Directions for theBraille Sudoku Set From Future Aids, The Braille Superstore.
What is Sudoku?
Sudoku is a number placing puzzle. It consists of a 9 by 9 grid, having 9 horizontal rows and 9 vertical columns, which are divided into boxes of 3 by 3. Thus, it has 9 boxes and a total of 81 small cells. The digits 1 to 9 are so placed that every row, every column and every 3 by 3 box has one digit without repeating the numbers in the same row, column or box. It becomes a puzzle when few numbers are placed and other cells are left empty, requiring you to think logically and provide the solution.
Getting Started
Your Braille Sudoku Set consists of a wooden playing board and a canvass bag of Braille number pieces. Unless you have another source of puzzles, you will probably also need a Braille book of Sudoku puzzles to get you started (sold separately).
The Sudoku board is divided into nine 3 by 3 grids (or boxes), each containing nine holes. These nine different boxes can be identified by the engraved (or indented) lines surrounding each box.
The bag of numbered pieces each feature a number from 1 to 9 in Braille (complete with number sign). For easy orientation, there's a raised line at the top of each piece, and a notch at the bottom. The peg on the back of each piece fits snugly into any hole on the board.
There's also a pin in the center of each piece that goes up and down. Think of this center pin as a handy marker that helps you tell the two different sets of numbers used in each puzzle apart. Many players like to have the center pin up to denote original numbers from the puzzle, and down to indicate numbers they've filled in. The pin is easily identified by touch, since it appears as a sharp dot directly below the Braille number on each piece. To adjust the placement of the center pin, simply push on the bottom of each piece to bring it up, or on the top to send it down and out of sight. Pro tip: sometimes the pins can be a bit stiff, in which case using the flat edge of a butter knife to push them up and down works like a charm - and saves your fingers from getting sore!
Playing the Game
Select a puzzle from your Sudoku Puzzles book that you would like to solve. Each puzzle will have some numbers already filled in. Place the corresponding number tiles in these holes on the board. Be sure to have the center pin up for each of these number pieces, so you'll know which numbers were part of the original puzzle.
Now that the puzzle is recreated on the board, it's time to solve it. Simply put, you must fill in the holes that have a blank. To start, ensure the center pin is down on any pieces you want to try. The down center pin will remind you that these tiles are only place markers. This will help you if you have several number possibilities in your puzzle, and are not sure yet which number it should be.
Ultimately, what you need to do is fill the empty holes with number tiles so each row, each column, and each box contains the numbers 1 to 9. No two numbers may repeat themselves in any row or column. All the squares must be filled in. When every 3 by 3 box has no repeat numbers, you have solved the puzzle. Congratulations, now it's time to try another one - if you dare!
Blind in Mind: The Braille Superstore
(A Division of MarvelSoft Enterprises, Inc.)
88 Captain Morgans Blvd.
Nanaimo, BC, V9R 6R1
Canada