(view image directly for a larger format.)

PDF

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: Group Think

Rules: Standard Tapa 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. A double-digit number should have both digits entered.

Time Standards (highlight to view): Grandmaster = 2:15, Master = 4:30, Expert = 9:00

Solution: PDF

Editorial Note: If you have been enjoying Serkan’s puzzles, you may want to try SudokuCup 10 this weekend where he has provided all the sudoku puzzles. And daily Tapa puzzles continue to be at Logic Masters India for the Classic Tapa Contest. Serkan is indeed the Puzzle Robot.

PDF

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

This is a “Franken-Friday” puzzle variation.

Theme: Logical

Rules: Standard Skyscrapers rules. Also, the digits do not repeat along the two main diagonals.

Answer String: Enter the 3rd row from left to right, followed by a comma, followed by the 4th row from left to right.

Time Standards (highlight to view): Grandmaster = 3:30, Master = 5:15, Expert = 10:30

Solution: PDF

PDF

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: 4×4×4 – a puzzle with symmetric odd clue squares along the main diagonal.

Rules: Standard Cave rules.

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 = 5:15, Master = 8:15, Expert = 16:30

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.

PDF

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

This is a “Franken-Friday” puzzle variation.

Theme: Logical

Rules: Standard Cross the Streams rules, except that the puzzle uses an early number system that only has the concepts of “one” and “many”. All number clues greater than 1 are represented by a + symbol.

Answer String: Enter the length in cells of each of the black segments from top to bottom for the marked columns, going in order from A to B to C to D and separating each entry with a comma.

Time Standards (highlight to view): Grandmaster = 3:15, Master = 6:30, Expert = 13:00

Solution: PDF

Editorial Note: This variation was inspired by a puzzle on a recent Tapa Variations Contest by Serkan Yürekli. A new Tapa Variations Contest runs this weekend for those that are interested.

PDF

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

Theme: 4x4x4 – A puzzle with lots of tetromino cages packed into 4×4 squares.

Rules: Standard TomTom rules, using digits from 1-8.

Answer String: Enter the 5th row from left to right, followed by a comma, followed by the 7th column from top to bottom.

Time Standards (highlight to view): Grandmaster = 6:00, Master = 7:45, Expert = 15:30

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.

PDF

or solve online (using our beta test of Penpa-Edit tools; use tab to alternate between edgex mode where left click+drag draws lines and right click marks X’s and a shading mode to mark true/false clues.)

This is a “Franken-Friday” puzzle variation.

Theme: Logical

Rules: Variation of standard Slitherlink rules. Exactly one clue in each row and column is lying and must represent a different number.

Answer String: Enter the length in cells of each of the internal loop 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 = 6:45, Master = 12:00, Expert = 24:00

Solution: PDF

PDF

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

Theme: Threes Frame; an extra large Cross the Streams puzzle by its inventor, Grant Fikes, marking his 50th post here.

Rules: Standard Cross the Streams rules.

Answer String: Enter the length in cells of each of the black segments from top to bottom for the marked columns, going in order from A to B to C to D and separating each entry with a comma.

Time Standards (highlight to view): Grandmaster = 8:00, Master = 14:00, Expert = 28:00

Solution: PDF

PDF

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

Theme: Odds and Evens

Rules: Fill each row and column of the grid with the numbers 1-5 and two blackened cells. Numbers outside the grid indicate the sum of the digits between the two blackened cells in that row/column. Blackened cells are allowed to touch. Or see here.

Answer String: Enter the 4th row from left to right, followed by a comma, followed by the 6th row from left to right. Use an X (capital letter) for each blackened square.

Time Standards (highlight to view): Grandmaster = 2:15, Master = 2:55, Expert = 5:50

Solution: PDF

(View image directly for larger form.)

PDF

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: No border clues

Rules: Standard Tapa 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 = 3:00, Master = 5:00, Expert = 10:00

Solution: PDF

PDF

or solve online (using our beta test of Penpa-Edit tools using a composite mode where left click inside cell shades square, left click + drag draws line segment, right click inside cell adds dot, and right click on cell edge adds an x.)

Theme: Railroad Crossing (“Tren” means train in Turkish.)

Rules: Locate some blocks in the grid, either 1×2 or 1×3 in size, with each block containing one of the given numbers. A block’s number must indicate the total possible movement of the block along either direction in its long direction, where it is blocked only by an edge of the grid or another block. Or see here.

Answer String: Enter the size of consecutive groups of cells that belong to blocks in each marked row from left to right, separating each row with a comma (ie 151,22,44,22).

Time Standards (highlight to view): Grandmaster = 5:00, Master = 7:30, Expert = 15:00

Solution: PDF