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Cross-clue technique · Intermediate

Disjunction Resolution

The moment one branch of an either/or clue is disproved, the other branch becomes true.

Why it works

An either/or clue only leaves two possibilities open. Once the board independently rules one out, nothing else is left.

Trigger

An either/or clue where one of its two branches has just been eliminated by something unrelated.

Common mistake

Forgetting an either/or clue was ever recorded, and missing the moment its second branch gets forced.

Example

'Either Mina or Theo owns the turtle' plus a later clue ruling out Mina/turtle directly forces Theo/turtle, with no further reasoning needed.

Put it to work

See this technique on a live board, or go back and browse the rest of the library.