(This post is part of the Genuinely Approachable Sudoku (GAS) series.)
This open 4×4 within 9×9 grid pattern returns for a new challenge in today’s Numbered Rooms Sudoku by Bill Murphy.

PDF

or solve online (using SudokuPad)

Theme: Moonstruck

Author/Opus: This is the 61st 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). Also, clues outside the grid indicate the value to be placed in the Nth cell in the corresponding row/column direction, where N is the value of the first cell in the grid in that direction. (For example, if 5 was in R1C4 just below the outside 6 clue, the 6 in column 4 would be in R5C4.)

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

Thomas Hits the GAS (highlight to view): 2:44, 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.