It's too hard for you. (Martial Arts Puzzles Series)

The answers/solutions are incorrect. The paper of the book is too thin for pencil use and rips easily when erasing. In addition, these puzzles are just, well, meh. There are countless errors which makes solving the puzzles impossible. Add to that the answers in the back are incorrect, which leads to frustration. Go with Will Shortz’s books. They’re incredible.

Finally a book that goes beyond level 5. In Europe many sudoku books go to level 9, diabolical, and I'm not sure why most books here in the US only go to level 5. And believe me, level 9 is a whole lot harder than level 5.
What I'm trying to do now is solve the puzzles without making any notes or marks anywhere (no notes inside squares, no tiny number combos or whatever), not using a pencil with eraser, only using a marker or ballpoint pen that can't be erased and the goal is to solve it as neatly and perfectly as possible without scratched out numbers from making mistakes. So no room for errors, be very sure of your reasoning. So try doing the whole puzzle using your brain only and your memory only. So if a number has several options where it can be placed, you have to memorize that, instead of making notes or marks. Try this, starting with the easier puzzles first and work your way up, especially if the easier puzzles are not too hard for you. Some puzzles take longer than others but once on a flight that took an hour and 45 minutes, I managed to solve three of the hardest level ones. A couple in a matter of 30 minutes. If you are taking too long, you are not applying all the elimination possibilities. I never cheat or want to cheat. Why play if you cheat? I'd rather abandon a puzzle than cheat.

I was disappointed in the Black Belt SUDOKU since it was more like a medium level, but the book, Beyond Black Belt, has delivered everything it promised so far. The first few puzzles were very challenging and definitely worth obtaining, if interested in the very difficult puzzles.

This is the challenge the advanced player is looking for!!!

These are really challenging puzzles, increasing difficulty, but very difficult from the get go.

The paper is a little bit too absorbent; the squares a little too small -- but the content is so good that on several I boosted the magnification and copied a time or two -- that avoids erasing.

Longo really has a knack for identifying puzzles that require more than one Sudoku techniques. Bravo!

Robert C. Ross
January 2015

YES! These really ARE as difficult as advertised. I was skeptical, I admit, because I felt like I got burned on the "Black Belt Sudoku" book; I timed myself (as I often do), and I was whizzing through those puzzles in 8 - 12 minutes. *disappointing*

Then I found this book, Beyond Black Belt, and there's simply no "whizzing" through these. What a great workout for my brain!

(And someday, when I have more than 10 minutes to spare, maybe I'll be able to solve one! Ha!)

Great puzzle book. This one is among the best for the serious Sudoku fanatic. For those who would like to test their skill and speed, I recommend An "in your face" timed challenge by Chris RichardsSudoku: An In Your Face Timed Challenge