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X-Wing (Size-2 Fish)

An X-Wing is a size-2 fish.

When a candidate digit d in two rows or columns (the base set) falls only in two columns or rows (the cover set), then no matter how d is placed, each of the two cover-set houses must contain exactly one digit d. Therefore, candidate digit d can be eliminated from all other cells in the cover set.

For example, in the board below, take two rows as the base set. Look at candidate digit 2 in row 4 and row 7: it appears only in column 2 and column 5. So regardless of how the two 2s are arranged within row 4 and row 7, column 2 and column 5 must each contain one digit 2. Therefore, in those two columns, candidate digit 2 can be eliminated from every cell except the intersections of the base set and the cover set.

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For another example, in the board below, take two columns as the base set. Look at candidate digit 6 in column 2 and column 5: it appears only in row 5 and row 7. So regardless of how the two 6s are arranged within column 2 and column 5, row 5 and row 7 must each contain one digit 6. Therefore, in those two rows, candidate digit 6 can be eliminated from every cell except the intersections of the base set and the cover set.

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