Araf by Thomas Snyder

Araf by Thomas Snyder

PDF

or solve online (using our beta test of Penpa-Edit tools; use tab to alternate between a composite mode for line/edge drawing and a shading mode.)

Theme: Aisles

Author/Opus: This is the 177th puzzle from Thomas Snyder, aka Dr. Sudoku.

Rules: Divide the grid into some regions formed of edge-adjacent squares. Each cell is part of one region, and each region should contain exactly two given numbers. Each region must have an area that is strictly between those numbers (This means, for two number clues A and B with A < B, the area C fulfills A < C < B).

Araf Example

Answer String: Enter the number of cells in each connected group (between bold lines) in the marked rows. For the example above, this is “34,121111,4111”.

Time Standards (highlight to view): Grandmaster = 0:45, Master = 1:15, Expert = 2:30

Solution: PDF

Note: Araf is a relatively new puzzle for us on GMPuzzles. Follow this link for other Araf.

TomTom by Grant Fikes

TomTom by Grant Fikes

PDF

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

Theme: Hourglass

Author/Opus: This is the 103rd puzzle from our contributing puzzlemaster Grant Fikes.

Rules: Standard TomTom rules, using the integers 1-6.

Answer String: Enter the 1st row from left to right, followed by a comma, followed by the 6th row from left to right.

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

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.

Battleships by Thomas Snyder

Battleships by Thomas Snyder

PDF

or solve online (using our beta test of Penpa-Edit tools; use tab to alternate between ship placement and shading modes. In ship placement mode, right click gives sea, left click gives circle/square, left click and drag for rounded ships.)

Theme: Logic and Near Symmetry (the row and column clues break into mostly symmetric groups)

Author/Opus: This is the 176th puzzle from Thomas Snyder, aka Dr. Sudoku.

Rules: Standard Battleships rules. Use the indicated fleet.

Answer String: For each row from top to bottom, enter the number of the first column from the left where a ship segment appears (enter both digits if a two-digit number). If the row is empty, enter 0. Enter these numbers as a single string with no separators.

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

Solution: PDF

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

Bonus: Statue Park by Serkan Yürekli

Statue Park by Serkan Yürekli

PDF

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

Theme: Open Middle (Note: this puzzle originally appeared in this year’s 24HPC.)

Author/Opus: This is the 40th puzzle from our contributing puzzlemaster Serkan Yürekli.

Rules: Standard Statue Park 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 from the next with a comma.

Time Standards (highlight to view): Grandmaster = 3:15, Master = 4:00, Expert = 8:00

Solution: PDF

Note: Follow this link for other Statue Park Puzzles. If you are new to this puzzle type, here are our easiest Statue Parks to get started on.

Skyscrapers by Roland Voigt

Skyscrapers by Roland Voigt

PDF

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

Theme: Equal Distribution and Symmetry of Clue Numbers

Author/Opus: This is the 5th puzzle from guest contributor Roland Voigt.

Rules: Standard Skyscrapers rules.

Answer String: Enter the 1st row from left to right, followed by a comma, followed by the 6th row from left to right.

Time Standards (highlight to view): Grandmaster = 4:45, Master = 6:00, Expert = 12:00

Solution: PDF

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

Bonus: Nanro by Serkan Yürekli

Nanro by Serkan Yürekli

PDF

or solve online (using our beta test of Penpa-Edit tools; use the tab key to alternate between shading and number entry modes)

Theme: Clue Symmetry and Logic (Note: this puzzle originally appeared in this year’s 24HPC.)

Author/Opus: This is the 39th puzzle from our contributing puzzlemaster Serkan Yürekli.

Rules: Standard Nanro rules.

Answer String: Enter the length in cells of each of the segments labeled with numbers from left to right for the marked rows, starting at the top. Separate each row’s entry from the next with a comma.

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

Solution: PDF

Note: Click here for other Nanro puzzles. If you are new to this puzzle type, please first try out the example on the Rules and Info page as well as this easy Nanro post.

Skyscrapers by Roland Voigt

Skyscrapers by Roland Voigt

PDF

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

Theme: Almost Symmetric Fours

Author/Opus: This is the 3rd puzzle from guest contributor Roland Voigt.

Rules: Standard Skyscrapers rules.

Answer String: Enter the 1st row from left to right, followed by a comma, followed by the 5th row from left to right.

Time Standards (highlight to view): Grandmaster = 1:45, Master = 3:15, Expert = 6:30

Solution: PDF

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

Bonus: Killer Sudoku by Serkan Yürekli

Killer Sudoku by Serkan Yürekli

PDF

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

Theme: Clue Symmetry and Logic (Note: this puzzle originally appeared in this year’s 24HPC. It is a bonus puzzle here but is harder than Monday difficulty)

Author/Opus: This is the 38th puzzle from our contributing puzzlemaster Serkan Yürekli.

Rules: Variation of Sudoku rules (no repeats in any rows, columns, or bold regions) with numbers 1-8. 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.

Answer String: Enter the 3rd row from left to right, followed by a comma, followed by the 8th row from left to right.

Time Standards (highlight to view): Grandmaster = 3:00, Master = 4:15, Expert = 8:30

Solution: PDF

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.

Skyscrapers by Roland Voigt

Skyscrapers by Roland Voigt

PDF

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

Theme: Equal Distribution and Symmetry of Clue Numbers

Author/Opus: This is the 1st puzzle from guest contributor Roland Voigt.

Rules: Standard Skyscrapers rules.

Answer String: Enter the 1st row from left to right, followed by a comma, followed by the 5th row from left to right.

Time Standards (highlight to view): Grandmaster = 0:40, Master = 1:15, Expert = 2:30

Solution: PDF

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

Ripple Effect by Grant Fikes

Ripple Effect by Grant Fikes

PDF

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

Theme: Near Maximal Difficulty with Near Minimal Givens

Author/Opus: This is the 101st puzzle from our contributing puzzlemaster Grant Fikes.

Rules: Place a number into each cell so that each region contains the numbers 1 to N, where N is the size of the region. A cell with the number M must have at least M cells between it and any other instance of the same number M in that row or column.

Answer String: Enter the numbers in the marked rows in order from left to right, separating the rows with a comma. Start with the 5th row, followed by a comma, followed by the 9th row.

Time Standards (highlight to view): Grandmaster = 5:15, Master = 9:30, Expert = 19:00

Solution: PDF; a solution video is available here.