Dr. Sudoku Prescribes #87 – Tile Sudoku
or solve online (using our beta test of Penpa-Edit tools)
Theme: Diagonals
Rules: Standard Tile Sudoku rules.
Answer String: Enter the 1st row from left to right, followed by a comma, followed by the 12th row from left to right.
Time Standards (highlight to view): Grandmaster = 3:00, Master = 4:45, Expert = 9:30
Solution: PDF
Is this starting the preview for the US WPF Grand Prix?
I don’t mean it to specifically. But I’ve been constructing puzzles for both here and there recently so there will be some genre overlaps.
Wow!I am so glad to see a series of sudokus coming from the Doctor.I was so sad that i was slowly getting repelled by seeing puzzles again and again , although the doctor did state a month or two back that sudokus would be taking a backseat for some time.But now i m more than happy see sudoku and its variations creeping up again.
This is something like the fourth or fifth puzzle in the last couple of weeks with a visual theme emphasizing a top left to bottom right diagonal (often inside a square). Including not only obvious things like the colorless masyu but even that skyscraper where the clues were clumped on diagonally opposite corners. New meta puzzle afoot? Just variations on a theme for fun/aesthetics?
I probably have a faulty random theme generator that has some patterns. I do not think there is any extra trickery afoot.
I am unable to crack through this sudoku?Any tips while solving this variant to be kept in mind?!
Because the grid has expanded, you’ll now find you need to be sure to get one “bigger” number in each dimension in each group of boxes. For example, consider the 5 or 7 in the middle rows. There are already two of these in the middle rows so the remaining digit must be the two-cell tall box in the remaining spot.
It is important to consider digits that are away from the thick borders. Consider the 6 in the middle box. It is one down from the top so another small 6 needs to be in row 5 and a bigger 6 needs to be in rows 7 and 8. At this point there should only be one spot left for that bigger 6.
Standard sudoku deductions will appear too but maybe in unfamiliar ways. For example, after you get a 3 in the very middle square, try to place a 4 in the 6th row. There is an open spot in the middle region but it also extends to the 5th row so it gets canceled. Only the very big square in the right box is left to be filled.