or solve online (using our beta test of Penpa-Edit tools)
Theme: None?
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 = 2:00, Master = 2:30, Expert = 5:00
Solution: PDF
or solve online (using our beta test of Penpa-Edit tools)
Theme: Logical; after solving: did you notice that starting in the upper-left corner you can fill in all the tetrominoes in L-I-T-S-L-I-T-S-L-… order?
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 = 1:30, Master = 2:00, Expert = 4:00
Solution: PDF
Editor’s Note: Welcome to “LITS Week” where we will introduce another puzzle style to Grandmaster Puzzles’ repertoire. Please check out our Rules and Info page for LITS, including a new example puzzle, if you are not familiar with the type.
or solve online (using our beta test of Penpa-Edit tools)
Theme: % sign
Rules: Standard Statue Park rules. Note: despite the presentation of shapes above, all shapes can be reflected if necessary.
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
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.
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: MM
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 = 2:00, Master = 2:45, Expert = 5:30
Solution: PDF
Editor’s Note: It is with great pleasure that we add Palmer Mebane to our list of Contributing Puzzlemasters this week with a set of rather interesting and challenging puzzles. One of the top puzzle solvers in the world (the current US Puzzle Champion and a past World Puzzle Champion), Palmer is also a phenomenal puzzle designer as anyone who has followed his puzzles in the past should know.
or solve online (using our beta test of Penpa-Edit tools)
This is a “Twisted Tuesday” puzzle variation.
Theme: None
Rules: Variation of Star Battle. There are still two stars per row and column, but instead of regions there is an irregular grid. Stars cannot be placed in adjacent cells that share an edge or corner.
Answer String: For each row from top to bottom, enter the number of the first column from the left where a star appears (gray numbers at the top of the puzzle here are given to help). Enter these numbers as a single string with no separators.
Time Standards (highlight to view): Grandmaster = 1:30, Master = 2:30, Expert = 5:00
Solution: PDF
or solve online (using our beta test of Penpa-Edit tools in edgex mode where left click+drag draws lines and right click marks X’s)
Theme: Deja Vu?
Rules: Standard Slitherlink rules.
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 = 1:10, Master = 1:30, Expert = 3:00
Solution: 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)
This is a “Twisted Tuesday” puzzle variation.
Theme: Hidden Clues
Rules: Standard Cave rules. Also, no number may directly connect to/”see” another number within horizontally or vertically connected cells.
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 = 2:15, Master = 3:00, Expert = 6:00
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 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: Mirror
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. If the row is empty, enter 0. Enter these numbers as a single string with no separators.
Time Standards (highlight to view): Grandmaster = 0:40, Master = 0:50, Expert = 1:10
Solution: 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.)
This is a “Twisted Tuesday” puzzle variation.
Theme: LITS
Rules: Standard Tapa rules. Also, the Tapa wall must be able to be partitioned into tetrominoes, with no two tetrominoes of the same shape (L, I, T, or S in a tetromino sense allowing for rotations and reflections) sharing an edge. In other words, this Tapa must also form a valid solution shape for a LITS puzzle.
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 = 1:45, Master = 3:15, Expert = 6:30
Solution: 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 number entry mode.)
Theme: 28 “dice”
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 7th row, followed by a comma, followed by the 7th column.
Time Standards (highlight to view): Grandmaster = 1:40, 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.