TUVWXYZ-Wing

Level 11 · Red Belt

Strategy:

Wings

Overview

TUVWXYZ-Wing is a seven-cell wing pattern, extending the wing family further. Seven cells with seven combined candidates allow elimination of a restricted candidate.

How It Works

  1. Find seven cells whose combined candidates total exactly seven digits.
  2. A pivot cell connects to six wing cells.
  3. Identify the restricted candidate forced within the pattern.
  4. Eliminate it from cells seeing all relevant pattern cells.

Example

Starting position

Look for TUVWXYZ-Wing.

1

Pivot R9C8 with a 6-cell wing

Found a 7-Y-Wing pattern. The pivot cell R9C8 has candidates connected to a 6-cell wing group.

2

Wing cells form an ALS with the pivot

The wing cells R7C2, R7C4, R7C5, R7C6, R7C7, R7C9 form an Almost Locked Set with the pivot.

3

7-Y-Wing, also called TUVWXYZ-Wing

This is a 7-Y-Wing (also known as TUVWXYZ-Wing) - the shared candidate is eliminated from common peers.

4

Remove 9 from common peers

One of the 7 cells must contain 9, so eliminate from cells seeing all pattern cells containing it: r9c9.

5

Result

Result after applying the technique.

Tips & Patterns

  • TUVWXYZ-Wings are almost never needed in practice.
  • They represent the theoretical extension of the wing concept.
  • Focus on mastering smaller wings first.