Archive for the ‘Puzzle’ Category:

Double Arrow Sudoku by clover!

(This post is part of the Genuinely Approachable Sudoku (GAS) series.)
In this Double Arrow variation, the sum of the numbers on each line equals the sum of the numbers in the bounding circles. That makes the math trickier, but this GAS version should still be an approachable way to try this variation.

Double Arrow Sudoku by Bill Murphy

PDF

or solve online (using SudokuPad)

Theme: Kaboom!

Author/Opus: This is the 91st puzzle from Clover, 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). The numbers along each path must sum to the same total as the two numbers in the bulbs at the ends of the path.

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

Thomas Hits the GAS (highlight to view): 2:09, 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 more Arrow Sudoku. If you are new to this puzzle type, here are our easiest Arrow Sudoku to get started on. More Arrow Sudoku puzzles can be found in these books in our e-store.

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.

Killer Lines Sudoku by Philip Newman

(This post is part of the Genuinely Approachable Sudoku (GAS) series.)
This Killer Sudoku variation requires you to split the lines into subsections or “cages” as you’d typically see to get all the summation constraints needed to solve the grid. The idea for this variation choice came from a donation, so you can thank Malrog in various ways for the puzzle.

Killer Lines Sudoku by Philip Newman

PDF

or solve online (using SudokuPad)

Theme: Blame Malrog

Author/Opus: This is the 72nd puzzle from Philip Newman, 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, divide each line into subsections so that each cell on the line belongs to exactly one subsection, and each subsection contains exactly one number clue. Each subsection acts as a Killer cage: values in a subsection cannot repeat and must sum to the total given by that subsection’s number clue. (Numbers *can* repeat on a line if allowed by other rules, as long as those numbers are in different subsections.)

GAS Time Standards (highlight to view): Two party hats (🎩🥳): 10:00; One party hat (🥳): 20:00. All other solvers earn a 🦕: Novel Nanotyrannus… to the tune of “Modern Major General” (https://youtube.com/shorts/ctsGNbMkVSM).

Thomas Hits the GAS (highlight to view): 4:54, 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 more Killer Sudoku and this link for classic Sudoku. More Killer Sudoku puzzles can be found in Killer Sudoku by Serkan Yürekli.

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.

Diagonal Outside Sudoku by Bill Murphy

(This post is part of the Genuinely Approachable Sudoku (GAS) series.)
Today’s Outside Sudoku variation has a twist — the clues refer to the diagonals and show the first 3 positions in those directions.

Diagonal Outside Sudoku by Bill Murphy

PDF

or solve online (using SudokuPad)

Author/Opus: This is the 69th 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). Clues outside the grid give numbers that must appear in the first three cells as seen from the direction of the clue.

GAS Time Standards (highlight to view): Two party hats (🎩🥳): 8:00; One party hat (🥳): 15:00. All other solvers earn a 🦕: Daydreaming Datousaurus.

Thomas Hits the GAS (highlight to view): 4:26, 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 more Outside Sudoku puzzles. More Outside Sudoku puzzles can be found in Masterpiece Sudoku Mix 4.

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.

Sum Adjacent Sudoku by clover!

(This post is part of the Genuinely Approachable Sudoku (GAS) series.)
Each circle in this Sudoku variation must be filled with a number that sums to all the values in the cells sharing an edge with it. Can you figure out all the connections?

Sum Adjacent Sudoku by Clover

PDF

or solve online (using SudokuPad)

Theme: Circle of Summands

Author/Opus: This is the 90th puzzle from Clover, 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). A circled number in a cell must equal the sum of all orthogonally adjacent numbers to that cell.

GAS Time Standards (highlight to view): Two party hats (🎩🥳): 6:30; One party hat (🥳): 12:00. All other solvers earn a 🦕: Rubenesque Rubeosaurus.

Thomas Hits the GAS (highlight to view): 3:39, 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 more Genuinely Approachable Sudoku puzzles on this site. 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.

Quadruples Sudoku by Philip Newman

(This post is part of the Genuinely Approachable Sudoku (GAS) series.)
With the Advent calendar finished, Philip is surely returning to some more regular puzzles, right?

Quadruples Sudoku by Philip Newman

PDF

or solve online (using SudokuPad)

Theme: Just A Fib

Author/Opus: This is the 71st puzzle from Philip Newman, 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). Numbers in white circles must appear in at least one of the four surrounding cells.

GAS Time Standards (highlight to view): Two party hats (🎩🥳): 8:00; One party hat (🥳): 16:00. All other solvers earn a 🦕: Hustlin’ Huayracursor.

Thomas Hits the GAS (highlight to view): 2:33, 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.

Disjoint Groups Sudoku by Bill Murphy

(This post is part of the Genuinely Approachable Sudoku (GAS) series.)
Today’s Classic seeming grid is anything but. There is a 4th constraint to consider as the same relative location in each region must have distinct numbers from 1-9 throughout the grid.

Disjoint Groups Sudoku by Bill Murphy

PDF

or solve online (using SudokuPad)

Theme: Battery Death

Author/Opus: This is the 68th 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, numbers cannot repeat in the same relative position (e.g., the upper-left cell or center cell) within different regions.

GAS Time Standards (highlight to view): Two party hats (🎩🥳): 6:00; One party hat (🥳): 11:00. All other solvers earn a 🦕: December Delapparentia.

Thomas Hits the GAS (highlight to view): 2:17, 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.

Between Lines Clone Sudoku by clover!

(This post is part of the Genuinely Approachable Sudoku (GAS) series.)
This paired variation merges some “between lines” with repeated clone shapes that look like Candy Canes in a Christmas Day puzzle from clover!

Between Lines Clone Sudoku by clover!

PDF

or solve online (using SudokuPad)

Theme: Candy Canes

Author/Opus: This is the 89th puzzle from Clover, 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). Numbers along each line must have values strictly between the values of the two numbers in the circle cells bounding that particular line. (For example, R1C3, R1C2, R1C1, R2C1, and R3C1 must have values between 1 and 7, the values in R1C4 and R4C1.) Additionally, each shaded, connected shape (“clone”) in the grid must include the same numbers in the same positions with no rotations or reflections. Numbers may repeat within a clone.

GAS Time Standards (highlight to view): Two party hats (🎩🥳): 6:00; One party hat (🥳): 11:00. All other solvers earn a 🦕: Yuletide Yulong.

Thomas Hits the GAS (highlight to view): 1:44, 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 and solving video with explanation 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.

Arrow Sudoku by Philip Newman

(This post is part of the Genuinely Approachable Sudoku (GAS) series.)
Today’s Genuinely Approachable Sudoku is actually three 6×6 Arrow Sudoku: a real “Buy None Get Three” treat. Note: Grid “22” is much more difficult than “23” and “24” despite similar appearances and considered a “bonus”.

Arrow Sudoku by Philip Newman

PDF

or solve grid 22 online (*Harder bonus)
or solve grid 23 online
or solve grid 24 online (all using SudokuPad)

Theme: Buy None Get Three

Author/Opus: This is the 70th puzzle from Philip Newman, part of the Genuinely Approachable Sudoku (GAS) team.

Rules: Standard Arrow Sudoku rules: Insert a number from 1 to 6 into each cell so that no number repeats in any row, column, or bold region). Some arrow shapes are in the grid; the sum of the numbers along the path of each arrow must equal the number in the circled cell. Numbers can repeat within an arrow shape.

GAS Time Standards (highlight to view): Note that today the hat times apply to the combined times for grids 23 and 24; 22 is a bonus for top solvers to try to also do with the others within the hat times. Two party hats (🎩🥳): 6:00; One party hat (🥳): 12:00. All other solvers earn a 🦕: Free-Range Faveoloolithid.

Thomas Hits the GAS (highlight to view): 3:26 (22) + 0:37 (23) + 0:33 (24), with SudokuPad replay files for 22, 23, 24 all shared as downloads for now (requires loading via settings menu with improvements expected before people should use this regularly).

Solution: PDF and solving video with explanation from GAS team.

Note: Follow this link for more Arrow Sudoku. If you are new to this puzzle type, here are our easiest Arrow Sudoku to get started on. More Arrow Sudoku puzzles can be found in these books in our e-store.

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.

Expanded Sudoku by Bill Murphy

(This post is part of the Genuinely Approachable Sudoku (GAS) series.)
As another holiday approaches, enjoy this two for one special from Bill Murphy where two Sudoku grids overlap in four of their regions.

Expanded Sudoku by Bill Murphy

PDF

or solve online (using SudokuPad)

Author/Opus: This is the 67th puzzle from Bill Murphy, part of the Genuinely Approachable Sudoku (GAS) team.

Rules: This puzzle contains two overlapping 9×9 classic Sudoku grids that will share the same numbers in the overlapping spaces. Insert a number from 1 to 9 into each cell so that no number repeats in any row, column, or bold region of either Sudoku grid.

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

Thomas Hits the GAS (highlight to view): 3:19, 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 and solving video with explanation 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.

Ratio Pairs Thermo-Sudoku by clover!

(This post is part of the Genuinely Approachable Sudoku (GAS) series.)
The recent and remarkable set of paired variations by clover! continues with some thermometer shapes and some black dots indicating doubled values.

Ratio Pairs Thermo-Sudoku by clover!

PDF

or solve online (using SudokuPad)

Theme: Polka Dots

Author/Opus: This is the 88th puzzle from Clover, 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). If a black circle is given between two adjacent cells, then the two numbers must have a ratio of 2. Pairs of cells without circles can have any relationship. Also, some thermometer shapes are in the grid; numbers must be strictly increasing from the round bulb to the flat end.

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

Thomas Hits the GAS (highlight to view): 3:10, 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 and solving video with explanation 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.