Archive for the ‘Puzzle’ Category:

Cave by Thomas Snyder

Cave by Thomas Snyder

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: Diagonal Series

Author/Opus: This is the 163rd 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 = 3:30, Master = 5:45, Expert = 11:30

Solution: PDF; a solution video is available here.

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.

TomTom (Different Number Set) by Grant Fikes

TomTom by Grant Fikes

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

Theme: P is for Prime

Author/Opus: This is the 90.5th* puzzle from our contributing puzzlemaster Grant Fikes. (*we enumerated wrong a long time ago and can’t fully adjust now)

Rules: Standard TomTom rules, using the indicated set of integers {2,3,5,7,11,13}.

Answer String: Enter the 3rd row from left to right, followed by a comma, followed by the 5th row from left to right. Use both digits for any two digit numbers (for instance “23571113,…”)

Time Standards (highlight to view): Grandmaster = 2:15, Master = 3:30, Expert = 7:00

Solution: PDF

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

Tight Fit Sudoku by Thomas Snyder

Tight Fit Sudoku by Thomas Snyder

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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: Diagonal Series

Author/Opus: This is the 162nd puzzle from Thomas Snyder aka Dr. Sudoku.

Rules: Standard Tight Fit Sudoku rules. Remember, the smaller number goes above the larger number in all slashed cells. The range of this puzzle is 1-9.

Answer String: Enter the 2nd row from left to right, followed by a comma, followed by the 6th row from left to right. (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 = 2:00, Master = 3:00, Expert = 6:00

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.

Nurikabe Loop by Serkan Yürekli

Nurikabe Loop by Serkan Yürekli

PDF

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

Theme: An Odd Introduction

Author/Opus: This is the 30th puzzle from our contributing puzzlemaster Serkan Yürekli.

Rules: In this variation of Nurikabe, the no 2×2 ocean rule is removed and instead all ocean cells must belong to a single closed loop.

Specifically: Divide the grid into regions called “islands”, each containing exactly one of the given numbers and with the same area as that number. Islands can only touch diagonally. A single closed loop (without intersection or crossings) must be drawn in all remaining cells.

Nurikabe Loop by Serkan Yürekli

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. This example has the key “12,3”.

Time Standards (highlight to view): Grandmaster = 0:45, Master = 1:20, Expert = 2:40

Solution: PDF

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

Kurotto by Prasanna Seshadri

Kurotto by Prasanna Seshadri

PDF

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

Theme: Verticality

Author/Opus: This is the 12th puzzle from our contributing puzzlemaster Prasanna Seshadri.

Rules: Standard Kurotto 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 with a comma.

Time Standards (highlight to view): Grandmaster = 4:00, Master = 6:00, Expert = 12:00

Solution: PDF

Note: This is our first week of Kurotto puzzles. Follow this link for other Kurotto puzzles. If you are new to this puzzle type, here are our easiest Kurotto to get started on.

Kurotto by Murat Can Tonta

Kurotto by Murat Can Tonta

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

Theme: Even Dominoes

Author/Opus: This is the 1st puzzle from guest contributor Murat Can Tonta.

Rules: Standard Kurotto 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 with a comma.

Time Standards (highlight to view): Grandmaster = 2:45, Master = 4:30, Expert = 9:00

Solution: PDF

Note: This is our first week of Kurotto puzzles. Follow this link for other Kurotto puzzles. If you are new to this puzzle type, here are our easiest Kurotto to get started on.

Kurotto by Grant Fikes

Kurotto by Grant Fikes

PDF

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

Theme: Knight Moves

Author/Opus: This is the 90th puzzle from our contributing puzzlemaster Grant Fikes.

Rules: Standard Kurotto 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 with a comma.

Time Standards (highlight to view): Grandmaster = 2:00, Master = 3:00, Expert = 6:00

Solution: PDF

Note: This is our first week of Kurotto puzzles. Follow this link for other Kurotto puzzles. If you are new to this puzzle type, here are our easiest Kurotto to get started on.

Kurotto by Serkan Yürekli

Kurotto by Serkan Yürekli

PDF

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

Theme: Four Squares

Author/Opus: This is the 29th puzzle from our contributing puzzlemaster Serkan Yürekli.

Rules: Standard Kurotto 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 with a comma.

Time Standards (highlight to view): Grandmaster = 1:20, Master = 2:15, Expert = 4:30

Solution: PDF

Note: This is our first week of Kurotto puzzles. Follow this link for other Kurotto puzzles. If you are new to this puzzle type, here are our easiest Kurotto to get started on.

Kurotto by Grant Fikes

Kurotto by Grant Fikes

PDF

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

Theme: Triples

Author/Opus: This is the 89th puzzle from our contributing puzzlemaster Grant Fikes.

Rules: Standard Kurotto 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 with a comma.

Time Standards (highlight to view): Grandmaster = 1:15, Master = 1:45, Expert = 3:30

Solution: PDF

Note: This is our second Kurotto puzzle; if you are new to this puzzle type please first try out the example on the Rules and Info and yesterday’s puzzle.

Kurotto by Grant Fikes

Kurotto by Grant Fikes

PDF

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

Theme: Clue Symmetry and Logic

Author/Opus: This is the 88th puzzle from our contributing puzzlemaster Grant Fikes.

Rules: Standard Kurotto 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 with a comma.

Time Standards (highlight to view): Grandmaster = 1:15, Master = 1:45, Expert = 3:30

Solution: PDF

Note: This is our first Kurotto puzzle; if you are new to this puzzle type please first try out the example on the Rules and Info page.