PDF

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

Theme: All for one, or one for all?

Author/Opus: This is the 542nd (A), 542nd (B) puzzle from Thomas Snyder, aka Dr. Sudoku.

Rules: One of these grids obeys standard Sudoku rules with a unique solution. Solve the Sudoku. The other grid is a Just One Cell Sudoku. This grid has many, many solutions, with only one empty cell that is fixed to one value in all solutions. Find that cell’s location and value.

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

Solution: PDF and solving animation.

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

Note 2: Comments on the blog are great! For a more interactive discussion, please also consider using our The Twelve Days of Sudoku Discussion post on the GMPuzzles Discord.

Note 3: Please check lesson notes from Dr. Sudoku on Google Docs.

PDF

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

Theme: Blossom

Author/Opus: This is the 541st puzzle from Thomas Snyder, aka Dr. Sudoku.

Rules: Standard Sudoku rules.

Time Standards (highlight to view): Grandmaster = 4:15, Master = 7:00, Expert = 14:00

Solution: PDF and solving animation.

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

Note 2: Comments on the blog are great! For a more interactive discussion, please also consider using our The Twelve Days of Sudoku Discussion post on the GMPuzzles Discord.

Note 3: Please check lesson notes from Dr. Sudoku.

PDF

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

Theme: Ceci n’est pas un hot-dog

Author/Opus: This is the 540th puzzle from Thomas Snyder, aka Dr. Sudoku.

Rules: Standard Sudoku rules.

Time Standards (highlight to view): Grandmaster = 2:45, Master = 5:00, Expert = 10:00

Solution: PDF and solving animation.

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

Note 2: Comments on the blog are great! For a more interactive discussion, please also consider using our The Twelve Days of Sudoku Discussion post on the GMPuzzles Discord.

Note 3: Please check lesson notes from Dr. Sudoku.

PDF

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

Theme: The Loneliest Number

Author/Opus: This is the 539th puzzle from Thomas Snyder, aka Dr. Sudoku.

Rules: Standard Sudoku rules.

Time Standards (highlight to view): Grandmaster = 7:00, Master = 14:30, Expert = 29:00

Solution: PDF and solving animation or this Cracking the Cryptic video.

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

Note 2: Comments on the blog are great! For a more interactive discussion, please also consider using our The Twelve Days of Sudoku Discussion post on the GMPuzzles Discord.

Note 3: Please check lesson notes from Dr. Sudoku.

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

(Thanks to FoxFireX for sharing an observation on this Latin phrase as being perfectly suited for a sudoku. While implemented differently here, FoxFireX will get a prize at the next leaderboard update for forecasting the future.)

PDF

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

Author/Opus: This is the 538th puzzle from Thomas Snyder, aka Dr. Sudoku.

Rules: Standard Sudoku rules.

Time Standards (highlight to view): Grandmaster = 3:30, Master = 6:30, Expert = 13:00

Solution: PDF and solving animation.

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

Note 2: Comments on the blog are great! For a more interactive discussion, please also consider using our The Twelve Days of Sudoku Discussion post on the GMPuzzles Discord.

Note 3: Please check lesson notes from Dr. Sudoku.

PDF

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

Theme: One Small Step 4 2-getherness, One Giant Leap 2 4-get

Author/Opus: This is the 537th (A), 537th (B) puzzle from Thomas Snyder, aka Dr. Sudoku.

Rules: Standard Sudoku rules.

Time Standards (highlight to view): Grandmaster = 11:00, Master = 17:00, Expert = 34:00

Solution: PDF and solving animation.

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

Note 2: Comments on the blog are great! For a more interactive discussion, please also consider using our The Twelve Days of Sudoku Discussion post on the GMPuzzles Discord.

Note 3: Please check lesson notes from Dr. Sudoku.

PDF

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

Theme: Forty-five

Author/Opus: This is the 536th puzzle from Thomas Snyder, aka Dr. Sudoku.

Rules: In this puzzle, your job is to place a number into every empty box so that each row across, each column down, and each small 9-box square within the large square (there are 9 of these) will contain each number from 1 through 9. Remember that no number may appear more than once in any row across, any column down, or within any small 9-box square; this will help you solve the puzzle.

Time Standards (highlight to view): Grandmaster = 1:00, Master = 1:45, Expert = 3:30

Solution: PDF and solving animation.

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

Note 2: Comments on the blog are great! For a more interactive discussion, please also consider using our The Twelve Days of Sudoku Discussion post on the GMPuzzles Discord.

Note 3: Please check lesson notes from Dr. Sudoku.

PDF

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

Theme: Hand-wrapped Gift

Author/Opus: This is the 535th puzzle from Thomas Snyder, aka Dr. Sudoku.

Rules: Standard Sudoku rules.

Time Standards (highlight to view): Grandmaster = 2:00, Master = 4:00, Expert = 8:00

Solution: PDF and solving animation.

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

Note 2: Comments on the blog are great! For a more interactive discussion, please also consider using our The Twelve Days of Sudoku Discussion post on the GMPuzzles Discord.

Note 3: Please check lesson notes from Dr. Sudoku.

This is a free “warm-up” puzzle; Season 4 subscribers will see today’s main puzzle in the same style posted at 9:05 AM PT.

PDF

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.)

Author/Opus: This is the 505th puzzle from our managing editor Serkan Yürekli.

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.

Difficulty: 1.5 stars

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

Solution: PDF and solving animation.

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 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 12 Discussion post on the GMPuzzles Discord.