Sudoku Sends the Wrong Message to Children

Sudoku, a Japanese numerical puzzle
teaches something downright harmful:
if you find the pattern you will win the game.

This is why I ultimately prefer backgammon:
It is more similar to life.
Based on chance,
you do what you can with what you are given
and you are helped along with a little bit of luck and skill.

I have been playing Sudoku a lot lately,
I find comfort in the patterns
and enjoy my increasing familiarity with numbers
but but but
simultaeneously, I have noticed
that I am displeased more frequently:
Why doesn't a+b=c!
You mean there are VARIABLES?