The Puzzle Robot #4 – Tapa

Tapa by Serkan Yürekli

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: Clue symmetry and logic

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 = 2:15, Master = 4:45, Expert = 9:30

Solution: PDF

The Puzzle Robot #3 – Islands of Numbers

Island of Numbers by Serkan Yürekli

PDF

or solve online (using our beta test of Penpa-Edit tools; use Tab to alternate between letter entry and shading)

Theme: Hidden words (each row of letters forms an English word like SERF.)

Rules: Put each number (given as a word) into the grid, one letter per cell, as a snakelike strip which does not touch or cross itself. Some letters of the words are given. The remaining cells should be painted black to form a continuous wall as in a Nurikabe puzzle with no 2×2 shaded regions. Or see here.

Answer String: Enter the contents of each marked column from top to bottom, using X (capital letter) for each blackened square and capital letters for each island cell, and separating the columns with a comma.

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

Solution: PDF

Dr. Sudoku Prescribes #123 – TomTom

TomTom by Thomas Snyder

PDF

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

Theme: Carbon Copy (a puzzle with many doubled clues)

Rules: Standard TomTom rules, using digits from 1-6.

Answer String: Enter the 3rd row from left to right, followed by a comma, followed by the 5th column from top to bottom.

Time Standards (highlight to view): Grandmaster = 2:00, Master = 2:45, Expert = 5:30

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.

Detuned Broadcast #8: Nurikabe

Nurikabe by Tom Collyer

PDF

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

Theme: 64

Rules: Standard Nurikabe rules.

Answer String: Enter the length in cells of each of the black segments (the unnumbered, connected “ocean”) 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 = 2:00, Expert = 4:00

Solution: PDF

Dr. Sudoku Prescribes #121 – Arrow Sudoku (8×8)

Arrow Sudoku by Thomas Snyder

PDF

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

Theme: Crazy Eights (for 8/8/13)

Rules: Standard Arrow Sudoku rules. Range is 1-8.

Answer String: Enter the 2nd row from left to right, 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 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.

Dr. Sudoku Prescribes #120 – Skyscrapers

Skyscrapers by Thomas Snyder

PDF

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

Theme: 234

Rules: Standard Skyscrapers rules.

Answer String: Enter the 1st row from left to right, followed by a comma, followed by the 3rd row from left to right.

Time Standards (highlight to view): Grandmaster = 3:30, Master = 4:15, Expert = 8:30

Solution: PDF

From the Foxger’s Den #42: Statue Park

Statue Park by Grant Fikes

PDF

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

Theme: Antisymmetry!

Rules: Standard Statue Park rules. The given subset of the pentominoes is to be used in this puzzle, with rotations and reflections allowed.

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 = 2:30, Master = 3:45, Expert = 7:30

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.

Dr. Sudoku Prescribes #117 – Tight Fit Sudoku

Tight Fit Sudoku by Thomas Snyder

PDF

or solve online (using our beta test of Penpa-Edit tools; use tab to alternate between Sudoku = big entries and Number candidate = small entries in the corners of cells.)

Theme: Wheel

Rules: Standard Tight Fit Sudoku rules. Range is 1-10.

Answer String: Enter the 2nd column from top to bottom, followed by a comma, followed by the 5th column from top to bottom. Enter both digits for the 10’s. (Note: for the tight fit cells, enter the top before the bottom as would be normal for the read order.)

Time Standards (highlight to view): Grandmaster = 4:00, Master = 7:15, Expert = 14:30

Solution: PDF

Note: Follow this link for other Tight Fit Sudoku puzzles on this website. If you are new to this puzzle type, here are our easiest Tight Fit Sudoku to get started on. More Tight Fit Sudoku can be found in our beginner-friendly collection Intro to GMPuzzles by Serkan Yürekli and in The Art of Sudoku 2.

Detuned Broadcast #4: Yajilin

Yajilin by Tom Collyer

PDF

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

Theme: Logical

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 = 2:30, Master = 3:30, Expert = 7:00

Solution: PDF

Detuned Broadcast #3: Nurikabe

Nurikabe by Tom Collyer

PDF

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

Theme: Paired Islands

Rules: Standard Nurikabe rules.

Answer String: Enter the length in cells of each of the black segments (the unnumbered, connected “ocean”) 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 = 1:20, Expert = 2:40

Solution: PDF