Dr. Sudoku Prescribes #137 – TomTom

TomTom by Thomas Snyder

PDF

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

Theme: 10/9

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 row from left to right.

Time Standards (highlight to view): Grandmaster = 2:45, Master = 4:15, Expert = 8:30

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.

The Puzzle Robot #13 – BACA

BACA by Serkan Yürekli

PDF

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

Theme: Trapped in A box

Rules: Either shade or add a single letter (A, B, or C) to each square so that each row and column contains exactly one A, one B, one C, and the rest shaded squares. Cells in the grid already marked with a letter can be shaded or remain unchanged.

Letters outside the grid indicate the first letter seen from that direction.

Numbers outside the grid describe the size of groups of consecutive shaded squares in that row or column in order. There must be at least one unshaded square between groups.

Or, see here.

Answer String: Enter the number of the column where the B is placed in each row, starting with the top row and proceeding to the bottom.

Time Standards (highlight to view): Grandmaster = 4:30, Master = 5:45, Expert = 11:30

Solution: PDF

Dr. Sudoku Prescribes #135 – Sudo-Kurve

Sudo-Kurve by Thomas Snyder

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

Theme: Corners

Rules: Standard Sudo-Kurve rules.

Answer String: Enter the “row” marked A, followed by a comma, followed by the “row” marked B.

Time Standards (highlight to view): Grandmaster = 1:30, Master = 2:30, Expert = 5:00

Solution: PDF

From the Foxger’s Den #57: Sashikabe

Sashikabe by Grant Fikes

PDF

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

Theme: Logic

Rules: Hybrid of Nurikabe and Sashigane, originally created by Grant Fikes. Standard Nurikabe rules are in place for the “ocean” (connected and no 2×2 squares) but the island rules have changed as follows:
1. All islands must be L-shaped and one cell wide. Islands cannot share an edge.
2. An arrow clue points from an end of an island towards the bend in the middle.
3. A circle clue indicates the bend in the middle of an island; if a number is also present, this is the size of the island in cells.
4. An island can have 0, 1, or more of these clues given.

Also see this example and solution by Thomas Snyder:

Sashikabe by Thomas Snyder

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 = 5:00, Master = 6:30, Expert = 13:00

Solution: PDF

The Puzzle Robot #12 – Skyscraper Blocks

Skyscrapers by Serkan Yürekli

PDF

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

Theme: Clue Symmetry and Logic

Rules: Variation of Skyscrapers rules. Place digits 1-6 into the grid so that no digit is repeated within a row or column. Digits outside the grid indicate the number of buildings that can be seen from the corresponding direction. The buildings form two-digit numbers and the relations between some numbers are shown with a greater than/less than sign.

Or, see here.

Answer String: Enter the 2nd row from left to right, followed by a comma, followed by the 4th row from left to right.

Time Standards (highlight to view): Grandmaster = 2:15, Master = 3:15, Expert = 6:30

Solution: PDF

Dr. Sudoku Prescribes #131 – Arrow Sudoku

Arrow Sudoku by Thomas Snyder

PDF

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

Theme: Eight Values

Rules: Standard Arrow Sudoku rules.

Answer String: Enter the 6th row from left to right, followed by a comma, followed by the 4th column from top to bottom.

Time Standards (highlight to view): Grandmaster = 3:30, Master = 5:30, Expert = 11:00

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.

Detuned Broadcast #11: Star Battle

Star Battle by Tom Collyer

PDF

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

Theme: Throwing Star (made out of the four symmetric center regions)

Rules: Standard Star Battle rules. Two stars per row, column, and region.

Answer String: For each row from top to bottom, enter the number of the first column from the left where a star appears. Enter these numbers as a single string with no separators.

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

Solution: PDF

Note: Follow this link for other classic Star Battles and this link for Star Battle variations. If you are new to this puzzle type, here are our easiest Star Battles to get started on. More Star Battle puzzles can be found in The Art of Puzzles, in the book Star Battle by JinHoo Ahn, and in our beginner-friendly collection Intro to GMPuzzles by Serkan Yürekli.

The Puzzle Robot #10 – Yajilin

Yajilin by Serkan Yürekli

PDF

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

Theme: Clockwise Threes

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 = 2:00, Master = 5:00, Expert = 10:00

Solution: PDF

Detuned Broadcast #10: Tapa

Tapa by Tom Collyer

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: Four Blocks

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 = 1:40, Master = 2:15, Expert = 4:30

Solution: PDF

The Puzzle Robot #9 – 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: 4×4 Clueless Square

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 entry from the next with a comma.

Time Standards (highlight to view): Grandmaster = 2:30, Master = 3:45, Expert = 7:30

Solution: PDF