Archive for the ‘Puzzle’ Category:

Trio Sudoku by clover!

(This post is part of the Genuinely Approachable Sudoku (GAS) series.)
Is this three puzzles in one or one puzzle in thirds? You decide as you solve each of the three groups of numbers.

Trio Sudoku by clover!

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or solve online (using SudokuPad)

Theme: Three Rolled Into One

Author/Opus: This is the 100th 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. Also, orange circles contain numbers from {1, 2, 3}, blue squares contain numbers from {4, 5, 6}, and blank cells contain numbers from {7, 8, 9}.

GAS Time Standards (highlight to view): Two party hats (🎩🥳): 5:00; One party hat (🥳): 10:00. All other solvers earn a 🦕: three-way Thescelosaurus.

Thomas Hits the GAS (highlight to view): 1:21, 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.

German Whispers Sudoku by Philip Newman

(This post is part of the Genuinely Approachable Sudoku (GAS) series.)
The world turns and turns and the German Whispers just follow along in “This Murmur Coil” puzzle by Philip Newman.

German Whispers Sudoku by Philip Newman

PDF

or solve online (using SudokuPad)

Theme: This Murmur Coil

Author/Opus: This is the 81st 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 cells directly connected on a green line must differ by at least 5.

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

Thomas Hits the GAS (highlight to view): 3:47, 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.

Diagonal Sudoku by Bill Murphy

(This post is part of the Genuinely Approachable Sudoku (GAS) series.)
When it comes to safely packing numbers into a grid, some might consider the 28th and 29th constraints (the diagonal bands) last since they seem “extra”. How will your filling of this Diagonal Sudoku go?

Diagonal Sudoku by Bill Murphy

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or solve online (using SudokuPad)

Theme: Safety Last

Author/Opus: This is the 78th 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 on the marked diagonals.

GAS Time Standards (highlight to view): Two party hats (🎩🥳): 8:30; One party hat (🥳): 16:00. All other solvers earn a 🦕: Farewelling Ferganasaurus.

Thomas Hits the GAS (highlight to view): 2:24, 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.

Even Sandwich Sudoku by clover!

(This post is part of the Genuinely Approachable Sudoku (GAS) series.)
What do you do when you get mad? Today, consider getting Even … Sandwich Sudoku as solving a puzzle might calm your nerves a bit.

Even Sandwich Sudoku by clover!

PDF

or solve online (using SudokuPad)

Theme: Don’t Get Mad, Get Even Sandwich

Author/Opus: This is the 99th 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. Also, the clues outside the grid indicate all numbers in that row or column surrounded by even numbers on both sides (“sandwiched”). Clues can be given in any order, and all such numbers are given. If no clue is given, there may be any count of values (including no values) sandwiched between even numbers in that row or column.

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

Thomas Hits the GAS (highlight to view): 2:02, 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.

X-Sams Sudoku by Philip Newman

(This post is part of the Genuinely Approachable Sudoku (GAS) series.)
This quirky combo is new to GAS, though its components aren’t: clues outside the grid are both X-Sums and Sandwich clues!

X-Sams Sudoku by Philip Newman

PDF

or solve online (using SudokuPad)

Author/Opus: This is the 80th 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). The clues outside the grid indicate the sum of the first X numbers placed in the corresponding direction, where X is equal to the first number placed in that direction (e.g., if R9C3 is 4, then the four numbers in R9C3 (i.e., 4), R8C3, R7C3, and R6C3 all add up to 10). Clues outside the grid also give the sum of numbers in the cells between the 1 and the 9 in that row or column.

GAS Time Standards (highlight to view): Two party hats (🎩🥳): 6:30; One party hat (🥳): 13:00. All other solvers earn a 🦕: Mixed Megapleurocoelus.

Thomas Hits the GAS (highlight to view): 4:04, 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.

Killer Quadruples Sudoku by Bill Murphy

(This post is part of the Genuinely Approachable Sudoku (GAS) series.)
With both cages and digits confined within 4-cell groups, this puzzle will have you connecting different thoughts to get through to the finish.

Killer Quadruples Sudoku by Bill Murphy

PDF

or solve online (using SudokuPad)

Theme: Taking It Easy

Author/Opus: This is the 77th 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). Numbers in white circles must appear in at least one of the four surrounding cells. The sum of the numbers in each cage must equal the value given in the upper-left corner of that cage. Numbers cannot repeat inside a cage.

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

Thomas Hits the GAS (highlight to view): 3:25, 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.

Sum Next to Nine Sudoku by clover!

(This post is part of the Genuinely Approachable Sudoku (GAS) series.)
Today’s GAS involves a bit of neighborly addition: Each outside clue shows the sum of the numbers (one or two) around the nine in the row or column.

Sum Next to Nine Sudoku by clover!

PDF

or solve online (using SudokuPad)

Theme: Sums Are My Favorite Things

Author/Opus: This is the 98th 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). Clues outside the grid indicate the sum of the number(s) immediately adjacent to the 9 in that row or column. For instance, R8C7 and R8C9 sum to 6. If there is only one number next to 9, the outside clue gives the value of that number.

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

Thomas Hits the GAS (highlight to view): 2:39, 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 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.

159 (Column Indexer) Arrow Sudoku by Philip Newman

(This post is part of the Genuinely Approachable Sudoku (GAS) series.)
If you haven’t tried a 159 (or other Column Indexer) before, you might check out the previous GAS featuring this variant. Today’s offering adds Arrows to the mix!

Column Indexer Arrow Sudoku by Philip Newman

PDF

or solve online (using SudokuPad)

Author/Opus: This is the 79th puzzle from Philip Newman, part of the Genuinely Approachable Sudoku (GAS) team.

Rules: Standard Arrow Sudoku rules: Insert a number from 1 to 9 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.

Also, the cells marked in red are column indexers. In this puzzle, 1, 5, and 9 are the column indexers. If the number X is in a red cell in column Y in a given row, then in the same row the number Y is in column X. (For example, if in the second row there is a 2 in column 1 in the red column indexer, then the 1 in that row is in column 2; similarly, if there is a 5 in column 7 of the bottom row, that would mean column 5 of the bottom row contains a 7 because of where the 5 would be indexed.)

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

Thomas Hits the GAS (highlight to view): 2:35, 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.

Count Different (Circles) Sudoku by Bill Murphy

(This post is part of the Genuinely Approachable Sudoku (GAS) series.)
Some cells in this Sudoku indicate how many different numbers sit around them; this new limitation may be enough to get you going in today’s GAS.

Count Different (Circles) Sudoku by Bill Murphy

PDF

or solve online (using SudokuPad)

Author/Opus: This is the 76th 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). The number in each circle indicates how many unique values can appear in the 8 surrounding cells.

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

Thomas Hits the GAS (highlight to view): 2:06, 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.

Average Arrow Sudoku by clover!

(This post is part of the Genuinely Approachable Sudoku (GAS) series.)
Warning to those who don’t read titles (so maybe this text won’t help either?): this is not an Arrow Sudoku but a variation with the average of all numbers on an arrow’s path represented in the circle.

Average Arrow Sudoku by clover!

PDF

or solve online (using SudokuPad)

Theme: Min-Maxed Means

Author/Opus: This is the 97th 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). Some arrow shapes are in the grid; the number in the circled cell is equal to the average of all numbers along the arrow. (For example, as R2C4 = 3, the average of R1C2, R1C3, and R1C4 is 3.)

GAS Time Standards (highlight to view): Two party hats (🎩🥳): 7:30; One party hat (🥳): 14:00. All other solvers earn a 🦕: calculating Kosmoceratops.

Thomas Hits the GAS (highlight to view): 1:59, 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.