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#716, September 19 - September 25, 2026:
The Weekly 'Unsolvable' Sudoku Puzzle

by Richard Kröger, guest compiler

WARNING: This is the Weekly 'Unsolvable' Sudoku, rated above 'Extreme'.
This is currently unsolvable by my solver, except perhaps with trial and error strategies.
Using the solver will not help you. (much).

Changes March 2026

Due to the introduction of Forcing Nets many Weekly Unsolvable puzzles can now be solved. I have flagged all the Sudoku ones which are solvable. I am struggling to make any new ones so we'll have to see if the Weekly can continue. The point of the Weekly was to provoke discussion and new ideas, so that is progress. But my solution is unlikely to be optimal so alternatives are welcome.

Archive

Each week a new 'unsolvable' will be published and the previous will be accessible here from this archive section. If you like very tough puzzles, these are for you.
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Saturday 19-Sep-2026

... by: Norman Powell

AS's solve makes 26 eliminations before running out of methods, indicated [AS#, Value Row Column, Method] in the following. This puzzle can be solved by Forcing Networks.
Confined to Box Value 9 is confined to Column 8 and Box 9. Eliminate 9A8 [
AS01 9A8 Pointing Pair, Same method different name]
Alt. Inf. Chains Value 9 of Cell D6 has weak links to both ends of the chain, Eliminate.
[AS02 9D6 Forcing Network, I have AIC earlier than FN in the order of methods]
Confined to Box Value 9 is confined to Row 4 and Box 4. Eliminate 9E1
[AS03 9E1 Pointing Pair]
Alt. Inf. Chains Value 8 of Cell A3 has weak links to both ends of the chain
This possibility would cause a contradiction - Eliminate
[AS05 8A3 Forcing Network]
Alt. Inf. Chains Value 8 of Cell J3 has weak links to both ends of the chain
This possibility would cause a contradiction - Eliminate
[AS04 8J3 Forcing Network]
Forcing Network Pass 1:
Possibilities Forced to Same State when Value 8 in Cell B1 is ON or OFF
Eliminate Forced OFF Possibility: Value 7 in Cell E5
[AS07 7E5 Forcing Network]
Eliminate Forced OFF Possibility: Value 3 in Cell E5
[AS06 3E5 Forcing Network]
Eliminate Forced OFF Possibility: Value 7 in Cell B9
[AS09 7B9 3D Medusa]
Eliminate Forced OFF Possibility: Value 3 in Cell B9
[AS08 3B9 3D Medusa, I allow FN to run through finding all possible eliminations before returning to the beginning of the list of methods]
Cause contradictions so eliminate: 8A8, 6A9 [AS10 6A9 Forcing Network],
7A9 [AS19 7A9 Naked Pair], 4B3, 3B9, 7B9, 8D9 [AS18 8D9 Forcing Network],
3E5, 7E5, 7E6 [AS24 7E6 Forcing Networks], 2G3 [AS11 2G3 Forcing Network],
2G6 [AS12 2G6 Forcing Network], 5H3 [AS13 5H3 Forcing Network],
6H3 [AS14 6H3 Forcing Network], 6J7 [AS15 6J7 Pointing Pair],
6J8 [AS16 6J8 Pointing Pair]
Forcing Networks 2nd Pass:
Eliminate: 5D2 [AS23 5D2 Forcing Networks], 7D4 [AS21 7D4 Forcing Networks],
3D8
Solution Found testing subsequent possibilities, the following eliminations found by AS are part of the final eliminations to reach the solution.
[AS17 6D9 Forcing Network]
[AS19 7A9 Naked Pair]
[AS20 8D9 Naked Pair]
[AS22 4B3 Forcing Networks]
[AS23 5D2 Forcing Networks]
[AS24 7E6 Forcing Networks]
[AS25 1H3 Forcing Networks]
[AS26 3D8 Forcing Networks]

Saturday 19-Sep-2026

... by: Dieter

#716 - initially populated cells: 21 = 25,9 %
No solver used, solver = brain.
basics: %

Strategy: numbers 2,4,8,9 occur most frequently, combine two cells with almost same candidates.
combinations of G1 = (1,2,5,9) and G3 = (1,2,5,8);
after basic checks 4 matrices left: 1/8, 2/8, 9/1 and 9/8
G1=9 & G3=8 solve with F5=3.

Optimization:
F5=3 & G3=8 solve.

Saturday 19-Sep-2026

... by: Frans Goosens

#716

Combination 2-digits cells

G4=2 No solution, Undo calculation
G4=7 No solution, Undo calculation
H5=3 No solution, Undo calculation
H5=5 ( A9=9 ) Solved,

Total solving time is : 16 sec.
Number of logical steps is : 1904

Saturday 19-Sep-2026

... by: Serban

# 716 Basics to 21
1. G7=5 & H8=6 solve
2. A8=9 & E8=4 solve
3. G6=7 & J4=3 solve
4. D6=8 & J1=4 solve
5. D6=8 & A1=1 solve
6. D6=8 & F9=6 solve
7. J1=E3=4 OR J1=F8=4 solve
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