X-Chain

A worked example

This position comes from SudokuByte’s lesson on the X-Chain. Gold cells hold the evidence; green cells are the pattern’s ends.

1. Where to look

   Track false -> true over a strong link, then true -> false over a weak link.

   Follow one digit using alternating strong and weak links, starting and ending strong. One endpoint must be true.

2. Read the evidence in this position

   Trace r1c68 → r2c68 → r7c68 → r7c48. Solid links mean at least one end is true; dashed links mean the two ends cannot both be true.

3. Why the deduction must follow

   Assume the first candidate is false. The next is forced true, the next false, and so on, ending true. If the first candidate was true instead, it already supplies the required 8. At least one endpoint is 8; a target seeing both endpoints cannot be 8.

4. Apply the result

   Erase 8 from r8c6. The pattern may remove candidates without immediately solving a cell.