Jelly-Fish extends Swordfish one further row and column. We are looking for either four rows such that, in total, four cells are occupied in the row by a candidate number; or four columns such that, in total, four cells are occupied in the column by a candidate number If this configuration is found then we can look in the opposite direction (if by row then down the column, if by column then across the row. If any candidates are found they can be eliminated. After the elimination both conditions above will hold. This diagram shows a full Jelly-Fish with four X found in four columns and aligned on four rows. It means we can remove any X found in the columns and it leaves behind a 4 by 4 grid.

Jelly-Fish Diagram

How does it work? Pick any yellow cell in the example above that contains an X. Keeping an eye on it. Pretend the solution actually is X. All others Xs in the row and columns are suppressed. What we're left with is a Sword-Fish. The Sword-Fish logic then applies. Pick any X in the Sword-Fish and it reduces to an X-Wing. Since any combination of Xs on the grid are possible there is no room for Xs outside the grid - that align on the grid rows and columns.

Finding exactly candidate X in all sixteen cells (a 4-4-4-4 formation) is extremely unlikely. But the logic of Jelly-Fish (and Sword-Fish) is that we only need four X in total over the four rows and columns. Here is a minimal spread of a particular candidate X - a 2-2-2-2 formation. Most of the time you will have a mixture of two, three or four candidates lined up. One way to double check the logic is to pretend any of the crossed out Xs is a solution. When you do that and trace the consequences you will find at least one row (or column) with no X left - clearly a bad consequence.

Partial Jelly-Fish

This is a real Jelly-Fish example, one of the very few I have that does actually show up in the solver. It is based on the candidate 2 and I have put a red box around the 2s that are part of the formation. The solver will highlight in yellow all the cells of the pattern whether they have a candidate 2 in them or not. The pattern establishes that we have 2 common to four rows (A,D,F and J) which are aligned on four columns (1,5,8 and 9). Therefore four 2s must go in those yellow cells. That precludes any other 2 in the columns - which are marked for removal (green cells). This is a 3-2-3-3 formation Jelly Fish.

Example jelly-Fish: Load Example or : From the Start

I am pleased to report a massive catch by Klaus Brenner from Germany. He has created a 31 clue Sudoku with a required JellyFish containing an amazing 18 eliminations. Well done Klaus! 8th October 2012

18 elimination Jelly-Fish: From the Start

Exotic variations of the Sword-Fish continue with the Finned Swordfish and Franken Sword-Fish.