PDF

or solve online (using our beta test of Penpa-Edit tools; use the tab key to alternate between shading and number entry modes)

Theme: Five (appeared in the 2016 Puzzle Grand Prix playoffs)

Author/Opus: This is the 255th puzzle from Thomas Snyder, aka Dr. Sudoku.

Rules: Variation of Nanro.

Label some cells with numbers to form a single connected group of labeled cells. No 2×2 group of cells may be fully labeled. Each number must be equal to the total count of labeled cells in that bold region, and all bold regions contain at least one labeled cell. The given numbers indicate how many cells are labeled in that region (but not necessarily which cells are labeled). When two numbers are orthogonally adjacent across a region boundary, the numbers must be different.

Also see this example:

Answer String: Enter the length in cells of each of the segments labeled with numbers 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 = 4:00, Master = 6:15, Expert = 12:30

Solution: PDF

Note: Follow this link for Nanro puzzles on this website and this link for variations on Nanro puzzles. If you are new to this puzzle type, here are our easiest Nanro Puzzles to get started on. More Nanro puzzles can be found in A Number o’ Nanro by Prasanna Seshadri.

PDF

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

Theme: Five (prepared for the 2016 Puzzle Grand Prix playoffs, not used)

Author/Opus: This is the 254th puzzle from Thomas Snyder, aka Dr. Sudoku.

Rules: Standard Star Battle rules. Two stars per row, column, and region.

Answer String: For each row from top to bottom, enter the number of the first column from the left where a star appears. Enter these numbers as a single string with no separators.

Time Standards (highlight to view): Grandmaster = 3:45, Master = 6:30, Expert = 13:00

Solution: PDF

Note: Follow this link for other classic Star Battles. If you are new to this puzzle type, here are our easiest Star Battles to get started on.

Our most recent week of Tight Fit Sudoku variations can be found in this PDF.

Our next full week will begin on October 31st; however, this week we will have two bonus puzzles constructed by Thomas Snyder for the 2016 Puzzle Grand Prix playoffs. Come back on Wednesday and Thursday to see these challenges.

Our subscribers receive access to bonus puzzles each week. We make these posts so those supporters have a space to comment on these puzzles, mark as FAVES, or log their solving. If you are interested in subscribing, click here for more info.

Theme: Odd Job

Author/Opus: This is the 253rd puzzle from Thomas Snyder aka Dr. Sudoku.

Rules: Standard Tight Fit Sudoku rules. Remember, the smaller number goes above the larger number in all slashed cells. The range of this puzzle is 1-9.

Answer String: Enter the 3rd row from left to right, followed by a comma, followed by the 6th row from left to right. (Note: for the tight fit cells, enter the top before the bottom as would be normal for the read order.)

Time Standards (highlight to view): Grandmaster = 3:15, Master = 9:00, Expert = 18:00

Note: Follow this link for other Tight Fit Sudoku puzzles on this website. If you are new to this puzzle type, here are our easiest Tight Fit Sudoku to get started on.

Our most recent Patrons Week of puzzles can be found in this PDF.

This next week contains a bunch of Tight Fit Sudoku variations from Serkan Yürekli:

Monday: Tight Fit Sudoku (Anti-Knight)
Tuesday: Tight Fit Sudoku (No Touch)
Wednesday: Tight Fit Sudoku (Irregular)
Thursday: Tight Fit Sudoku (Even/Odd)
Friday: Tight Fit Sudoku (Killer)
Saturday: Tight Fit Sudoku (Samurai)

Our supporters will also be receiving a bonus Tight Fit Sudoku from Thomas Snyder, access to puzzle solutions, and a video walkthrough of the Friday and bonus puzzles. If you’d like to receive some of these special rewards, please click here for more info.

Our most recent week of puzzle variations by Grant Fikes can be found in this PDF.

This next week is another patrons’ week, with puzzles requested by our top patrons. The schedule is:

Monday: Regional Akari by Prasanna Seshadri
Tuesday: Fillomino by Murat Can Tonta
Wednesday: Numberlink by Serkan Yürekli
Thursday: Kakuro (Double) by Grant Fikes
Friday: XV Sudoku by Serkan Yürekli
Saturday: Roller Coaster by Serkan Yürekli

Our supporters will also be receiving a bonus Easy as LITS from Prasanna Seshadri, access to puzzle solutions, and a video walkthrough of the Saturday puzzle. If you’d like to receive some of these special rewards, please click here for more info.

Our most recent mix of arithmetic puzzles for the last days of SUM-mer can be found in this PDF.

This next week will feature a lot of clever puzzle variations/combinations by Grant Fikes. Specifically:

Monday: Myopia Yajilin
Tuesday: Myopia Yajilin
Wednesday: Slitherlink (Cipher)
Thursday: Cross the Streams (LITS)
Friday: Pentominous (Star Battle)
Saturday: Cross the Streams (LITS)

Our supporters will also be receiving a bonus Cross the Streams (LITS) from Grant, access to puzzle solutions, and a video walkthrough of the Friday puzzle. If you’d like to receive some of these special rewards, please click here for more info.

PDF

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

Theme: Going Up Again?

Author/Opus: This is the 252nd puzzle from Thomas Snyder, aka Dr. Sudoku.

Rules: Variation of Skyscrapers rules. The numbers outside the grid represent the sum of the buildings seen in the row or column. For example, if a row is 12534, the clue from the left would be an 8 (1+2+5) and from the right would be a 9 (4+5).

Answer String: Enter the 3rd row from left to right, followed by a comma, followed by the 4th row from left to right.

Time Standards (highlight to view): Grandmaster = 2:45, Master = 4:30, Expert = 9:00

Solution: PDF

Note: Follow this link for classic Skyscrapers puzzles and this link for variations on Skyscrapers puzzles. If you are new to this puzzle type, here are our easiest Skyscrapers Puzzles to get started on.

PDF

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

Theme: Big Plus Signs

Author/Opus: This is the 251st puzzle from Thomas Snyder, aka Dr. Sudoku.

Rules: Standard TomTom rules, using the integers 1-6.

Answer String: Enter the 2nd row from left to right followed by the 4th row from left to right. Separate the entries with a comma.

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

Solution: PDF

Note: Follow this link for other classic TomTom. If you are new to this puzzle type, here are our easiest TomTom to get started on.

PDF

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

Theme: Unique Digits

Author/Opus: This is the 250th puzzle from Thomas Snyder, aka Dr. Sudoku.

Rules: Add digits to some cells so each cell contains a one- or two-digit number. The sum of the numbers in each row and in each column must be 100.

Answer String: Enter all numbers including the new and given digits from left to right, starting with the top row, then the middle row, and then the bottom row. Separate each row with a comma. (For example “123454,362737,52399”.)

Time Standards (highlight to view): Grandmaster = 1:30, Master = 3:00, Expert = 6:00

Solution: PDF

Note: Follow this link for other less common Number Placement puzzles.