Cross-clue technique · Expert
Offset Coupling
Two exact-offset clues with the same step size lock their subjects into a pair that moves together across the ordered category.
Why it works
If two pairs are each separated by the same fixed gap, sliding one pair along the scale slides the other with it, which couples their positions far more tightly than either offset clue shows on its own.
Trigger
Two offset or gap clues on the same ordered category, with an identical step size.
Common mistake
Treating the two offset clues as independent once their immediate eliminations are marked, instead of checking whether their equal step size couples them.
Example
If the red item costs $5 more than Mina's, and the blue item costs $5 more than Theo's, red and blue move in lockstep with Mina and Theo as prices narrow.
On Bambleweeny's board
The live solver prunes values from each offset clue individually, but does not yet couple two equal-stride clues together the way this technique does. This is a case where a careful reader can find more than the built-in solve currently automates.