Sudoku Sunday: Killer Sudoku for week 45, 2024

Are you ready? This one is a bit trickier to get started!

The Killer Sudoku puzzle

Tips to solve

Are you stuck? Here are a few pointers to get you going. 

• There are 2 combinations of sum 3 to pencil in and 1 combination of sum 17 to fill. 
• Continue with the center column of the puzzle. It already has 4 numbers filled in, you can pencil in another 4 and fill in the top number.
• With the 6 given in BRMC (Bottom Row, Middle Column), the combination of 15 is now down to 9. According to the Cheat Sheet, there are 4 combinations that make up 9. Only 1 is available in this block. This allows you to define the sum 3 spanning into this block and the sum 3 in the top row of the puzzle.
• Using row matching, you can pencil in the sum 8 in the BRRC.
• With the 8 and 9 filled in and the 2 and 6 pencilled in on the bottom row, the combination of 3 for sum 16 only has 1 possible combination left. Start with the highest number you have left (hint: it's the 7) and work your way back. Doing this will result in knowing which of the 3 numbers belongs in the BRMC.
• Now you can fill in the combinations for sum 5 and 9 crossing over between MRMC and BRMC.
• This allows you to pencil in the sums 5 and 14 in the bottom row of MRLC, followed by filling in the remaining sum 5 of MRLC (use the column strategy to decide the order).
• You can now use the same column matching strategy on the Middle Column. There is only 1 spot left for the number 1 and a single spot where you can fill the number 3. 
• Fill in sums 15, 8 and 19 in TRMC (in that order).
• Finally, finish up the Middle Column by filling in sums 21 and 14 in the Middle Row. Hooray for a completely filled in middle column! 

The final solution

Done? Or want to sneak a peek?

Here is the solution to this Killer Sudoku puzzle!