Fortress Sudoku by Bill Murphy

(This post is part of the Genuinely Approachable Sudoku (GAS) series.)
In this Fortress Sudoku, some “big birds” are marking their territory where they rule the roost. Can you place all the values in this puzzle by Bill Murphy?

Fortress Sudoku by Bill Murphy

PDF

or solve online (using SudokuPad)

Theme: More Big Birds

Author/Opus: This is the 36th 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). A number in a gray cell must be larger than any number in an adjacent white cell that shares an edge. (To assist solvers, this is shown like a greater than/less than shape in how the gray cells are drawn.)

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

Thomas Hits the GAS (highlight to view): 2:09, 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.

Anti-Knight Sudoku by clover!

(This post is part of the Genuinely Approachable Sudoku (GAS) series.)
Clover has galloped in here (probably with coconuts, not with real horses) with an Anti-Knight Sudoku to kick off the weekend.

Anti-Knight Sudoku by clover!

PDF

or solve online (using SudokuPad)

Author/Opus: This is the 57th 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). Also, numbers cannot repeat in any cells separated by a chess knight’s move.

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

Thomas Hits the GAS (highlight to view): 1:49, 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.

Thermo-Sudoku by Thomas Snyder

More Genuinely Approachable Sudoku will be coming soon, depending on our own travel to the World Sudoku and Puzzle Championships and when we can look at today’s grid from the GAS team. This not nearly as approachable backup puzzle is a regular Thermo-Sudoku while you wait….

Thermo-Sudoku by Thomas Snyder

PDF

or solve online (using SudokuPad)

Theme: Sorry (More Approachable Sudoku Coming Soon)

Author/Opus: This is the 604th puzzle from Thomas Snyder, aka Dr. Sudoku.

Rules: Standard Thermo-Sudoku rules.

Estimated Difficulty: 3.5 stars

Solution: PDF, with a good solver at 5:44 in this SudokuPad replay file shared as a download for now (requires loading via settings menu with improvements expected before people should use this regularly).

Note: Follow this link for more Thermo-Sudoku puzzles. If you are new to this puzzle type, here are our easiest Thermo-Sudoku to get started on. More Thermo-Sudoku puzzles can be found in The Art of Sudoku 2 and Masterpiece Sudoku Mix 2.

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.

Renban Sudoku by Philip Newman

(This post is part of the Genuinely Approachable Sudoku (GAS) series.)
A familiar pattern with some new Renban groups to figure out; can you solve this challenging but approachable puzzle by Philip Newman?

Renban Sudoku by Philip Newman

PDF

or solve online (using SudokuPad)

Theme: Runnin’ Down a Dream

Author/Opus: This is the 38th 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). Numbers along each line must form a non-repeating consecutive set, in any order. (For example, a 4-cell Renban line could be 4352, but not 5679 or 2312.)

GAS Time Standards (highlight to view): Two party hats (🎩🥳): 7:30; One party hat (🥳): 15:00. All other solvers earn a 🦕: Nosy Nigersaurus.

Thomas Hits the GAS (highlight to view): 3:10, 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.

Nonconsecutive Sudoku by Bill Murphy

(This post is part of the Genuinely Approachable Sudoku (GAS) series.)
Another anti constraint appears in Bill Murphy’s Nonconsecutive Sudoku. Can you again you the outside to work your way in?

Nonconsecutive Sudoku by Bill Murphy

PDF

or solve online (using SudokuPad)

Theme: Space Song

Author/Opus: This is the 35th 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). No two orthogonally adjacent cells can be consecutive (i.e., differ by 1).

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

Thomas Hits the GAS (highlight to view): 2:32, 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 Consecutive Sudoku. If you are new to this puzzle type, here are our easiest Consecutive Sudoku to get started on.

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.

Arrow Sudoku by clover!

(This post is part of the Genuinely Approachable Sudoku (GAS) series.)
Déjà vu with another Genuinely Approachable Arrow Sudoku, this time from clover! As an extra challenge, can you follow a clockwise path around this grid as the arrows suggest?

Arrow Sudoku by clover!

PDF

or solve online (using SudokuPad)

Author/Opus: This is the 56th puzzle from Clover, part of the Genuinely Approachable Sudoku (GAS) team.

Rules: Standard Arrow Sudoku rules: Insert a number from 1 to 9 into each cell so that no number repeats in any row, column, or bold region). Some arrow shapes are in the grid; the sum of the numbers along the path of each arrow must equal the number in the circled cell. Numbers can repeat within an arrow shape.

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

Thomas Hits the GAS (highlight to view): 2:46, 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 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 these books in our e-store.

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.

Arrow Sudoku by Philip Newman

(This post is part of the Genuinely Approachable Sudoku (GAS) series.)
Today’s Genuinely Approachable Sudoku points out a new way to fill in this given pattern by Philip Newman, including two overlapping arrows through the center.

Arrow Sudoku by Philip Newman

PDF

or solve online (using SudokuPad)

Theme: Free Fallin’

Author/Opus: This is the 37th puzzle from Philip Newman, part of the Genuinely Approachable Sudoku (GAS) team.

Rules: Standard Arrow Sudoku rules: Insert a number from 1 to 9 into each cell so that no number repeats in any row, column, or bold region). Some arrow shapes are in the grid; the sum of the numbers along the path of each arrow must equal the number in the circled cell. Numbers can repeat within an arrow shape.

GAS Time Standards (highlight to view): Two party hats (🎩🥳): 7:00; One party hat (🥳): 14:00. All other solvers earn a 🦕: Merry Malarguesaurus.

Thomas Hits the GAS (highlight to view): 2:58, 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 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 these books in our e-store.

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.

Anti-XV Sudoku by Bill Murphy

(This post is part of the Genuinely Approachable Sudoku (GAS) series.)
Anti constraints are often hard to get your head around, and the mostly empty grid might look unapproachable. But Bill Murphy pulls off some magic today to make it genuinely approachable as you travel around the grid.

Anti-XV Sudoku by Bill Murphy

PDF

or solve online (using SudokuPad)

Theme: Superstar

Author/Opus: This is the 34th 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). No two numbers in adjacent cells can sum to exactly 10 or 5 as in the Roman Numerals for X or V. (This is the same rule as in XV Sudoku, but there are no X or V clues given here so it is Anti- only.)

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

Thomas Hits the GAS (highlight to view): 2:58, 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.

Renban Sudoku by clover!

(This post is part of the Genuinely Approachable Sudoku (GAS) series.)
For our 100th GAS post on GMPuzzles, Clover! has a great puzzle featuring Renban lines marking out consecutive sets of numbers along their paths. With no bends in the lines, can you get straight to the answer?

Renban Sudoku by clover!

PDF

or solve online (using SudokuPad)

Author/Opus: This is the 55th 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). Numbers along each line must form a non-repeating consecutive set, in any order. (For example, a 4-cell Renban line could be 4352, but not 5679 or 2312.)

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

Thomas Hits the GAS (highlight to view): 1:59, 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.

Region Sum Lines Sudoku by Philip Newman

(This post is part of the Genuinely Approachable Sudoku (GAS) series.)
While Philip again repeats this familiar given pattern, the effect of these region sum lines is very different in getting a unique solution. Can you figure out how each segment is constrained?

Region Sum Lines Sudoku by Philip Newman

PDF

or solve online (using SudokuPad)

Theme: The Waiting

Author/Opus: This is the 36th 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). Along each line, the numbers in every region it passes through have the same sum. (In this puzzle, for example, R3C5 + R3C6 = R4C6 = R4C7 + R5C7.)

GAS Time Standards (highlight to view): Two party hats (🎩🥳): 8:30; One party hat (🥳): 17:00. All other solvers earn a 🦕: Humane Haplocanthus.

Thomas Hits the GAS (highlight to view): 5:29, 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.