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Strategies for Popular Number Puzzles

XYZ-Wing

This is an extension of Y-Wing or (XY-Wing). John MacLeod defines one as "three cells that contain only 3 different numbers between them, but which fall outside the confines of one row/column/box, with one of the cells (the 'apex' or 'hinge') being able to see the other two; those other two having only one number in common; and the apex having all three numbers as candidates."

It follows therefore that one or other of the three cells must contain the common number; and hence any extraneous cell (there can only be two of them!) that "sees" all three cells of the Extended Trio cannot have that number as its true value.

XYZ-Wing theory
XYZ-Wing theory

It gets its name from the three numbers X, Y and Z that are required in the hinge. The outer cells in the formation will be XZ and YZ, Z being the common number.
Y-Wing Equivalent
Y-Wing Equivalent

It is worth comparing the XYZ-Wing to the Y-Wing for a moment. Lets drop the Z candidate from the hinge. The diagram on the right is the result. With just two Zs in the pincer cells we get more cells elsewhere which could potentially contain a Z to eliminate. The overlap is greater with less cells to line up.
XYZ-Wing example 1
XYZ-Wing example 1 : Load Example or : From the Start

In this example the candidate number is 1 and F9 is the Hinge. It can see a 1/2 in D9 and a 1/4 in F1. We can reason this way: If D9 contains a 2 then F1 and F9 become a naked pair of 1/4 - and the naked pair rule applies. Same with F1. If that's a 4 then D9 and F9 become a naked pair of 1/2 each. If any of the three are 1 then 1 is still part of the formation. Any 1 visible to all three cells must be removed, in this case in F7.
XYZ-Wing example 2
XYZ-Wing example 2 : Load Example or : From the Start
The second example shows an XYZ-Wings based on a row and a box.

The hinge cell is on E8 and the common candidate is 6. The 6 in E9 can see all the 6s in the whole XYZ formation.

Aligned Pair Exclusion

The logic on an XYZ-Wing is completely different and lot simpler than the Aligned Pair Exclusion described below but the funny thing is that XYZ-Wing is a total sub-set of APE. Every XYZ-Wing can be solved by APE (but not vis versa).

XYZ-Wing Exemplars

These puzzles require the XYZ-Wing strategy at some point but are otherwise trivial.
They also require one Naked Pair.
They make good practice puzzles.

Go back to Y-WingsContinue to WXYZ-Wing


Comments

Comments
Talk

... by: Neil

Saturday 31-Dec-2022
In XYZ-Wing example 1, is it correct to say that either F1 or F9 must resolve to a 4 ?

Therefore, any cell containing a candidate 4 that can see both F1 and F9 can have that 4 removed.

Such a cell is F7.
Andrew Stuart writes:
No. The pattern in this case is centred on '1' for eliminations
There is still a 4 in F7 which could also be the answer on that row.
- [Del]
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... by: Billy

Monday 26-Oct-2020
In the comments, people are speaking of multiple examples where it is confusing as to why you would not remove a candidate based upon the wings.

The thing to remember with XYZ wings is that candidates have to see all 3 cells to be removed, unlike in Y-wings where a cell only has to see the wings.
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... by: John

Monday 20-Apr-2020
In the Exemplar1, when the structure is found, there is also a removal candidate at C3 (3,8,9). You do not remove this candidate. If you did you would corrupt the grid. What is the rule that prevents this candidate from being removed? Thanks!
Andrew Stuart writes:
The definition of the strategy requires that the eliminated cell "sees" all three cells of the pattern. - [Del]
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... by: JUN

Wednesday 20-Nov-2019
Is there a W-Wing strategy?
THANKS
JUN
Andrew Stuart writes:
Some people have used the name for certain patterns but I've found on analysis the patterns are part of something larger and don't need to be separated. Same with L-Wing - [Del]
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... by: scott

Tuesday 13-Mar-2018
The interesting thing about XYZ wings is that they are cell forcing chains. In Example 1, above, F9 is the "source" cell. You can draw links from it to the wing cells and then to F7 and then lastly, a weak link from F9 to F7 on 1. It forms a perfect cell forcing situation in which 3 chains, each of odd length and each ending on a weak link, all meet at the target cell, F7. And as in forcing chains, this forces the 1 to be eliminated in F7.
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... by: Jon

Saturday 20-May-2017
Today's Daily Sudoku, when run through the solver at the following point—..87.1.23..6...1...1.5.....6....3..92.......64..1....7.....4.7...2...8..84.3.26..—allows for XYZ Wing that removes the 9 from H1; why does it not also allow one to remove the 9 on J5? It is also "seen" by both nines of the wings, yet the solver does not remove it. Your explanation does not include any examples that clear up why it is ineligible for removal, and—in the end—actually that spot becomes a 9.
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... by: Pieter, Newtown, Australia

Sunday 1-Dec-2013
Hi Andrew
Beside Example 1 you say "the candidate number is 1 and F9 is the Hinge. It can see a 1/2 in D9 and a 1/4 in F1. We can reason this way: ... "

I find it interesting your reasoning or explanation here starts from the wings and then uses Naked Pairs, and doesn't work outwards from the Hinge (as you do in Y-Wings). I always seem to reason from the Hinge outwards. If F9 is a 2 then D9 is a 1, or if F9 is a 4 then F1 is a 1, or F9 could be a 1, therefore any 1 visible to all three cells must be removed, in this case in F7.

In WXYZ-Wing you explain it quite succinctly by saying "The easy principle is that each possible value of the hinge cell results in a Z value in one of the cells in the [WXYZ]-Wing pattern, thus leaving no room for a Z on any cell all [four] can 'see'."

I like the idea of "Bent Quads" for WXYZ-Wing, so I suppose XYZ-Wing could be considered a "Bent Triple"?!
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... by: Richard Goodrich

Sunday 7-Apr-2013
Which John MacLeod are you referring to?
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