Locked Values
A Locked Value is one that can only fit in one square. You've reduced the possible combinations for a block down to one, you know the value has to be somewhere in the block, and once it's locked, you know exactly where.
Look at block G3 Across in the board below:
G3 Across is a 23-in-3 block, and the good news is, it's another Kakuro Block. There's only one combination that fits, and that's { 6, 8, 9 }. We already know where the 9 is, but where should the 6 and the 8 go?
Remember rule #3 - a number can't appear twice on the same block. With this, we know the 8 can't be in G3 - because G3 is also in block C3 Down, and that block already has an 8 in it.
So the 8 can't go in G3, and it can't go in G4 - it has to go in G5. We've locked the value. And once we've done that, there's only one space left for the 6 - G3.
We're making good progress, but to finish the board we're going to have to be a bit
clever. It's always a good idea to tackle the shorter blocks first, so we'll start
with B5 Down, and a new tactic - Reducing Combinations.
<< Kakuro Blocks Back to Help Index Reducing Combinations >>