Jellyfish

Expert

What is it?

A Jellyfish is the 4-row extension of X-Wing and Swordfish. A candidate appears in at most four positions in each of four rows, and all positions fall within exactly four columns. The candidate can be eliminated from all other cells in those four columns.

When to use it

After X-Wings and Swordfish, look for four rows where a candidate is restricted to the same four columns. Each row may have the candidate in two, three, or four of those columns.

Why it works

Each of the four rows must place the candidate once, and all placements fall in four columns. Since four placements fill four columns, no other cell in those columns can hold the candidate.

Interactive Demo

124589
1245689
13459
145789
3
7
6
124589
12456
1345
14578
1245
12457
8
3
1457
1457
7
2
123457
123457
6
9
14578
12457
124589
1245
1458
1457
6
2
3
12345789
123457
14578
12457

Let's find a Jellyfish — a 4-row fish pattern. We focus on digit 5. We look for four rows where 5 appears in positions spanning exactly four columns.

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