or solve online (using our beta test of Penpa-Edit tools)
Theme: Three Tees?
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 = 4:15, Expert = 8:30
Solution: PDF
or solve online (using our beta test of Penpa-Edit tools)
Theme: Gift
Rules: Standard Star Battle rules. Two stars per row, column, and region. Note: the coloring is just to emphasize the theme and is not involved in the solve.
Answer String: For each row from top to bottom, enter the number of the first column from the left where a star appears. Enter these numbers as a single string with no separators.
Time Standards (highlight to view): Grandmaster = 4:00, Master = 6:00, Expert = 12:00
Solution: PDF
Note: Follow this link for other classic Star Battles and this link for Star Battle variations. If you are new to this puzzle type, here are our easiest Star Battles to get started on. More Star Battle puzzles can be found in The Art of Puzzles, in the book Star Battle by JinHoo Ahn, and in our beginner-friendly collection Intro to GMPuzzles by Serkan Yürekli.
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 number entry mode.)
Theme: 28 Dice (Opus #8 in Grant’s series with 28 1-6 clues)
Rules: Standard Fillomino rules.
Answer String: For each cell in the marked rows/columns, enter the area of the polyomino it belongs to. Start with the 4th row, followed by a comma, followed by the 7th row.
Time Standards (highlight to view): Grandmaster = 2:00, Master = 2:30, Expert = 5:00
Solution: PDF
Note: Follow this link for other classic Fillomino and this link for more variations on Fillomino puzzles. If you are new to this puzzle type, here are our easiest Fillomino puzzles to get started on.
or solve online (using our beta test of Penpa-Edit tools)
Theme: 12/23
Rules: Standard Yajilin rules.
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.
Time Standards (highlight to view): Grandmaster = 0:40, Master = 1:00, Expert = 2:00
Solution: PDF
(view image directly for a larger form)
or solve online (using our beta test of Penpa-Edit tools)
Theme: 2013 XMas Tree
Rules: Place a digit from 0 to 3 into each area so that no two areas that touch (even diagonally) share the same digit.
Answer String: Enter the row marked A from left to right, followed by a comma, followed by the column marked B from top to bottom.
Time Standards (highlight to view): Grandmaster = 6:00, Master = 10:00, Expert = 20:00
Solution: PDF
or solve online (using our beta test of Penpa-Edit tools)
Theme: XMas Tree
Rules: Standard Thermo-Sudoku rules.
Answer String: Enter the 1st column from top to bottom, followed by a comma, followed by the 9th column from top to bottom.
Time Standards (highlight to view): Grandmaster = 5:00, Master = 7:15, Expert = 14:30
Solution: PDF
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.
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: Grouped Clues
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 = 3:00, Master = 4:15, Expert = 8:30
Solution: PDF
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.
or solve online (using our beta test of Penpa-Edit tools; use tab to shift between shading mode and the composite Yajilin mode where left click marks cells, right click marks dots in cells or X’s on edges, left click+drag draws lines.)
Theme: Threes
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 = 1:00, Master = 1:45, Expert = 3:30
Solution: PDF
or solve online (using our beta test of Penpa-Edit tools)
Theme: It’s Sudoku Time
Rules: Standard Arrow Sudoku rules.
Answer String: Enter the 4th row from left to right, followed by a comma, followed by the 8th row from left to right.
Time Standards (highlight to view): Grandmaster = 4:30, Master = 6:45, Expert = 13:30
Solution: PDF
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 The Art of Sudoku 2.
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: Anti-Symmetry
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.
Time Standards (highlight to view): Grandmaster = 2:00, Master = 3:30, Expert = 7:00
Solution: PDF