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PDF

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

Theme: Staircases

Author/Opus: This is the 197th puzzle from Thomas Snyder, aka Dr. Sudoku.

Rules: Standard Star Battle rules. Three 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. Enter both digits of any two-digit column number.

Time Standards (highlight to view): Grandmaster = 7:30, Master = 10:15, Expert = 20:30

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.

PDF

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

Theme: Diamond

Author/Opus: This is the 196th puzzle from Thomas Snyder, aka Dr. Sudoku.

Rules: Standard Sudoku rules.

Answer String: Enter the 4th row from left to right, followed by a comma, followed by the 4th column from top to bottom.

Time Standards (highlight to view): Grandmaster = 5:00, Master = 8:15, Expert = 16:30

Solution: PDF; a solution video is available here.

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.

PDF

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

Theme: Logical

Author/Opus: This is the 195th puzzle from Thomas Snyder, aka Dr. Sudoku.

Rules: Standard LITS rules.

Answer String: Enter the length in cells of each of the shaded segments 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 = 2:15, Master = 3:45, Expert = 7:30

Solution: PDF

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

Last week’s collection of loop puzzles can be found in this PDF.

This next week is another variety week with these styles (highlight to view):

Monday: Yajilin by Grant Fikes
Tuesday: Cave by Grant Fikes
Wednesday: LITS by Thomas Snyder
Thursday: Skyscrapers by Grant Fikes
Friday: Sudoku by Thomas Snyder
Saturday: Star Battle by Thomas Snyder

The bonus puzzle for our high-level supporters will be a TomTom by Grant Fikes.

PDF

or solve online (using our beta test of Penpa-Edit tools in edgex mode where left click+drag draws lines and right click marks X’s)

Theme: 0123 (and antisymmetry)

Author/Opus: This is the 194th puzzle from Thomas Snyder, aka Dr. Sudoku.

Rules: Standard Slitherlink rules.

Answer String: Enter the length in cells of each of the internal loop 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 = 2:30, Master = 3:45, Expert = 7:30

Solution: PDF

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

All of Grant’s puzzles from last week have been grouped in this PDF.

This next week we’ll be throwing you for a loop. Every puzzle will have a familiar goal, even if the styles will be quite varied.

Monday: Tapa-Like Loop by Prasanna Seshadri
Tuesday: Masyu by Murat Can Tonta
Wednesday: Slitherlink by Thomas Snyder
Thursday: Masyu (Deformable) by Murat Can Tonta
Friday: Slitherlink (Sheep and Wolves and No 2×2) by Hans van Stippent
Saturday: Tapa-Like Loop by Prasanna Seshadri

The bonus puzzle for our high-level supporters will be a Yajilin by Thomas Snyder.

All the puzzles from last week have been grouped in this PDF.

Grant’s New Year’s Resolution was to submit 365 puzzles this year and he is still pretty much on pace. This is a huge quantity of puzzles to test, so his submissions pile up most weeks. When I do get to them, I often wonder how I am ever going to use most of these puzzles.

This week is a collection just from Grant’s early August submissions (spanning a roughly 10 day period). Unusual sizes and themes, but 100% Foxger. I hope you enjoy them.

Monday: Slitherlink
Tuesday: Masyu
Wednesday: Battleships
Thursday: Pentominous
Friday: Cross the Streams
Saturday: Fillomino

The bonus puzzle for our high-level supporters will be a Fillomino by Grant Fikes.

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: Near Diamond

Author/Opus: This is the 193rd puzzle from Thomas Snyder, aka Dr. Sudoku.

Rules: Standard Cave rules.

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.

PDF

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

Theme: Anchor

Author/Opus: This is the 192nd 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 = 1:00, Master = 1:30, Expert = 3:00

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.

All the puzzles from last week have been grouped in this PDF.

Next week is a variety week with the following mix of puzzles (highlight to view):
Monday: Star Battle by Thomas Snyder
Tuesday: Tapa by Grant Fikes
Wednesday: TomTom by Grant Fikes
Thursday: Masyu Variation by Swaroop Guggilam
Friday: Cave by Thomas Snyder
Saturday: Killer Sudoku by Serkan Yürekli

The bonus puzzle for our high-level supporters will be a Snail Sudoku by Serkan Yürekli.