Dr. Sudoku Prescribes #33 – Skyscrapers

Skyscrapers by Thomas Snyder

PDF

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

Theme: Either/or — a hard solving theme despite so many clues.

Rules: Standard Skyscrapers rules.

Answer String: Enter the 3rd row from left to right, followed by a comma, followed by the 4th column from top to bottom.

Time Standard: Skyscrapers Grandmaster = 3:00, Master = 5:30, Expert = 11:00

Solution: PDF

Note: Advice on solving this puzzle, and also constructing Skyscraper puzzles, has now been posted in “Ask Dr. Sudoku #6

  • Para says:

    Well this is good practise in understanding the 2 clue. Done enough skyscrapers, so the Grandmaster time was easily beaten.

    On a minor note, there will be a week where I don’t have to resolve any puzzles to get the “solved” check mark.

  • TheSubro says:

    Kudos to Para. I wasted so much time (probably 7-8 minutes) before focusing on the power of the 2 clues. Broke down shortly after that kicked in. Solid puzzle though. Good practice, good design.

    Thanks.

    TheSubro

  • bromp says:

    Nice clue layout, good solution path, and no bifurcation needed – what more can a puzzler ask for? Thanks a lot!

  • Roland Voigt says:

    Wonderful construction. I particularly enjoyed the fact that, despite the heavy restrictions from the layout, each clue seems to have a fair share of the solving path.
    RV

  • Jack Bross says:

    I’m not gonna lie. This one took me a while to get the hang of. But I know that Skyscrapers isn’t one of my strongest puzzles, and feel like I learned (or more fully internalized) something about 2’s in the process. And I definitely enjoyed the solve and appreciated the design.

  • skynet says:

    15 : 21 s
    Got to understand one golden rule whose efficacy cannot be understated in this puzzle
    “When a 2 is given outside as a clue the second cell nearest to the clue cannot be 5”
    This golden rule is what helped me break this puzzle.After 5-6 mins of fruitless search suddenly hit on this and finished it in the end.

  • Anuraag Sahay says:

    Really hard theme to construct.I have not run into such a bizarre solve ever.The use of 2s was quite constraining,as it also caused the filling in of digits as small as 1s early on.Great puzzle

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