X Wing and Other Fishy Things

The X Wing strategy looks for two rows that only have two instances of the same candidate in each row and the two instances of that candidate in each row are in the same two columns.

If this pattern is found then the number can be removed from any cells in the two columns that are not in the two rows where the initial candidates were found.

This process will also work when there is only two instances of a candidate in two columns and the two instances in the two columns are in the same two rows.

The other "Fishy Things" use the same concepts as X Wing. The Swordfish is based on three rows and three columns, the Jellyfish on four rows and four columns and the Squirmbag on five rows and five columns.Figure 1 shows an X Wing pattern on the number 7 in rows 2 and 9. The number 7 is found in only the two blue cells in row 2 and only the two blue cells in row 9. The number 7 is located in the same columns in rows 2 and 9.

To place a number 7 in rows 2 and 9 the number 7 will have to be placed in diagonal corners of the square formed by the blue cells and it does not matter at this time which diagonal corners are used. Either of the two options places a number 7 in rows 2 and 9 and also places a number 7 in columns 4 and 9.

Any other instances of the number 7 in columns 4 and 9 can be removed.Figure 2 shows an X Wing pattern on the number 7 and columns 2 and 6. The number 7 only exists in the blue cells in columns 2 and 6 and in both cases the number 7 is in rows 2 and 7.

The number 7 will have to be placed on the diagonal corners of the square created by the blue cells. Regardless of which diagonal corners the number 7 is placed in there will be a number 7 in columns 2 and 6 and there will also be a number 7 in rows 2 and 7.

The number 7 can be removed from all other cells in rows 2 and 7 that are not in columns 2 and 6.The Swordfish strategy looks for three rows that have instances of the considered candidate in each of the three rows and all instances of the considered candidate in these three rows are in the total of three columns.

If this pattern is found then the number can be removed from any cells in the three columns that are not in the three rows where the initial candidates were found.

This process will also work when there are instances of a considered candidate in three columns and these instances of the considered candidate in the three columns are all in a total of three rows.Figure 3 shows a Swordfish pattern on the number 7 in rows 3, 5 and 8. The number 7 only exists in the blue cells in rows 3, 5 and 8 and in all cases the number 7 is in columns 2, 4 or 5 (Three total columns).

The number in question may be in all or only some of the three columns in each row for this pattern to work.

The number 7 will have to be placed in one of the blue cells in each of rows 3, 5 and 8 and because there is only three column possibilities in total there will be a number 7 in columns 2, 4 and 5 when this is done.

It does not matter which blue cells the 7s are placed in for rows 3, 5 and 8 at this time, but because there are three rows and only three possible columns, placing a 7 on each of the three rows will ensure there is a number 7 in columns 2, 4 and 5.

The number 7 can be removed from all other cells in columns 2, 4 and 5 that are not in rows 3, 5 and 8.Figure 4 shows a Swordfish pattern on the number 3 in columns 1, 3 and 9. The number 3 only exists in the blue cells in columns 1, 3 and 9 and in all cases the number 3 is in rows 1, 5 or 9 (Three total rows).

The number in question may be in all or only some of the three rows in each column for this pattern to work.

The number 3 will have to be placed in one of the blue cells in each of columns 1, 3 and 9 and because there is only three row possibilities in total there will be a number 3 in rows 1, 5 and 9 when this is done.

It does not matter which blue cells the 3s are placed in for columns 1, 3 and 9 at this time, but because there are three columns and only three possible rows, placing a 3 on each of the three columns will ensure there is a number 3 in rows 1, 5 and 9.

The number 3 can be removed from all other cells in rows 1, 5 and 9 that are not in columns 1, 3 and 9.The Jellyfish strategy looks for four rows that have instances of the considered candidate in each of the four rows and all instances of the considered candidate in these four rows are in the total of four columns.

If this pattern is found then the number can be removed from any cells in the four columns that are not in the four rows where the initial candidates were found.

This process will also work when there are instances of a considered candidate in four columns and these instances of the considered candidate in the four columns are all in a total of four rows.