Loop Avoidance
Medium
Used by Smart Hint
Drawing this edge would close a loop right now. If closing it here can't be the whole solution, it's ruled out — but if closing it here does satisfy everything, it's the final edge, so it's forced in.
- Edge on the loop
- Edge the technique adds
- Edge ruled out
- Cells that establish the pattern
How it works
- Three sides of the center cell are already lines, forming almost a complete small loop around it.
- Drawing the last side (the bottom edge) would close that loop right here.
- Checking the rest of the board: with every other undecided edge left blank, every clue still works out — so this small loop CAN be the entire solution.
- That makes the bottom edge forced in — draw it as a line.