Archive for the ‘Puzzle’ Category:

Statue Park by David Altizio

Statue Park by David Altizio

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

Theme: Off by One

Author/Opus: This is the 8th puzzle from guest contributor David Altizio.

Rules: Standard Statue Park rules. This puzzle uses a double tetromino set.

Difficulty: 1.5 stars

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

Solution: PDF and solving video.

Note: Follow this link for other classic Statue Park and this link for Statue Park variations. If you are new to this puzzle type, here are our easiest Statue Parks to get started on. More Statue Park puzzles can be found in the ebook Statue Park by Murat Can Tonta.

Statue Park by Grant Fikes

Statue Park by Grant Fikes

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

Theme: Magic Mirror

Author/Opus: This is the 370th puzzle from our contributing puzzlemaster Grant Fikes.

Rules: Standard Statue Park rules. This puzzle uses a standard tetromino set.

Difficulty: 1.5 stars

Time Standards (highlight to view): Grandmaster = 1:00, Master = 1:15, Expert = 2:30

Solution: PDF and solving video.

Note: Follow this link for other classic Statue Park and this link for Statue Park variations. If you are new to this puzzle type, here are our easiest Statue Parks to get started on. More Statue Park puzzles can be found in the ebook Statue Park by Murat Can Tonta.

Kakuro (Nonconsecutive) by Thomas Snyder

Kakuro by Thomas Snyder

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

Theme: 2022

Author/Opus: This is the 410th puzzle from Thomas Snyder, aka Dr. Sudoku.

Rules: Standard Kakuro rules. Also, no two consecutive digits (i.e., digits that differ by 1) can be in cells that share an edge.

Difficulty: 4.5 stars

Time Standards (highlight to view): Grandmaster = 10:00, Master = 14:30, Expert = 29:00

Solution: PDF; a solution video is also available here.

Note: Follow this link for classic Kakuro and this link for Kakuro variations. More Kakuro puzzles can be found in Kakuro and Variations by Serkan Yürekli and in The Art of Puzzles 2.

Kakuro (Hex) by Murat Can Tonta

Kakuro by Murat Can Tonta

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

Theme: Black Hexagon

Author/Opus: This is the 221st puzzle from our contributing puzzlemaster Murat Can Tonta.

Rules: Standard Kakuro rules except on a hexagonal grid: Fill all empty hexes with digits from 1-9 so that all number clues (in white) indicate the sum of the digits in that direction. Digits cannot repeat in any entry (i.e., any group of hexes connected either horizontally or in one of the two diagonal directions, without any black cells separating them). This no repeat rule applies even for unclued entries.

Difficulty: 4 stars

Time Standards (highlight to view): Grandmaster = 7:45, Master = 10:00, Expert = 20:00

Solution: PDF; a solution video is also available here.

Note: Follow this link for classic Kakuro and this link for Kakuro variations. More Kakuro puzzles can be found in Kakuro and Variations by Serkan Yürekli and in The Art of Puzzles 2.

Kakuro by David Altizio

Kakuro by David Altizio

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

Theme: F Pentominoes

Author/Opus: This is the 7th puzzle from guest contributor David Altizio.

Rules: Standard Kakuro rules.

Difficulty: 3.5 stars

Time Standards (highlight to view): Grandmaster = 4:45, Master = 8:00, Expert = 16:00

Solution: PDF; a solution video is also available here.

Note: Follow this link for classic Kakuro and this link for Kakuro variations. More Kakuro puzzles can be found in Kakuro and Variations by Serkan Yürekli and in The Art of Puzzles 2.

Kakuro by Grant Fikes

Kakuro by Grant Fikes

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

Theme: What Are the Odds?

Author/Opus: This is the 369th puzzle from our contributing puzzlemaster Grant Fikes.

Rules: Standard Kakuro rules.

Difficulty: 3 stars

Time Standards (highlight to view): Grandmaster = 3:00, Master = 4:45, Expert = 9:30

Solution: PDF; a solution video is also available here.

Note: Follow this link for classic Kakuro and this link for Kakuro variations. More Kakuro puzzles can be found in Kakuro and Variations by Serkan Yürekli and in The Art of Puzzles 2.

Kakuro (No Touch) by Takeya Saikachi

Kakuro by Takeya Saikachi

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

Theme: Y’s for Kakuro

Author/Opus: This is the 15th puzzle from guest contributor Takeya Saikachi.

Rules: Standard Kakuro rules. Also, identical digits cannot be in diagonally adjacent cells.

Difficulty: 2.5 stars

Time Standards (highlight to view): Grandmaster = 2:45, Master = 3:30, Expert = 7:00

Solution: PDF; a solution video is also available here.

Note: Follow this link for classic Kakuro and this link for Kakuro variations. More Kakuro puzzles can be found in Kakuro and Variations by Serkan Yürekli and in The Art of Puzzles 2.

Kakuro by Serkan Yürekli

Kakuro by Serkan Yürekli

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

Theme: Big and Small

Author/Opus: This is the 365th puzzle from our managing editor Serkan Yürekli.

Rules: Standard Kakuro rules.

Difficulty: 1 star

Time Standards (highlight to view): Grandmaster = 0:50, Master = 1:05, Expert = 2:10

Solution: PDF; a solution video is also available here.

Note: Follow this link for classic Kakuro and this link for Kakuro variations. More Kakuro puzzles can be found in Kakuro and Variations by Serkan Yürekli and in The Art of Puzzles 2.

Balance Loop (Inequality) by Prasanna Seshadri

Balance Loop by Prasanna Seshadri

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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)

Theme: Twins in Rings

Author/Opus: This is the 231st puzzle from our contributing puzzlemaster Prasanna Seshadri.

Rules: (Standard Balance Loop rules.) Draw a single, non-intersecting loop that passes through all circled cells. All white circles must have equal segment lengths on both sides of the circle before turning. All black circles must have unequal segment lengths on both sides of the circle before turning. Numbers indicate the sum of the segment lengths on both sides of the circle.

Also, number clues are not fully specified and must strictly follow the inequality values given.

See also this example:

Balance Loop (Inequality) Example by Serkan Yürekli

Difficulty: 4.5 stars

Time Standards (highlight to view): Grandmaster = 9:00, Master = 13:15, Expert = 26:30

Solution: PDF; a solution video is also available here.

Note: Follow this link for other Balance Loop puzzles. If you are new to this puzzle type, here are our easiest Balance Loop Puzzles to get started on. More Balance Loops can be found in our beginner-friendly collection Intro to GMPuzzles by Serkan Yürekli and in Balance Loop by Prasanna Seshadri and Murat Can Tonta.

Thermo-Sudoku by Thomas Snyder

Thermo-Sudoku by Thomas Snyder

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

Theme: 3/25

Author/Opus: This is the 409th puzzle from Thomas Snyder, aka Dr. Sudoku.

Rules: Standard Thermo-Sudoku rules.

Difficulty: 4.5 stars

Time Standards (highlight to view): Grandmaster = 10:00, Master = 17:30, Expert = 35:00

Solution: PDF; a solution video from the Cracking the Cryptic team is available here. Thomas may come back to write a “how this was made” type video in the coming weeks but the CtC solve captures most of the intended logic.

Note: Follow this link for more Thermo-Sudoku puzzles. If you are new to this puzzle type, here are our easiest Thermo-Sudoku to get started on. More Thermo-Sudoku puzzles can be found in The Art of Sudoku 2 and Masterpiece Sudoku Mix 2.