There is no direct and easy way to solve kakuro puzzles. Either you sweat, thinking of possible combinations, or you do the tedious paper-and-pencil method. People generally spend more time thinking of combinations than completing puzzles. You know the excitement people get after solving kakuro puzzles? It usually happens after a person brags about solving his puzzle just as his friends pointed out that he got 8 doubles in a single block.
But there is a way to stop and prevent this kind of frustration. This is not some miraculous trick of kakuro; rather, this is an ancient resource that few people care to know about. There are numbers in kakuro puzzles that only have a single valid combination and possibly a limited number of cells. These combinations of numbers and cells are called kakuro blocks. Consequently, there are people who swear by using kakuro blocks to make solving puzzles easier. This is not surprising as kakuro blocks shorten puzzle solving time, allowing players to solve more puzzles.
But before we continue with the advantages of kakuro blocks, let’s first define what they are. Kakuro blocks, simply put, are just a list of digits that provide special clues. These clues are often in the form of possible combinations. Furthermore, these are blocks of a defined size and sum that only have a solution in terms of a single choice of digits. These blocks are reserved for a defined combination; only a valid set of digits can complete them. Kakuro blocks come in cells that require as few as two digits or in blocks that require as many as seven or eight digits. Kakuro’s blocks base their combinations on puzzle rules. In puzzles, only digits 1 through 9 can be used. Also, each number can only be used once in each sum. Consequently, each kakuro block uses only digits less than 10 and assigns each digit to combinations without repetition.
After defining kakuro blocks and their functions, let’s examine the advantages of using them to solve kakuro puzzles. Since the blocks follow the kakuro rules, the risks or chances of making mistakes are minimized. We all know that an inadvertent mistake in a kakuro puzzle leads to other mistakes, especially if the wrong block is not isolated. Basing other answers on a wrong block or digit often causes trouble solving puzzles and can eventually lead to redoing everything. Therefore, more time and effort is wasted.
Kakuro blocks also save time. Since blocks provide the only legitimate combinations for some sums, players only need to identify the correct digit positions. Blocks also allow the use of techniques such as “unique intersections”, “locked values” and “reducing join”. By using “unique intersections”, the player only has to search for kakuro blocks with shared cells. Logically, the common number of both blocks is placed inside the shared box. “Locked values” refers to isolating block values. “Reducing Merge” is generally employed if a non-kakuro block intersects with kakuro blocks. Since the non-kakuro block has many possible combinations, crossing kakuro blocks limits the options. With these tricks, solving kakuro puzzles is a piece of cake.
In fact, solving kakuro puzzles is easier with kakuro blocks. They minimize errors and shorten resolution time. In addition, they are also easy to memorize. In fact, the more you use these blocks, the more familiar you will become with them. Therefore, memorizing them does not take time at all. These blocks are also very easy to find; just browse through any site that offers kakuro puzzles and solving strategies.
