Who can be benefited by DOTTIN..

Everyone, I believe, the beginner will have a solid way to identify oportunities.
The advanced will start to see these geometric patterns, anyways I hope.
There are more patterns to be found, these that I call TIC-TAC-DOT patterns.
As soon as I figure how to put them on the web, I will do so.
This much I can say.
For the person that learns the frequency of TTD patterns. There will be no guessing without the knowledge of certainty. Not a computer, but a real brain.
We'll see who will take the DOTTIN paterns to it's final place in sudoku lore.
TIC-TAC-DOT patterns are next..

Pen and Dots

There are two basic variations to the dottin system, one used by beginners and intermediates, and the other preferred by the more advanced.
The first one that uses, different dots and draws a line round the cell "locking it", you may say.
It is very helpful tool to many, by providing easy access information.
The other technique is the preferred of the purists, while working with mainly advanced formats.
In this instance the graphic patterns of the dots are not interfered with.
In this variation all the dots are the same size, (I know of one person that actually uses a white-out pen to maintain the cells only with valid POPs).
The purpose here is to show the patterns in it's purest schematic face, for better adivination.

LOCKED CELLS #3

(if this is your first visit scroll down to the first post, june 12, to begin the lecture)

And so, the next step will be totally deductionary. We will look into grid # 5 (center).

In it you will see two options marked for the value 9 (upper left and.. upper right).

Since the upper left option lies within the column where the values 8-9 are already taken.

You may scratch off the upper left option and write the value 9 on the upper right cell.

Not only vertical columns may be "locked in" but also horizontal rows as well..

LOCKED CELLS #2

Observe how by locking the two cells valued at 3-7 in the # 2 grid (upper center).
We can deduce that the lower left cell is also an 8-9 value cell.

This action creates two locked cells in a column, valued 8-9.

"We may deduce that the values 8-9 in the column are figured to be either square and by consequence we can continue solving the rest of such column, in search of the other values.

Scroll up to the next post, please.

LOCKED CELLS #1

The puzzle below shows, that by using simple logic, in grid #2 (upper center), there are two locked cells with the values of 3-7.
"once you have double locked cells within a grid pattern, you may deduce that those two cells are taken by the either of the two numbers and you may proceed to solve the other cells in the grid.
This process will take you to the next posting.
(scroll up to the next post please)

The DOTTIN perspective

I speak to you of POPS and Locked Cells and I think that some confusion would arise in your mind. Believe me when I say that the system is simple. Really.

This is basically a system of marking with dots as opposed to using bitty numbers in a corner.

Why do I believe that this is better?. Because sudokus per say are about positions on the fixed graph, it really doesn't matter what the value of the number is. Sudoku is a pattern, and DOTTIN takes the pattern a step further, you may say to a micro-cosmic level.

And , because of it being a marking technique all of the other known strategies can be applied through it. I have personally developed the two (locked squares and rows), but there are many other strategies of deeper ramifications that can easily be implemented by the use of DOTTIN.

Next I will show you a pair of gridlocked cells that lead to a pair of columned locked cells that lead to a deductible number in such column.

(scroll up to the next post please)

Basic Overview

This particular puzzle is in it's beginning stages. And within it you will notice, already, the different types of dottin.

In grid 1 (upper left) you will notice 2 dots showing the possibility of the value 6. Also 3 fainter dots showing the possibilities of the value 3.

In grid 2 (upper center) You will notice the number 2 solved and also a pair of dots showing the possibilities for numbers 3 and 4.

While in grids 3 (upper right) and 4 (center left), you will notice that the cells are not only dotted but also have a line drawn around the inner edge of the square.

This is done when the square is "LOCKED IN" that is the cell has only 2 possible values for it.

"Locked in" cells have some interesting properties, that I will discuss in the next post.

THE MYSTICAL MAGICAL SUDOKU

Welcome to the wonderful world of sudoku, in it you will find many hours of fun and mental sparring.

Playing this game is a great way to sharpen your focus, your concentration and your ability to work with numbers. And just so you'll know and not feel bad about it .. Truth is;
There will always be special people with the capacity to calculate multyponumerographic possibilities and these "folks" are going to be particularly good at SUDOKU.
BUT IF YOU ARE LIKE ME…
And many of you out there are…
You'll need of a system, an edge, a method …
THIS IS WHAT I OFFER … YOU!
A way for the layman to break the 'code"...
and that is this method that I call ... “ DOTTIN”...



" DOTTIN is a very simple system that I have created.. and to work with the dottin technique all that you need to do is this, imagine that the smallest squares in the puzzle (The ones where the actual numbers are written, and the ones that I call cell-squares) are akin to a cell-phone's touch pad. With the top row being numbers 1,2,3. The middle row 4,5,6 and the bottom line 7,8,9. "

So.. whenever a possibility is recorded within a cell-square, instead of scribbling tiny numbers in the upper corner, you place a dot in the proper place.
(i.e. number 9 would be a dot in the lower right corner or a number 5 would be a dot in the center of the square or.. a number 2 possibility would be a dot in the center upper row).


This is the basic pattern of dots I call "points of possibilities" or POPS for short.



These dots will represent the numerical possibilities of the cell in case, with a visual marking that is easy to interpret. Thereby allowing you to increase the depth of your search for the true value of the cell square.

IT SOUNDS SIMPLE DOESN’T IT?
WELLL… IT IS;

But you will need some practice to become accustomed with the application and the interpretation of the DOTTIN Technique itself.
This system that I have developed may require from you, some time to truly comprehend (yet most folks, in my experience, pick it up quite easily) and.. if you persevere, you will reap some interesting results. Which will be all the more worthy of you patience.

THE NEXT STEP WILL BE TO GIVE SOME HINTS ON IT'S APLICATION.

"please scroll upwards to the next posting, but on your way up, stop at the photo showing the value representation of the POPS and get acquainted with the simplicity of it"