PDF

or solve online (using our beta test of Penpa-Edit tools; use tab to alternate between Sudoku number entry mode and two modes, Shape and Surface, to manage the domino inventory.)

Theme: Double Domino
(Hidden shapes include a complete double-eight domino set. Double dominoes have been “doubled over” to fit within one square. Hidden names include J.S. Bach, Gabriel Faure, John Cage, and various chordal progressions and crossword game vocabulary.)

Author/Opus: This is the 9th puzzle from our contributing puzzlemaster John Bulten.

Rules: Standard Sudoku rules, using the letters A-H and a blank. Also, as in Shape Sudoku, there are some lettered shapes given beneath the grid that must be put in their proper places inside the grid; and, as in Battleship Sudoku, their proper places are indicated only partially. (Partial shape clues in the grid are not lettered but do not necessarily indicate the location of blanks.) The shapes can be rotated, but cannot be reflected; they can touch but cannot overlap.

Answer String: Enter the 3rd row from left to right, followed by a comma, followed by the 3rd column from top to bottom. (Use the capital letters A-H; use X for a blank.)

Time Standards (highlight to view): Grandmaster = 12:00, Master = 21:00, Expert = 42:00

Solution: PDF

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

PDF

or solve online (using our beta test of Penpa-Edit tools; use tab to alternate between Sudoku number entry mode and a shading mode to manage the shape inventory.)

Theme: Zero X

Author/Opus: This is the 56th puzzle from our contributing puzzlemaster Serkan Yürekli.

Rules: Standard Shape Sudoku rules.

Answer String: Enter the 2nd column from top to bottom, followed by a comma, followed by the 5th column from top to bottom.

Time Standards (highlight to view): Grandmaster = 2:30, Master = 3:30, Expert = 7:00

Solution: PDF

Note: Follow this link for other less common variations of Sudoku. Many specific variations of Sudoku have their own categories in the sidebar to the left. Follow this link for classic Sudoku.

PDF

or solve online (using our beta test of Penpa-Edit tools; use tab to alternate between Sudoku number entry mode and a shading mode to manage the shape inventory.)

This is a “Franken-Friday” puzzle variation.

Theme: Squares of Squares (a pattern slightly reminiscent of last Friday‘s puzzle)

Rules: Standard Shape Sudoku rules.

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

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

Solution: PDF

PDF

or solve online (using our beta test of Penpa-Edit tools; use tab to alternate between Sudoku number entry mode and a shading mode to manage the shape inventory.)

This is a “Franken-Friday” puzzle variation.

Theme: Plus Signs

Rules: Standard Shape Sudoku rules.

Answer String: Enter the 9th row from left to right, followed by a comma, followed by the 4th column from top to bottom.

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

Solution: PDF