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Y-Wing

Advanced Removes candidates Used in: Sudoku, Killer Sudoku

Y-Wing

Also called the XY-Wing. A “pivot” cell with candidates {A,B} sees two “pincer” cells, one {A,C} and one {B,C}. Whichever value the pivot takes, one pincer is forced to C — so C can be eliminated from any cell that sees both pincers.

How to spot it

A bi-value pivot {A,B} that sees one {A,C} cell and one {B,C} cell.

What you can conclude

Eliminate C from any cell that sees both pincers.

Worked example

Pivot {1,2} sees pincers {1,3} and {2,3}. Whatever the pivot takes, one pincer becomes 3 — so 3 leaves any cell seeing both pincers.

Related techniques

XYZ-Wing · Two-String Kite · W-Wing