Archive for the ‘Puzzle’ Category:

X-Sums Sudoku by Bill Murphy

(This post is part of the Genuinely Approachable Sudoku (GAS) series.)
Even I had a joyful smile from Bill picking a really nice visual theme to follow up on earlier outside clue puzzle idea from 9 days ago. The rhyming grids hav been some great GAS for my imagination these last two months. Enjoy the puzzle.

X-Sums Sudoku by Bill Murphy

PDF

or solve online (using SudokuPad)

Theme: All Futures

Author/Opus: This is the 49th 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, 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 R1C1 is 3, then the three numbers in R1C1 (i.e., 3) and R2C1 and R3C1 all add up to 18.

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

Thomas Hits the GAS (highlight to view): 2:05, 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.

Skyscraper Sudoku by clover!

(This post is part of the Genuinely Approachable Sudoku (GAS) series.)
More seriously: Today’s GAS combines the puzzle style Skyscrapers with Sudoku, forcing you to think of each number’s height when making your placements. Less seriously: Did you also look at the theme and wonder “6 7 8?” Kind of an adult version of “6 7?” You’ll have to think to get these three numbers in the grid.

Skyscraper Sudoku by clover!

PDF

or solve online (using SudokuPad)

Author/Opus: This is the 70th 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, as in the puzzle Skyscrapers, each number in the grid represents the height of a building and the clues on the outside of the grid indicate how many buildings can be “seen” when looking from that direction. Taller buildings block the view of smaller buildings. For example, if a row contained the numbers 198432675, then two buildings are seen from the left – 1 and 9 – and four buildings from the right – 5, 7, 8 and 9 – with the other buildings blocked by taller buildings in front of them.

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

Thomas Hits the GAS (highlight to view): 2:16, 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. 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. More Skyscrapers puzzles can be found in The Art of Puzzles, in our beginner-friendly collection Intro to GMPuzzles by Serkan Yürekli, and in the e-book Skyscrapers by Ashish Kumar.

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.

Fortress XVXV Pairs Sudoku by Philip Newman

(This post is part of the Genuinely Approachable Sudoku (GAS) series.)
Philip brings another two-variation Sudoku with this Fortress (gray cells larger than surrounding white cells) and XVXV Pairs (5/10/15 edge sums) challenge. It should make you go “?” for sure, but “Will It GAS?”

Fortress XVXV Pairs Sudoku by Philip Newman

PDF

or solve online (using SudokuPad)

Theme: Will It GAS?

Author/Opus: This is the 51st 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). A number in a gray cell must be larger than any number in an adjacent white cell that shares an edge. (To assist solvers, this is shown like a greater than/less than shape in how the gray cells are drawn.) Also, whenever a V, X, or XV reflecting the numbers 5, 10, or 15 in Roman numerals, is placed on the edge between cells, the numbers in the two adjacent cells must sum to exactly 5, 10, or 15. (Pairs of cells without a V, X or XV can have any sum value.)

GAS Time Standards (highlight to view): Two party hats (🎩🥳): 7:30; One party hat (🥳): 16:00. All other solvers earn a 🦕: Protective Punatitan.

Thomas Hits the GAS (highlight to view): 4:16, 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.

Renban Sudoku by Bill Murphy

(This post is part of the Genuinely Approachable Sudoku (GAS) series.)
Bill’s line pattern from a few days ago returns as the glue for this interesting Renban Sudoku.

Renban Sudoku by Bill Murphy

PDF

or solve online (using SudokuPad)

Theme: Increasingly Obsolete

Author/Opus: This is the 48th 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 along each line must form a non-repeating consecutive set, in any order. (For example, a 4-cell Renban line could be 4352, but not 5679 or 2312.)

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

Thomas Hits the GAS (highlight to view): 2:22, 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 clover!

(This post is part of the Genuinely Approachable Sudoku (GAS) series.)
In this Arrow Sudoku, all the arrows’ sums are known but does that make the solving path easy to find?

Arrow Sudoku by clover!

PDF

or solve online (using SudokuPad)

Author/Opus: This is the 69th puzzle from Clover, 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.

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

Thomas Hits the GAS (highlight to view): 2:00, 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 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.

Anti-King Consecutive Pairs Sudoku by Philip Newman

(This post is part of the Genuinely Approachable Sudoku (GAS) series.)
Philip closes the month out with some Sudoku with multiple rule sets. In today’s GAS he combines Anti-King and Consecutive Pairs ideas to make a singularly challenging puzzle.

Anti-King Consecutive Pairs Sudoku by Philip Newman

PDF

or solve online (using SudokuPad)

Theme: Line of Succession

Author/Opus: This is the 50th 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, cells sharing a corner cannot contain the same number (as if adding a chess king’s move constraint to each cell). Also, if a white circle is given between two adjacent cells, then the two numbers in those cells must differ by 1. Pairs of cells without circles can have any relationship.

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

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 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.

German Whispers Sudoku by Bill Murphy

(This post is part of the Genuinely Approachable Sudoku (GAS) series.)
This incredible line pattern yields a fun German Whispers Sudoku from Bill Murphy.

German Whispers Sudoku by Bill Murphy

PDF

or solve online (using SudokuPad)

Theme: Selfish High Heels

Author/Opus: This is the 47th 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 cells directly connected on a green line must differ by at least 5.

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

Thomas Hits the GAS (highlight to view): 3:13, 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.

Killer Sudoku by clover!

(This post is part of the Genuinely Approachable Sudoku (GAS) series.)
Today’s Killer Sudoku is a very interesting construction; will you be able to find the solution path intended by clover!?

Killer Sudoku by clover!

PDF

or solve online (using SudokuPad)

Author/Opus: This is the 68th 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 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 (🎩🥳): 7:00; One party hat (🥳): 13:00. All other solvers earn a 🦕: big Bicentenaria.

Thomas Hits the GAS (highlight to view): 2:18, 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 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.

German Whispers Sudoku by Philip Newman

(This post is part of the Genuinely Approachable Sudoku (GAS) series.)
Can you work out a path of logic around this large German Whispers shape?

German Whispers Sudoku by Philip Newman

PDF

or solve online (using SudokuPad)

Theme: Cubist Phase

Author/Opus: This is the 49th 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 (🎩🥳): 8:00; One party hat (🥳): 18:00. All other solvers earn a 🦕: Calm Cathetosaurus.

Thomas Hits the GAS (highlight to view): 4:38, 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.

Sandwich Sudoku by Bill Murphy

(This post is part of the Genuinely Approachable Sudoku (GAS) series.)
This Sandwich Sudoku serves up an extra helping of approachable logic. Can you solve this puzzle by Bill Murphy?

Sandwich Sudoku by Bill Murphy

PDF

or solve online (using SudokuPad)

Theme: American Food

Author/Opus: This is the 46th 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 the sum of numbers in the cells between the 1 and the 9 in that row or column. (For example, the 11 clue in row 2 means R2C3 + R2C4 + R2C5 = 11 as those are the cells between the 9 in R2C2 and the 1 in R2C6.)

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

Thomas Hits the GAS (highlight to view): 2:25, 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 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.