In this episode of Today in Sudoku, we share the answer to our question yesterday of what is going on with “Naughty or Nice by Santa Claus” and connect it to the new theme of Seventeen.
Join us every day around 8:45-8:50 AM PT to learn about yesterday’s puzzles on the site, other sudoku news, and get a teaser for the new puzzle.
(This post is part of the Genuinely Approachable Sudoku (GAS) series.)
The cages here now tell you the relative size of the numbers that go into them with 1 being the smallest and then 2 being the next smallest. These ranks are key to getting to the one unique solution.
or solve online (using SudokuPad)
or solve online (using Penpa-Plus; originally posted as a backup)
Author/Opus: This is the 41st puzzle from Clover, part of the Genuinely Approachable Sudoku (GAS) team.
Rules: Insert a number from 1 to 9 into each cell so that no number repeats in any row, column, or bold region. Also, in each cage, a numbered cell indicates the rank of that cell across all values in the cage (1 being the smallest value, 2 being the second smallest value, and so on). Numbers cannot repeat in a cage.
GAS Time Standards (highlight to view): Two party hats (🎩🥳): 7:30; One party hat (🥳): 14:00. All other solvers earn a 🦕: high-ranking Hexing.
Thomas Hits the GAS (highlight to view): 3:59, with Penpa Plus replay this time.
Solution: PDF and solving video with explanation 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.
(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 SS”, but what is being spelled out or who is being signalled to?
or solve online (using SudokuPad)
Theme: A Story of SS?
Author/Opus: This is the 15th puzzle from “Dr. Sudoku”, our AI-powered puzzle engine pushing the limits of sudoku intelligence.
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): 2.5 stars
Time Standards (highlight to view): Grandmaster = 1:45, Master = 3:15, Expert = 6:30
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 video covers news updates including what August may be like in our series A Story of Self-setting Sudoku.
The longer part includes discussion of, and a blind solve for, a Cryptic Sudoku by Palfly Kampling that is a variation on Renban lines requiring one gap in the middle. I have never solved a puzzle by Palfly, but having met at SudokuCon wanted to do a recommended puzzle which came from a recent SudokuCon stream.
Other Palfly puzzles are here including many puzzles he contributes to the “Sudoku Adventure” series with 6×6 variant grids.
Join us every day around 8:45 AM PT to learn about yesterday’s puzzles on the site, other sudoku news, and get a teaser for the new puzzle.
(This post is part of the Genuinely Approachable Sudoku (GAS) series.)
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.
or solve online (using SudokuPad)
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 and solving video with explanation from GAS team.
Note: 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?
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 video cover special news like a GAS hidden puzzle series, a SudokuCon stream, and awesome outputs of the GMPuzzles solving community.
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.
(This post is part of the Genuinely Approachable Sudoku (GAS) series.)
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?
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 and solving video with explanation 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.