While we’ve labeled this an “Irregular” Sudoku, if you are flexible enough with the definition of a Sudoku region the same rules as so-called “Classic” Sudoku apply here. We hope you enjoy this puzzle by Philip Newman.

PDF

or solve online (using our beta test of Penpa-Edit tools)

Author/Opus: This is the 22nd puzzle from Philip Newman, part of the Genuinely Approachable Sudoku (GAS) team.

Rules: Standard Sudoku rules: Insert a number from 1 to 9 into each cell so that no number repeats in any row, column, or bold region.

GAS Time Standards (highlight to view): Two party hats (🎩🥳): 6:00; One party hat (🥳): 13:00. All other solvers earn a 🦕: August Abysodon.

Thomas Hits the GAS (highlight to view): 2:34 = incorrect until check, with SudokuPad replay file shared as a download for now (requires loading via settings menu with improvements expected before people should use this regularly).

Solution: PDF; solving video with explanation to be added later from GAS team.

Note: Follow this link for more Genuinely Approachable Sudoku puzzles on this site. Follow this link for other classic Sudoku. If you are new to this puzzle type, here are our easiest Sudoku to get started on. More Sudoku including variations can be found in these books in our e-store. Also, visit this page to purchase all of the puzzles from the 16th World Sudoku Championship including classic Sudoku.

Note 2: Comments on the blog are great! For a more interactive discussion, please also consider using our Daily GAS discussion post on the GMPuzzles Discord. Not a member of the Discord? Click this link for basic access.

(This post is part of: “A Story of Self-setting Sudoku”.)
As a new month begins, our ASoSS series is seeking a new identity since its old one has been exposed. We suspect it is not just “A Story of S”, but what is being spelled out or who is being signalled to?

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or solve online (using SudokuPad)

Theme: A Story of S?

Author/Opus: This is the 601st puzzle from Thomas Snyder.

Rules: Insert a number from 1 to 6 into each white cell so that no number repeats in any row, column, or bold region.

Difficulty (highlight to view): 2 stars

Time Standards (highlight to view): Grandmaster = 1:15, Master = 2:45, Expert = 5:30

Solution: PDF

Note: Follow this link for classic Sudoku. If you are new to this puzzle type, here are our easiest Sudoku to get started on. More classic Sudoku puzzles can be found in The Art of Sudoku, The Art of Sudoku 2 and in our beginner-friendly collection Intro to GMPuzzles by Serkan Yürekli.

Note 2: Comments on the blog are great! For a more interactive discussion, please also consider using our Twelve Months of Sudoku? post on the GMPuzzles Discord. Not a member of the Discord? Click this link for basic access.

The first few minutes of this ~30 minute video cover special news like a GAS hidden puzzle series, a SudokuCon stream, and awesome outputs of the GMPuzzles solving community.

Go to the Twitch stream here, August 2nd at 12:30 PM PT: https://www.twitch.tv/sudokucon

The rest of this unusual video cover Thomas’s recent experiences — ups and downs — of living as a bipolar person. August 1st, 2023, was the last time Thomas entered a manic state severe enough to need hospitalization. It was the lowest of lows, but he has recovered over two years and has a far improved approach to care that he wants to share on this important “recovery anniversary” date, including things he still wishes he better understood or could better control. The “near miss” from the title is about how we all experienced a December 2024 hypomania/early mania that was not ideal for how the GMP puzzle audience received original ideas even if Thomas avoided hospitalization. Takeaways from that are also covered and feedback welcome.

For anyone who might want support from peers with lived experience, NAMI is a great place to search for connection groups in your area.

Can you figure out the glue for this puzzle (the three number sums from the outside frame clues) to get enough going to complete the grid?

PDF

or solve online (using SudokuPad)

Theme: Wound Up Here (By Holding On)

Author/Opus: This is the 19th puzzle from Bill Murphy, part of the Genuinely Approachable Sudoku (GAS) team.

Rules: Standard Sudoku rules (insert a number from 1 to 9 into each cell so that no number repeats in any row, column, or bold region). Clues outside the grid indicate the sum of the first three numbers seen from the direction of the clue.

GAS Time Standards (highlight to view): Two party hats (🎩🥳): 7:00; One party hat (🥳): 13:00. All other solvers earn a 🦕: Optimistic Ozraptor.

Thomas Hits the GAS (highlight to view): 3:04, with SudokuPad replay file shared as a download for now (requires loading via settings menu with improvements expected before people should use this regularly).

Solution: PDF; solving video with explanation to be added later from GAS team.

Note: Follow this link for other less common variations of Sudoku.

Note 2: Comments on the blog are great! For a more interactive discussion, please also consider using our Daily GAS discussion post on the GMPuzzles Discord. Not a member of the Discord? Click this link for basic access.