07/08/2013
Top Sudoku Game Changing Tip - as voted by Win At Sudoku devotees!
Today I'm gonna share a really simple piece of the Win At Sudoku method that is GUARANTEED to transform your game right now.
The NOD (stands for None, One or Done) Box is a key feature on the Win At Sudoku layout*. As you can see, it's just a simple list of the numbers 1-9.
Before you start a game, count the number of occurrences of the 1-9 Given Numbers - the clues given with the game. Enter the total for each number above the 1-9 numbers in the NOD Box. Ring any numbers with one or none occurrences - they are going to be the hardest numbers to crack - 6 is a badass number in this game.
Now here's the trick: Instead of starting to check 1's, then 2's, then 3's and so on; work out your Order of Attack starting with the Given Number with the most occurrences and work your way down to the Given Number with the least occurrences.
In this example the OoA is: 5, 7, 2, 3, 9, 1, 4, 8, 6
I proved that this simple trick reduces the number of instructions required to describe a game - you get 9 of these Worked Examples in the book - by 35-50%.
Which means you can play faster and/or harder games instantly - just because you squeezed the maximum possible benefit from the Given Numbers.
Simple neh? I could not stop laughing when I discovered the powerful effect of such a simple lil' trick. It still makes me laugh every think I think about it!
Now if that is what the NOD Box can do for your game, just imagine the joy of being a complete Sudoku genius when you have the rest of the Win At Sudoku method at your command.
Try playing a game both ways and you will see the proof of the NOD Box pudding for yourself.
And please, please tell us what you think - we love hearing from you!!!
*one of the freely available downloads when you sign up for my monthly blog posts at www.winatsudoku.com