Kazaguruma – Medium

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Kazaguruma, also known as Windmill Sudoku, is a captivating variant of the classic Sudoku puzzle. It features five interlinked Sudoku grids, with one central grid and four additional grids that overlap the central one. The unique layout forms a pattern resembling a windmill, providing an intricate and challenging puzzle-solving experience.

Basic Rules

1. Grid Structure: The puzzle consists of five 9x9 grids.
2. Number Placement: Each grid must be filled with numbers from 1 to 9.
3. No Repetition: Each row, column, and 3x3 subgrid must contain all of the numbers from 1 to 9, without repetition.

Additional Rules

1. Overlapping Grids: The four outer grids overlap the central grid, meaning some cells are shared between the central grid and the outer grids.
2. Consistency Across Grids: The numbers in the overlapping cells must be consistent across both the central and outer grids.

Basic Solving Tips

1. Start with the Central Grid: Since the central grid impacts the four outer grids, begin by solving as much of it as possible.
2. Utilize Standard Sudoku Strategies: Apply conventional Sudoku strategies, such as scanning, marking up, and looking for grids/rows/columns that are close to being complete.
3. Consider All Five Grids: Always validate that a number placement is valid across all five grids, especially in the overlapping sections.
4. Focus on Overlapping Sections: Pay special attention to the sections where grids overlap, as these areas impact multiple grids and can often provide additional clues or constraints.