These patterns appear less often but are essential when common patterns stall.
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Linked Cushion. A Cushion where the forced empties include an
=pair. The pair acts as a unit, so placing a symbol in it would hit the count of 3 and force three in a row among the remaining empties.Example:
1 sun is placed. If the
=pair were both , that’s 3 suns, so cells 2, 3, 4 would all be . Three in a row. So the pair must be =, forcing cell 4 to be (Bookends pattern). -
Cross Lock. An
=pair completing the count of 3 would sweep all remaining empties to the opposite symbol. If a×pair is among those empties, that sweep is impossible. So the=pair must be the other symbol.Example:
If the
=pair were , that’s 3 moons. Sweep makes cells 1, 4, 5 all , but 4×5 must differ. So the pair is =. The rest of the row can be deduced by Bookends and Flip/Sweep. -
Cross Chain. Adjacent
×edges force a chain of alternating cells. The chain has only two possible orientations. Use counting to rule one out.Example:
The
×pair at cells 1, 2 contributes one sun and one moon. Cells 3, 4, 5 must alternate. If the chain is ××, the row totals 2 suns and 4 moons. Too many moons. So the chain is ××. -
Pincer. A known symbol and an
=pair force a remote cell. Both possibilities for the pair lead to the same conclusion for a given cell.Example:
If the pair are both , that’s 3 suns, so cells 2, 5, 6 are all . If the pair are both , the only valid arrangement is = . Cell 6 is either way.
Example:
If the pair are both , that’s 3 suns, so cells 1, 3, 6 are all . If the pair are both , the only valid arrangement is = . Cell 1 is either way.
Example:
If the pair are both , that’s 3 suns, so cells 1, 4, 5 are all . If the pair are both , the only valid arrangement is = . Cell 5 is either way.