The Puzzle Robot #14 – Skyscraper Blocks
or solve online (using our beta test of Penpa-Edit tools)
Theme: Clue Symmetry and Logic
Rules: Variation of Skyscrapers rules. Place digits 1-6 into the grid so that no digit is repeated within a row or column. Digits outside the grid indicate the number of buildings that can be seen from the corresponding direction. The buildings form two-digit numbers and the relations between some numbers are shown with a greater than/less than sign.
Or, see here.
Answer String: Enter the 3rd row from left to right, followed by a comma, followed by the 4th column from top to bottom.
Time Standards (highlight to view): Grandmaster = 5:15, Master = 7:30, Expert = 15:00
Solution: PDF
Rather tougher than the first Skyscraper Blocks, I’d say, though I did rather enjoy the moment when I realized how the chains of greater-than signs would force certain digits. (Is that too much of a puzzle spoiler? I’m never certain what counts as crossing the line. If it is, feel free to delete this.)
It’s hard to get around my assumptions about skyscraper clues. I got stuck worrying about how to make things work with the last column on the right until I realized that, of course, it wouldn’t contain all six values. That error kept me from beating the Master time.
It was pretty handy heading into the second half of the solve to track the voids — every column has to be missing a different digit.
Nice puzzle. Took me a while to spot the full implications of the chain of equalities at the bottom.
By the way, can I contact you in private about the akıl oyunları magazine? I placed an order a while ago and haven’t got any response.