Sudoku Addictiveness And Dart Throwing

People can become addicted to the strangest things, and usually this is associated with bad things. In regards to a puzzle game like Sudoku however, there is a different kind of addiction present that are the hallmarks of any good game.

The Sudoku puzzle has hit western magazines and newspapers with such a great impact, that it has to be the mystery game promotion of the century. But what is it that render writing numeral characters into small squares so extremely addictive?

One part of the answer has definitely to be outright simplicity of the brainteaser. The directions of Sudoku are so easy to grasp that any person can start puzzle solving almost without further ado.Yet full mastery of the game requires immense amounts of practise and patience. A Sudoku enigma can also be made so demanding that even a whiz kid would probably have a hard time completing it.

Contrary to what many would think when they originally see a Sudoku riddle, this brain-teasing exercise doesn't require outstandingly high understanding of math. It is more a matter of rationality and the numbers could, in fact, be replaced with any other symbol.

What sudoku has in common with throwing darts

Although it might seem ridiculous to draw a parallel between sitting in the sofa playing Sudoku and throwing darts, bear with me for a second and I will get to the point.

I recall when I was a kid and we spent the holidays at our cottage in the country. One day my sibling and I found an old darts game - not like the posh ones they use in indoors dart competitions, but more of a sturdy "outdoors" (or whatnot the real term is) type of dartboard with digits from one on the outside to ten in the bulls eye, and quite heavy and firm darts.

Neither of us where very good at aiming darts, so it was a good plan we hung the dart target on the outside wall of an old shed. After a while however, I was able to to get quite a good score - 42 with five darts.

Luck had much to do with it of course, but now something interesting happened. My sister would not quit before she had gotten at least the same score as me!

I think she hacked away at that dart board for a couple of hours without stopping, and had she been a character in a comic she could of course have been portrayed with a thunder rain cloud over her head, so to speak. It started to get dark before she finally had beaten my record and could allow herself to quit.

It is genuinely mind-blowing to observe such determination.

Although having not so much to do with Sudoku puzzles per se, I think the same kind of driving energy is also "blamable" for the addictiveness of the Sudoku riddle.

Most will love a contest, granted that there is actually a to some extent genuine possibility to crop up "triumphant" in the end. When tackling a aptly grueling Sudoku puzzle a participant can sometimes flow into almost a meditative like state where he or she frankly can't put down the pen before they have crushed the Sudoku challenge. Much in the same way as it played out in that dart game many donkey's years ago.

One might perhaps argue that my sister has always been a very ambitious type with anything she has ever done, but I still think the point made is valid.

This is all good, as Sudoku is a very economical hobby that definitely presents a good work out for the brain.However, in the event something very catch fire in the kitchen or if a person is drowning - by all means put that Sudoku mystery aside for just a few hours.

About The Author:

Until not so long ago, Charles Hawkins did actually not think Sudoku was anything for him. Once he tried it though, he was hooked and he now spreads the word and offers Sudoku hints and strategies on his web site.