Trailing the revival and the reign of the sudoku puzzles in
2005, another Western game gives a Japanese twist hit the puzzle
scene. Kakuro puzzles, formerly known as cross sums, are now
making waves as the newest puzzle craze. Bearing similarities in
look and style to the more popular sudoku, kakuro puzzles
promise to be more challenging and even more addictive than
sudoku.
We know how brain and mental workouts enhance mental functions
and sudoku has been included among the list of top brain
boosters. Rightly so, since sudoku certainly poses quite a
challenge to players. But if you think that simply placing
numbers on squares in correct logic is challenging enough, try
solving kakuro puzzles. They provide added difficulty and
challenge of a higher degree since they require logic,
cognitive, and practical mathematics. They are sure to provide
you with a tougher and grittier mental exercise than the tamer
sudoku. Certainly, these puzzles are not for the faint-hearted.
Kakuro puzzles are daunting, but they are not impossible.
Enthusiasts emphasize that players need not have exceptional
mathematical abilities or a genius like Einstein's to solve the
puzzles. Practical mathematical knowledge is often enough to
solve the puzzles as long as players employ effective strategy
and logic. Having sufficient grasp and mastery of the puzzle
rules make it easy for players like you to use the right
tactics. The rules of the puzzles are relatively simple. The
"playing board" looks similar to a crossword with
white and dark squares. However, there are no clues at the
bottom of the box. The numbers on the white spaces are the only
clues a you have. Each number represents the sum of the missing
numbers in cells or boxes it refers to. Note that same numbers
can't be addends for the same run. For example, if the number in
the box is 4, you can use 1 and 3 but not 2 and 2. Though the
trial-and-error technique is often used, there are more
sophisticated and logical techniques than filling your boxes
with erasures and pencil marks.
A popular tactic is to search for cells with least
combinations. These are usually the digits on the lower end of
the number spectrum like 3, 5, 4, and other single digits. This
limits the possible answers or numbers for a specific cell.
Applying the same technique for the adjacent cells gives you a
shot at the correct figure. Another tactic used in solving
kakuro puzzles is looking for common numbers. This happens when
two cells share a number. Finding the common number allows you
to decide where to position the other number. To illustrate, if
3 and 1 are your answers for the number 4 at the vertical column
or run and 1 and 5 for 6 at the horizontal line, 1 is your
common number. Therefore, 1 merits the box at the intersection
of 6 and 4. Experienced players solve puzzles by finding all
possible and valid combinations plus correct cross referencing.
Because as in sudoku, the position of the numbers matter in
kakuro.
This third trick is probably the most elementary and least
sophisticated. Marking answers on the edges of the boxes or
cells with a pencil does not help you to solve the puzzles.
However, it does help you track down your digits and
combinations. This is especially helpful since kakuro puzzles
have no definite limits. The "playing board" can
measure as little as 3 by 3 or extend to God knows where. Over
time, playing becomes easier because of practice. Also, you
would have stock combinations in your head which you can use in
playing. This is also a sign that you need to ditch the easier
puzzles and move on to more challenging kakuro puzzles.
