VWXYZ-Wing

Level 10 · Brown Belt

Strategy:

Requires:

Learn after:

Overview

VWXYZ-Wing uses five cells whose combined candidates total exactly five digits. When properly configured with a pivot and wings, a restricted common candidate can be eliminated from cells seeing all pattern members.

How It Works

Find five cells whose union of candidates contains exactly five digits {V,W,X,Y,Z}.
One cell (pivot) sees the other four (wings).
Identify the restricted candidate that must be in one of the pattern cells.
Eliminate it from cells that see all cells containing that candidate.

Example

Look for VWXYZ-Wing.

Sudoku grid showing the initial puzzle state for Look for VWXYZ-Wing.

1

VWXYZ-Wing

Found a 5-Y-Wing pattern. The pivot cell R3C6 has candidates connected to a 4-cell wing group.

Sudoku grid illustrating step 1: VWXYZ-Wing — Found a 5-Y-Wing pattern. The pivot cell R3C6 has candidates connected to a 4-cell wing group.

2

VWXYZ-Wing

The wing cells R1C5, R2C4, R2C5, R3C4 form an Almost Locked Set with the pivot.

Sudoku grid illustrating step 2: VWXYZ-Wing — The wing cells R1C5, R2C4, R2C5, R3C4 form an Almost Locked Set with the pivot.

3

VWXYZ-Wing

This is a 5-Y-Wing (also known as VWXYZ-Wing) - the shared candidate is eliminated from common peers.

Sudoku grid illustrating step 3: VWXYZ-Wing — This is a 5-Y-Wing (also known as VWXYZ-Wing) - the shared candidate is eliminated from common peers.

4

VWXYZ-Wing

One of the 5 cells must contain 4, so eliminate from cells seeing all pattern cells containing it: r1c6.

Sudoku grid illustrating step 4: VWXYZ-Wing — One of the 5 cells must contain 4, so eliminate from cells seeing all pattern cells containing it: r1c6.

5

Result after applying the technique.

Sudoku grid showing the result after applying the technique

Tips & Patterns

VWXYZ-Wings are rare and extend the N-Y-Wing family to 5 cells.
The pattern is equivalent to an Almost Locked Set interaction.
Computer assistance is usually needed to find these reliably.