Archive for the ‘Sudoku’ Category:

Matryoshka-Thermo-Kropki Pairs Sudoku by Philip Newman

(This post is part of the Genuinely Approachable Sudoku (GAS) series.)
For Thanksgiving, a special combination of three grids has been arranged by Philip. Is there enough GAS to cook this bird before the feast starts?

Matryoshka-Thermo-Kropki Pairs Sudoku by Philip Newman

PDF

or solve online (using SudokuPad)

Theme: Nesting Birds

Author/Opus: This is the 61st puzzle from Philip Newman, part of the Genuinely Approachable Sudoku (GAS) team.

Rules: This puzzle combines three grids and rule sets. Within each grid, each cell will contain a number from 1-N (either 1-5, 1-7, or 1-9) so that each row, column, and in the larger grids each outlined region has all the numbers exactly once. The top and bottom rows of these grids overlap as shown (including along the dotted lines); the same numbers complete the respective spaces of two grids.

1-5 Latin Square with Thermo rule: Numbers must be strictly increasing from the round bulb to the flat end of each thermometer shape.

1-7 Sudoku with Kropki Pairs rule: If a white circle is given between two adjacent cells, then the two numbers in those cells must differ by 1. 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.

1-9 Classic Sudoku: Follows the basic number entry rules above with no extra rules.

GAS Time Standards (highlight to view): Two party hats (🎩🥳): 12:00; One party hat (🥳): 25:00. All other solvers earn a 🦕: Thankful Thotobolosaurus.

Thomas Hits the GAS (highlight to view): 4:49, 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.)
Bill seems to keep copying this given number pattern while finding more and more ways to not have the “Copycats” be any less interesting than the first. Enjoy today’s German Whispers version.

German Whispers Sudoku by Bill Murphy

PDF

or solve online (using SudokuPad)

Theme: Copycats

Author/Opus: This is the 58th 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 🦕: Samuel’s Sauroniops.

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.

Clone Lines Sudoku by clover!

(This post is part of the Genuinely Approachable Sudoku (GAS) series.)
This line puzzle is certainly a very different experience from usual. Can you figure out the incredible logic of the Scottish Whispers?

Clone Lines Sudoku by clover!

PDF

or solve online (using SudokuPad)

Theme: Scottish Whispers

Author/Opus: This is the 79th 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). Each line contains exactly one distinct number.

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

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.

Thermo-Sudoku by Philip Newman

(This post is part of the Genuinely Approachable Sudoku (GAS) series.)
Another Thermo-Sudoku in this past week for GAS, but this time with a slightly higher temperature meaning some harder logic to work through.

Thermo-Sudoku by Philip Newman

PDF

or solve online (using SudokuPad)

Theme: Completely Unexpected Thermo

Author/Opus: This is the 60th puzzle from Philip Newman, part of the Genuinely Approachable Sudoku (GAS) team.

Rules: Standard Thermo-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 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 (🥳): 15:00. All other solvers earn a 🦕: Professional Pachysauriscus.

Thomas Hits the GAS (highlight to view): 3:21, 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 and solving video with explanation from GAS team.

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 these books in our e-store. Also, visit this page to purchase all of the puzzles from the 16th World Sudoku Championship including some Thermo-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.

Consecutive Pairs Sudoku by Bill Murphy

(This post is part of the Genuinely Approachable Sudoku (GAS) series.)
A familiar pattern of Bill’s returns today, this time with some consecutive pairs marked that might be part of the light needed to solve the Sudoku.

Consecutive Pairs Sudoku by Bill Murphy

PDF

or solve online (using SudokuPad)

Theme: Light Night Mountains All That

Author/Opus: This is the 57th 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). 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 (🎩🥳): 6:30; One party hat (🥳): 12:00. All other solvers earn a 🦕: Next Up Nemegtosaurus.

Thomas Hits the GAS (highlight to view): 1:27, 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 Consecutive Pairs Sudoku puzzles on this website. If you are new to this puzzle type, here are our easiest Consecutive Pairs Sudoku to get started on. More Consecutive Pairs 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 Week 10 Discussion post on the GMPuzzles Discord.

Rossini Sudoku by clover!

(This post is part of the Genuinely Approachable Sudoku (GAS) series.)
Following an earlier puzzle this week, today the Rossini rules are in full effect meaning there is an inverse rule and non-arrow rows/columns cannot have any of Rossini’s trademark crescendos/decrescendos in the form of increasing or decreasing series of numbers.

Rossini Sudoku by clover!

PDF

or solve online (using SudokuPad)

Theme: William Tell

Author/Opus: This is the 78th 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). Whenever an arrow is given outside the grid, the first three numbers in that row or column must increase in the direction of the arrow. For example, the arrow at the left of row 3 means R3C1 < R3C2 < R3C3. Also, all possible arrows have been given so where there are no arrows on the outside there cannot be an increasing or decreasing series (i.e., the middle number is the largest or smallest of the set of three numbers). GAS Time Standards (highlight to view): Two party hats (🎩🥳): 7:30; One party hat (🥳): 14:00. All other solvers earn a 🦕: romantic Rhabdodon.

Thomas Hits the GAS (highlight to view): 3:00, 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 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 has a set of numbers all sitting at the ends of some arrows. Can you figure your way back to the start of each of these clues?

Arrow Sudoku by Philip Newman

PDF

or solve online (using SudokuPad)

Theme: Pairadox of the Arrow

Author/Opus: This is the 59th 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.

GAS Time Standards (highlight to view): Two party hats (🎩🥳): 6:00; One party hat (🥳): 14:00. All other solvers earn a 🦕: Gaming Gressylosaurus.

Thomas Hits the GAS (highlight to view): 2:28, 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.

Thermo-Sudoku by Bill Murphy

(This post is part of the Genuinely Approachable Sudoku (GAS) series.)
This Thermo-Sudoku by Bill might come with just a little bit of kick as you figure out how to get everything settled.

Thermo-Sudoku by Bill Murphy

PDF

or solve online (using SudokuPad)

Theme: Kick

Author/Opus: This is the 56th puzzle from Bill Murphy, part of the Genuinely Approachable Sudoku (GAS) team.

Rules: Standard Thermo-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 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 (🎩🥳): 6:30; One party hat (🥳): 12:00. All other solvers earn a 🦕: Hot Stuff Hadrosaurus.

Thomas Hits the GAS (highlight to view): 1:57, 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 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 these books in our e-store. Also, visit this page to purchase all of the puzzles from the 16th World Sudoku Championship including some Thermo-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.

Parity Lines Sudoku by Thomas Snyder

(This post is part of: “A Story of Self-setting Sudoku”.)
Today marks our 100th Mini Sudoku post on LinkedIn. If I had a paperclip for every time someone has played Mini Sudoku over that time, my guess is I’d have somewhere between 100 million and a billion paperclips? That seems pretty cool. (Note to self: never become a billionaire in the currency of paperclips.)

Parity Lines Sudoku by Thomas Snyder

PDF

or solve online (using SudokuPad)

Theme: 100: A Big Celebration for a Mini Milestone

Author/Opus: This is the 606th puzzle from Thomas Snyder, aka Dr. 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 in cells directly connected by a red line must alternate between even (2, 4, 6 , 8) and odd (1, 3, 5, 7, 9) numbers.

Estimated Difficulty: 2 stars

Solution: PDF.

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 Twelve Months of Sudoku? post on the GMPuzzles Discord. Not a member of the Discord? Click this link for basic access.

Rossini (No Inverse) Sudoku by clover!

(This post is part of the Genuinely Approachable Sudoku (GAS) series.)
While the variant name seems like a mouthful, it comes from the origin with an anti-rule that doesn’t apply here. Today, just recognize that arrow clues describe increasing or decreasing series for the first three numbers in that direction.

Rossini (No Inverse) Sudoku by clover!

PDF

or solve online (using SudokuPad)

Theme: The Barber of Seville

Author/Opus: This is the 77th 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). Whenever an arrow is given outside the grid, the first three numbers in that row or column must increase in the direction of the arrow. For example, the arrow at the left of row 4 means R4C1 < R4C2 < R4C3 and the arrow at the left of row 9 means R9C1 > R9C2 > R9C3. (The absence of an outside arrow clue has no meaning in this puzzle unlike “standard” Rossini Sudoku.)

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

Thomas Hits the GAS (highlight to view): 1:40, 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.