(This post is part of the Genuinely Approachable Sudoku (GAS) series.)
Sometimes the first workday after a long holiday (like the recent Thanksgiving in the US) can throw you for a loop. We don’t know if that is clover’s motivation today, but this combination of a Loop puzzle and a Sudoku will make you think more creatively than usual.

PDF

or solve online (using SudokuPad; this should now default to loading with the Pen tool on (people who already clicked may need to clear their browser cache for the short url). The pen tool looks like a square icon containing a circle and a bent line, next to the big 9 used to select the main number entry. Hitting those adjacent icons should let you alternate between entering numbers and loop segments. It is also at the top of the Settings menu (gear symbol) to turn on. Thanks to Michael in the comments for helping us get this on by default.)

Theme: Tangled Up in Loop

Author/Opus: This is the 81st puzzle from Clover, part of the Genuinely Approachable Sudoku (GAS) team.

Rules: Insert a number from 1 to 9 into each cell so that no number repeats in any row, column, or bold region. Also, draw a single, non-intersecting loop that passes through all cells except for the gray central cell, moving only up, down, left, or right between cells. The loop must travel straight through every cell with an odd number and turn in every cell with an even number.

GAS Time Standards (highlight to view): Two party hats (🎩🥳): 10:00; One party hat (🥳): 20:00. All other solvers earn a 🦕: knotty Nodosaurus.

Thomas Hits the GAS (highlight to view): 3:00, with SudokuPad replay file shared as a download for now (requires loading via settings menu with improvements expected before people should use this regularly).

Solution: PDF and solving video with explanation from GAS team.

Note: Follow this link for other less common variations of Sudoku.

Note 2: Comments on the blog are great! For a more interactive discussion, please also consider using our Daily GAS discussion post on the GMPuzzles Discord. Not a member of the Discord? Click this link for basic access.

(This post is part of the Genuinely Approachable Sudoku (GAS) series.)
Following Philip’s Nested Birds on Thanksgiving, there are some sudoku fillings left over to make sandwiches for awhile. Enjoy today’s “Leftovers” where the clues describe the sum of numbers between the 1 and 9.

PDF

or solve online (using SudokuPad)

Theme: Leftovers

Author/Opus: This is the 62nd puzzle from Philip Newman, part of the Genuinely Approachable Sudoku (GAS) team.

Rules: Standard Sudoku rules (insert a number from 1 to 9 into each cell so that no number repeats in any row, column, or bold region). Clues outside the grid give the sum of numbers in the cells between the 1 and the 9 in that row or column.

GAS Time Standards (highlight to view): Two party hats (🎩🥳): 6:00; One party hat (🥳): 13:00. All other solvers earn a 🦕: Peckish Plaetosaurid.

Thomas Hits the GAS (highlight to view): 2:22, with SudokuPad replay file shared as a download for now (requires loading via settings menu with improvements expected before people should use this regularly).

Solution: PDF; solving video with explanation to be added later from GAS team.

Note: Follow this link for other less common variations of Sudoku.

Note 2: Comments on the blog are great! For a more interactive discussion, please also consider using our Daily GAS discussion post on the GMPuzzles Discord. Not a member of the Discord? Click this link for basic access.

(This post is part of the Genuinely Approachable Sudoku (GAS) series.)
For those in the US who want to purchase a Black Friday Sudoku, consider this buy one get one deal guaranteed to fuel the brain!

PDF

or solve online (using SudokuPad)

Theme: Buy One, Get One

Author/Opus: This is the 80th puzzle from Clover, part of the Genuinely Approachable Sudoku (GAS) team.

Rules: This puzzle contains two overlapping 9×9 classic Sudoku grids that will share the same numbers in the overlapping spaces. Insert a number from 1 to 9 into each cell so that no number repeats in any row, column, or bold region of either Sudoku grid.

GAS Time Standards (highlight to view): Two party hats (🎩🥳): 7:00; One party hat (🥳): 13:00. All other solvers earn a 🦕: bulky Bellusaurus.

Thomas Hits the GAS (highlight to view): 2:14, with SudokuPad replay file shared as a download for now (requires loading via settings menu with improvements expected before people should use this regularly).

Solution: PDF and solving video with explanation from GAS team.

Note: Follow this link for other less common variations of Sudoku.

Note 2: Comments on the blog are great! For a more interactive discussion, please also consider using our Daily GAS discussion post on the GMPuzzles Discord. Not a member of the Discord? Click this link for basic access.

(This post is part of the Genuinely Approachable Sudoku (GAS) series.)
For Thanksgiving, a special combination of three grids has been arranged by Philip. Is there enough GAS to cook this bird before the feast starts?

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or solve online (using SudokuPad)

Theme: Nesting Birds

Author/Opus: This is the 61st puzzle from Philip Newman, part of the Genuinely Approachable Sudoku (GAS) team.

Rules: This puzzle combines three grids and rule sets. Within each grid, each cell will contain a number from 1-N (either 1-5, 1-7, or 1-9) so that each row, column, and in the larger grids each outlined region has all the numbers exactly once. The top and bottom rows of these grids overlap as shown (including along the dotted lines); the same numbers complete the respective spaces of two grids.

1-5 Latin Square with Thermo rule: Numbers must be strictly increasing from the round bulb to the flat end of each thermometer shape.

1-7 Sudoku with Kropki Pairs rule: If a white circle is given between two adjacent cells, then the two numbers in those cells must differ by 1. If a black circle is given between two adjacent cells, then the two numbers must have a ratio of 2. Pairs of cells without circles can have any relationship.

1-9 Classic Sudoku: Follows the basic number entry rules above with no extra rules.

GAS Time Standards (highlight to view): Two party hats (🎩🥳): 12:00; One party hat (🥳): 25:00. All other solvers earn a 🦕: Thankful Thotobolosaurus.

Thomas Hits the GAS (highlight to view): 4:49, with SudokuPad replay file shared as a download for now (requires loading via settings menu with improvements expected before people should use this regularly).

Solution: PDF and solving video with explanation from GAS team.

Note: Follow this link for other less common variations of Sudoku.

Note 2: Comments on the blog are great! For a more interactive discussion, please also consider using our Daily GAS discussion post on the GMPuzzles Discord. Not a member of the Discord? Click this link for basic access.

(This post is part of the Genuinely Approachable Sudoku (GAS) series.)
Bill seems to keep copying this given number pattern while finding more and more ways to not have the “Copycats” be any less interesting than the first. Enjoy today’s German Whispers version.

PDF

or solve online (using SudokuPad)

Theme: Copycats

Author/Opus: This is the 58th puzzle from Bill Murphy, part of the Genuinely Approachable Sudoku (GAS) team.

Rules: Standard Sudoku rules (insert a number from 1 to 9 into each cell so that no number repeats in any row, column, or bold region). Numbers in cells directly connected on a green line must differ by at least 5.

GAS Time Standards (highlight to view): Two party hats (🎩🥳): 6:30; One party hat (🥳): 12:00. All other solvers earn a 🦕: Samuel’s Sauroniops.

Thomas Hits the GAS (highlight to view): 2:35, with SudokuPad replay file shared as a download for now (requires loading via settings menu with improvements expected before people should use this regularly).

Solution: PDF and solving video with explanation from GAS team.

Note: Follow this link for other less common variations of Sudoku.

Note 2: Comments on the blog are great! For a more interactive discussion, please also consider using our Daily GAS discussion post on the GMPuzzles Discord. Not a member of the Discord? Click this link for basic access.

(This post is part of the Genuinely Approachable Sudoku (GAS) series.)
This line puzzle is certainly a very different experience from usual. Can you figure out the incredible logic of the Scottish Whispers?

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or solve online (using SudokuPad)

Theme: Scottish Whispers

Author/Opus: This is the 79th puzzle from Clover, part of the Genuinely Approachable Sudoku (GAS) team.

Rules: Standard Sudoku rules (insert a number from 1 to 9 into each cell so that no number repeats in any row, column, or bold region). Each line contains exactly one distinct number.

GAS Time Standards (highlight to view): Two party hats (🎩🥳): 7:00; One party hat (🥳): 13:00. All other solvers earn a 🦕: Scottish Scolosaurus.

Thomas Hits the GAS (highlight to view): 2:22, with SudokuPad replay file shared as a download for now (requires loading via settings menu with improvements expected before people should use this regularly).

Solution: PDF and solving video with explanation from GAS team.

Note: Follow this link for other less common variations of Sudoku.

Note 2: Comments on the blog are great! For a more interactive discussion, please also consider using our Daily GAS discussion post on the GMPuzzles Discord. Not a member of the Discord? Click this link for basic access.

(This post is part of the Genuinely Approachable Sudoku (GAS) series.)
Following an earlier puzzle this week, today the Rossini rules are in full effect meaning there is an inverse rule and non-arrow rows/columns cannot have any of Rossini’s trademark crescendos/decrescendos in the form of increasing or decreasing series of numbers.

PDF

or solve online (using SudokuPad)

Theme: William Tell

Author/Opus: This is the 78th puzzle from Clover, part of the Genuinely Approachable Sudoku (GAS) team.

Rules: Standard Sudoku rules (insert a number from 1 to 9 into each cell so that no number repeats in any row, column, or bold region). Whenever an arrow is given outside the grid, the first three numbers in that row or column must increase in the direction of the arrow. For example, the arrow at the left of row 3 means R3C1 < R3C2 < R3C3. Also, all possible arrows have been given so where there are no arrows on the outside there cannot be an increasing or decreasing series (i.e., the middle number is the largest or smallest of the set of three numbers). GAS Time Standards (highlight to view): Two party hats (🎩🥳): 7:30; One party hat (🥳): 14:00. All other solvers earn a 🦕: romantic Rhabdodon.

Thomas Hits the GAS (highlight to view): 3:00, with SudokuPad replay file shared as a download for now (requires loading via settings menu with improvements expected before people should use this regularly).

Solution: PDF and solving video with explanation from GAS team.

Note: Follow this link for other less common variations of Sudoku.

Note 2: Comments on the blog are great! For a more interactive discussion, please also consider using our Daily GAS discussion post on the GMPuzzles Discord. Not a member of the Discord? Click this link for basic access.

(This post is part of: “A Story of Self-setting Sudoku”.)
Today marks our 100th Mini Sudoku post on LinkedIn. If I had a paperclip for every time someone has played Mini Sudoku over that time, my guess is I’d have somewhere between 100 million and a billion paperclips? That seems pretty cool. (Note to self: never become a billionaire in the currency of paperclips.)

PDF

or solve online (using SudokuPad)

Theme: 100: A Big Celebration for a Mini Milestone

Author/Opus: This is the 606th puzzle from Thomas Snyder, aka Dr. Sudoku.

Rules: Insert a number from 1 to 9 into each cell so that no number repeats in any row, column, or bold region. Also, numbers in cells directly connected by a red line must alternate between even (2, 4, 6 , 8) and odd (1, 3, 5, 7, 9) numbers.

Estimated Difficulty: 2 stars

Solution: PDF.

Note: Follow this link for other less common variations of Sudoku.

Note 2: Comments on the blog are great! For a more interactive discussion, please also consider using our Twelve Months of Sudoku? post on the GMPuzzles Discord. Not a member of the Discord? Click this link for basic access.

(This post is part of the Genuinely Approachable Sudoku (GAS) series.)
While the variant name seems like a mouthful, it comes from the origin with an anti-rule that doesn’t apply here. Today, just recognize that arrow clues describe increasing or decreasing series for the first three numbers in that direction.

PDF

or solve online (using SudokuPad)

Theme: The Barber of Seville

Author/Opus: This is the 77th puzzle from Clover, part of the Genuinely Approachable Sudoku (GAS) team.

Rules: Standard Sudoku rules (insert a number from 1 to 9 into each cell so that no number repeats in any row, column, or bold region). Whenever an arrow is given outside the grid, the first three numbers in that row or column must increase in the direction of the arrow. For example, the arrow at the left of row 4 means R4C1 < R4C2 < R4C3 and the arrow at the left of row 9 means R9C1 > R9C2 > R9C3. (The absence of an outside arrow clue has no meaning in this puzzle unlike “standard” Rossini Sudoku.)

GAS Time Standards (highlight to view): Two party hats (🎩🥳): 6:00; One party hat (🥳): 11:00. All other solvers earn a 🦕: operatic Orkoraptor.

Thomas Hits the GAS (highlight to view): 1:40, with SudokuPad replay file shared as a download for now (requires loading via settings menu with improvements expected before people should use this regularly).

Solution: PDF and solving video with explanation from GAS team.

Note: Follow this link for other less common variations of Sudoku.

Note 2: Comments on the blog are great! For a more interactive discussion, please also consider using our Daily GAS discussion post on the GMPuzzles Discord. Not a member of the Discord? Click this link for basic access.

(This post is part of the Genuinely Approachable Sudoku (GAS) series.)
This Sudoku combines a hidden constraint (no consecutive numbers can share an edge) with some very obvious zones that might be useful too. How will you do on today’s GAS?

PDF

or solve online (using SudokuPad)

Author’s Note: A simpler version with additional clues can be found here in SudokuPad and here as a PDF for those not as into “negative constraints” like Nonconsecutive.

Author/Opus: This is the 55th puzzle from Bill Murphy, part of the Genuinely Approachable Sudoku (GAS) team.

Rules: Standard Sudoku rules (insert a number from 1 to 9 into each cell so that no number repeats in any row, column, or bold region). Numbers in the top left of each cage must appear in those cages. All numbers in adjacent cells must be nonconsecutive (i.e., not differ by 1).

GAS Time Standards (highlight to view): Two party hats (🎩🥳): 9:00; One party hat (🥳): 16:00. All other solvers earn a 🦕: Mashed-Up Maxakalisaurus. For the easier version the times become: 7:30; One party hat (🥳): 14:00.

Thomas Hits the GAS (highlight to view): 4:16, with SudokuPad replay file shared as a download for now (requires loading via settings menu with improvements expected before people should use this regularly).

Solution: PDF and solving video with explanation from GAS team.

Note: Follow this link for other less common variations of Sudoku.

Note 2: Comments on the blog are great! For a more interactive discussion, please also consider using our Daily GAS discussion post on the GMPuzzles Discord. Not a member of the Discord? Click this link for basic access.