  • Franken Fish
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  • Kraken Fish
• Chains and Loops
• Intersections
• Subsets
• Wings
• Single Digit Patterns
• Uniqueness
• Almost Locked Sets

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