Notes on this puzzle
Kakuro #5204 is a 8×8 field with 44 white cells split into 28 runs: 14 across and 14 down.
10 of the 28 runs can be filled with only one set of digits:
- 3 in 2 → 1 + 2
- 4 in 2 → 1 + 3
- 16 in 2 → 7 + 9
- 17 in 2 → 8 + 9
- 30 in 4 → 6 + 7 + 8 + 9
- 16 in 5 → 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 6
The longest run is 5 cells long and 16 runs have only two cells, which is where the arithmetic is tightest. Clue totals go from 3 up to 34, with an average of 16.3.
Where to beginA good first target is the cell at row 4, column 1 of the field: the two runs crossing there settle it. Use the crossings: a cell's digit must be allowed by both its runs.