Detuned Broadcast #8: Nurikabe
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Theme: 64
Rules: Standard Nurikabe rules.
Answer String: Enter the length in cells of each of the black segments (the unnumbered, connected “ocean”) from left to right for the marked rows, starting at the top. Separate each row’s entry from the next with a comma.
Time Standards (highlight to view): Grandmaster = 1:00, Master = 2:00, Expert = 4:00
Solution: PDF
Interesting solving theme on the bottom rows that popped up a few times. I had to fiddle with the top a little bit to get it to work, so I may have missed a bit of the logic there. Thanks.
For the top, I think the main thing was that there was a connection that needed to be made from the top left area to the right hand side of the puzzle, and there was only one way to swing it past the 6 in the right hand corner.
I like this sort of Nurikabe that has a less predictable feel than many, yet also has a pretty tight and fair solving path.
You can mark the square up-right from the top two 4’s as belonging to them, after which forces a connectivity from the black squares starting from the bottom left. This allows you to mark another square for the 4 in the fifth row, and the rest follows.
That’s exactly what I had in mind – the last step after that is connecting up the branch on the right.
Ah, that makes sense. Thanks for the clarification.
10:50