| There is no straight up, easy way in solving kakuro | | | | digits less than 10 and assigns each digit to |
| puzzles. You either sweat it out, thinking of possible | | | | combinations without repetition. |
| combinations, or do the tedious paper and pencil | | | | After defining kakuro blocks and their functions, let |
| method. Usually, people spend more time trying to | | | | us examine the advantages of using them in solving |
| think of combinations than actually filling in the | | | | kakuro puzzles. Since the blocks follow the rules of |
| puzzles. You know the buzz people get after solving | | | | kakuro, the risks or possibilities of incurring mistakes |
| kakuro puzzles? It usually comes after a person | | | | are minimized. We all know that an unnoticed mistake |
| boasts of solving his puzzle just as his friends pointed | | | | in a kakuro puzzle leads to other mistakes, especially |
| out that he got double 8's in a single block. | | | | if the wrong block is not isolated. Basing other |
| But there is a way to stop and prevent this kind of | | | | answers on a wrong block or digit often causes |
| frustration. This is not about a miracle kakuro trick; | | | | problems in solving the puzzles and can eventually |
| rather, this is an age-old stand-by that few people | | | | lead to redoing the whole thing. Thus, more time and |
| take care to know. There are numbers in kakuro | | | | effort are wasted. |
| puzzles that only have a single valid combination and | | | | Kakuro blocks also save time. Since the blocks |
| possibly, a limited number of cells. These number | | | | provide the only legit combinations for some sums, |
| combinations and cells are called kakuro blocks. | | | | players only need to identify the digits' correct |
| Accordingly, there are people who swear by using | | | | positions. The blocks also enable the use of |
| kakuro blocks to make puzzle-solving easier. This is | | | | techniques such as "unique intersects", "locked |
| not surprising since kakuro blocks shorten | | | | values", and "reducing combination". In using "unique |
| puzzle-solving time, thereby allowing players to solve | | | | intersects", the player only has to look for kakuro |
| more puzzles. | | | | blocks with shared cells. Logically, the common |
| But before we get on with kakuro blocks' | | | | number of both blocks is positioned inside the shared |
| advantages, let us first define what they are. Kakuro | | | | box. "Locked values" refer to isolating block values. |
| blocks, simply put, is just a list of digits that provide | | | | "Reducing combination" is usually employed if a |
| special clues. These clues are often in the form of | | | | non-kakuro block intersects with kakuro blocks. Since |
| possible combinations. Also, these are blocks of a | | | | the non-kakuro block has many possible combinations, |
| definite size and sum that only have a solution in | | | | crossing kakuro blocks limits the choices. With these |
| terms of a single choice of digits. These blocks are | | | | tricks, solving kakuro puzzles is a cinch. |
| reserved for a definite combination; only one valid set | | | | Indeed, solving kakuro puzzles is easier with kakuro |
| of digits can fill these in. Kakuro blocks come in cells | | | | blocks. They minimize mistakes and shorten solving |
| that require as little as two digits or in blocks that | | | | time. In addition, they are also easy to memorize. In |
| require as many as seven or eight digits. Kakuro | | | | fact, the more frequent you use these blocks, the |
| blocks base their combinations on the rules of the | | | | more you would be familiar with them. Thus, |
| puzzles. In the puzzles, only the digits 1 to 9 can be | | | | memorizing them takes no time at all. These blocks |
| used. Also, each number can only be used once in | | | | are also very easy to find; just browse through any |
| each sum. Consequently, each kakuro block uses only | | | | site that offers kakuro puzzles and solving strategies. |