or solve online (using our beta test of Penpa-Edit tools)
Theme: May 30th
Rules: Standard TomTom rules, using digits from 1-6.
Answer String: Enter the 1st row from left to right, followed by a comma, followed by the 6th row from left to right.
Time Standards (highlight to view): Grandmaster = 2:15, Master = 4:00, Expert = 8:00
Solution: PDF
or solve online (using our beta test of Penpa-Edit tools)
Theme: Five Squares
Answer String: Enter the 3rd row from left to right, followed by a comma, followed by the 7th row from left to right.
Time Standards (highlight to view): Grandmaster = 2:30, Master = 4:00, Expert = 8:00
Solution: PDF
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 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.
or solve online (using our beta test of Penpa-Edit tools; use tab to shift between shading mode and the linex mode where left click+drag draws lines and right click marks X’s)
Theme: 3456
Answer String: Enter the length in cells of each of the cave segments from left to right for the marked rows, starting at the top. Separate each row’s entry with a comma.
Time Standards (highlight to view): Grandmaster = 3:15, Master = 8:00, Expert = 16:00
Solution: PDF
Note: Follow this link for other classic Caves. If you are new to this puzzle type, here are our easiest Cave Puzzles to get started on.
or solve online (using our beta test of Penpa-Edit tools; use tab to alternate between ship placement and shading modes. In ship placement mode, right click gives sea, left click gives circle/square, left click and drag for rounded ships.)
This is a “Franken-Friday” puzzle variation.
Theme: All Mine
Rules: Variation of standard Battleships rules. Instead of exterior clues, clues inside the grid indicate the number of adjacent squares, including diagonally adjacent squares, containing ship segments. Ships do not sit on cells with numbers.
Answer String: For each row from top to bottom, enter the number of the first column from the left where a ship segment appears. If the row is empty, enter 0. Enter these numbers as a single string with no separators.
Time Standards (highlight to view): Grandmaster = 2:30, Master = 4:30, Expert = 9:00
Solution: PDF
or solve online (using our beta test of Penpa-Edit tools in linex mode where left click+drag draws lines and right click marks X’s)
Theme: Half and Half
Answer String: Enter the length in cells of the horizontal loop segments from left to right in the marked rows, starting at the top. If the loop only has vertical segments in the marked row, enter 0. Separate each row’s entry with a comma.
Time Standards (highlight to view): Grandmaster = 2:00, Master = 3:30, Expert = 7:00
Editorial Note: As we celebrate the milestone of our 100th puzzle, there are two other milestones coming this week. First, the US Sudoku Qualifying Test contains many of our puzzles; best of luck and skill to the competitors. And later this weekend we’ll have a very different kind of contest here. Watch out for it.
Solution: PDF
or solve online (using our beta test of Penpa-Edit tools)
Theme: 22345
Rules: Standard Skyscrapers rules.
Answer String: Enter the 1st row from left to right, followed by a comma, followed by the 6th row from left to right.
Time Standards (highlight to view): Grandmaster = 2:30, Master = 4:00, Expert = 8:00
Solution: PDF
or solve online (using our beta test of Penpa-Edit tools)
This is a “Twisted Tuesday” puzzle variation.
Theme: Big City
Rules: Standard Sudoku rules. Also, standard Skyscrapers rules.
Answer String: Enter the 8th column from top to bottom, followed by a comma, followed by the 9th column from top to bottom.
Time Standards (highlight to view): Grandmaster = 4:00, Master = 6:30, Expert = 13:00
Solution: PDF
or solve online (using our beta test of Penpa-Edit tools)
Theme: Mostly themeless
Rules: Standard Consecutive Sudoku rules. Since there are no bars in this grid, this should be considered a Non-Consecutive Sudoku.
Answer String: Enter the 1st column from top to bottom, followed by a comma, followed by the 9th column from top to bottom.
Time Standards (highlight to view): Grandmaster = 6:30, Master = 11:00, Expert = 22:00
Solution: PDF
or solve online (using our beta test of Penpa-Edit tools; use Tab to go between number entry and shading modes)
This is a “Franken-Friday” puzzle variation.
Theme: Crypt-oceanography
Rules: Standard Nurikabe rules, except the size of each island has been encrypted. Each letter in this puzzle stands for a different positive integer, which must be determined while solving the puzzle. (Formatting note: space has been left in the cells for you to write the actual number values beneath each letter.)
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 = 10:00, Master = 15:00, Expert = 30:00
Solution: PDF
or solve online (using our beta test of Penpa-Edit tools; use tab to shift between shading mode and the linex mode where left click+drag draws lines and right click marks X’s)
Theme: Our 95th prescription, for May 9th
Answer String: Enter the length in cells of each of the cave segments from left to right for the marked rows, starting at the top. Separate each row’s entry with a comma.
Time Standards (highlight to view): Grandmaster = 4:00, Master = 8:00, Expert = 16:00
Solution: PDF
Note: Follow this link for other classic Caves. If you are new to this puzzle type, here are our easiest Cave Puzzles to get started on.