XYZ-Wing

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XYZ-Wing

What It Is

XYZ-Wing involves three cells: a pivot with {X,Y,Z}, and wings with {X,Y} and {X,Z} sharing units with the pivot. One wing must become X if the pivot isn’t, so any cell seeing both wings loses candidate X.

When to Use

Advanced mid-late game when XY-Wings aren’t enough and a 3-candidate pivot sits near bi-value wings.

How to Apply (Step-by-Step)

  1. Find a pivot with exactly three candidates {x,y,z}.
  2. Add two wings: one {x,y}, one {x,z}, each seeing the pivot.
  3. Confirm x appears in all three cells.
  4. Eliminate x from cells that see both wings.
  5. Reevaluate for new singles or XY-like patterns.

Pivot {1,2,3}, wings {1,2} and {1,3}; any cell seeing both wings cannot be 1 because one wing must take 1 if pivot doesn’t.

See also

Scanning / Cross-Hatching Single Candidate (Naked Single) Single Position (Hidden Single) Naked Pairs / Triples / Quads Hidden Pairs / Triples / Quads Pointing Pairs / Triples (Locked Candidates Type 1) Box–Line Reduction (Locked Candidates Type 2) X-Wing Swordfish Jellyfish XY-Wing XYZ-Wing W-Wing Alternating Inference Chains (AICs) Forcing Chains / Forcing Nets Nishio Coloring Multi-Coloring Uniqueness Techniques (Unique Rectangle etc.) Fish Variants (Finned X-Wing, Sashimi etc.) ALS Techniques (ALS-XZ, ALS Chains) Sue de Coq Pattern Overlay / Template Method
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