Proven Sudoku
Techniques / Exotic and rank-zero
Senior Exocet
Also called SE Exocet, Senior Exocet pattern.
New to this shorthand? How to read a sudoku grid explains r4c7, houses, candidates and the rest.
What it means
A bigger version of the Exocet pattern, with more squares acting as the target. The idea is the same: a small set of digits is trapped and has nowhere else to go. Very rare and very advanced.
The exact rule, for stronger players
The rule, stated exactly: An Exocet where the base and target cells do not share a band, requiring additional cover analysis to establish the same digit migration.
What it removes: As for the Junior Exocet, subject to the extra conditions holding.
Why it works: As for the Junior Exocet, with weaker geometric constraints compensated by extra cover conditions.
Worked examples
None yet. This pattern does not turn up in our daily boards, so there is no real example to show. We would rather wait than draw a fake one.
Learn these first
- Junior ExocetTwo squares act as a launcher and two more as the target.
Related exotic and rank-zero
- SK LoopA ring of almost complete sets passing through the corners of a band and a stack.
- Table-Driven MethodsWork out ahead of time what follows from each single guess, and store it in a table.
- Broken WingA ring of squares where one number would have nowhere to go if the ring were perfect.
- Domino LoopA ring of pairs that lean on each other all the way round, like falling dominoes.
- Double ExocetTwo of those launcher patterns sharing the same numbers.
How often does it come up?
Our rough estimate: very rare.