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This is a “Twisted Tuesday” puzzle variation.

Theme: TomTomTom: The Next Dimension?

Rules: Variation of TomTom rules, using digits from 1-8. In this variation, similar to Isodoku, the rows bend along the surface of an apparent cube.

Answer String: Enter the marked “column” A, starting at the arrow, followed by a comma, followed by the marked “column” B.

Time Standards (highlight to view): Grandmaster = 2:45, Master = 5:00, Expert = 10:00

Solution: PDF

PDF

or solve online (using our beta test of Penpa-Edit tools; use tab to alternate between Sudoku = big entries and Number candidate = small entries in the corners of cells.)

Theme: Diagonals

Rules: Standard Tight Fit Sudoku rules. Range is 1-8.

Answer String: Enter the 1st column from top to bottom, followed by a comma, followed by the 6th column from top to bottom. (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 = 0:50, Master = 1:15, Expert = 2:30

Solution: PDF

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. More Tight Fit Sudoku can be found in our beginner-friendly collection Intro to GMPuzzles by Serkan Yürekli and in The Art of Sudoku 2.

Today’s surprise comes from Tyler Hinman, five-time winner of the American Crossword Puzzle Tournament and author of Winner’s Circle Crosswords. I’ve had the pleasure of co-solving with Tyler — whom I call “Kid Crossword” when in “Dr. Sudoku” mode — on many puzzle hunts in recent years and we’ve had a number of good conversations on puzzle design. Total Masyu, which appeared again this Tuesday, for example was an idea that came up in one such chat from Tyler that I constructed for my blog.

As I heard from Tyler a few months ago: “Here’s a weird idea I had the other night while unable to sleep. … It’s inspired by the Spy piece in Stratego, which wins a battle if it attacks the highest-ranked piece (the Marshal), but loses under all other circumstances.” The concept was for Spy Futoshiki, the subject of today’s surprise, where the lowest value (1) is considered greater than the highest value (5), but all other inequalities obey normal ordering. It’s a clever idea and Tyler’s provided a very nice puzzle to demonstrate the change.

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Theme: Spies among us

Rules: Insert a number from 1-5 into each square so that each number appears once in every row and column. Inequality signs between the boxes indicate the larger/smaller numbers, with the single exception that the number 1, the “Spy”, is considered larger than the number 5 if in adjacent cells.

Answer String: Enter the 1st column from top to bottom, followed by a comma, followed by the 5th column from top to bottom.

Solution: PDF

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

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

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

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; 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.)

Theme: Shipping Lanes

Rules: Standard Battleships rules.

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 = 5:15, Expert = 10:30

Solution: PDF

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)

This is a “Twisted Tuesday” puzzle variation.

Theme: Totally symmetric?

Rules: Standard Masyu rules. Also, all possible white and black circles have been given. (In other words, the loop cannot turn in any unlabeled spot and then continue straight in the next two cells as that should be a black circle; the loop also cannot go straight in any unlabeled spot and then turn in one of the adjoining cells as that should be a white circle.)

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 = 2:30, Master = 4:00, Expert = 8:00

Solution: PDF

PDF

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

Theme: Middles

Rules: Standard Skyscrapers rules.

Answer String: Enter the 1st row from left to right, followed by a comma, followed by the 5th row from left to right.

Time Standards (highlight to view): Grandmaster = 0:45, Master = 1:15, Expert = 2:30

Solution: PDF

PDF

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

Theme: Greek Crosses

Rules: Standard Tile Sudoku rules.

Answer String: Enter the 5th row from left to right, followed by a comma, followed by the 12th row from left to right.

Time Standards (highlight to view): Grandmaster = 5:00, Master = 8:30, Expert = 17:00

Solution: PDF