Dr. Sudoku Prescribes #115 – Cross the Streams
or solve online (using our beta test of Penpa-Edit tools)
Theme: Rise and Fall
Rules: Standard Cross the Streams rules.
Answer String: Enter the length in cells of each of the black segments from top to bottom for the marked columns, going in order from A to B to C to D and separating each entry with a comma.
Time Standards (highlight to view): Grandmaster = 6:00, Master = 10:30, Expert = 21:00
Solution: PDF
04:40 WHEE
A wonderful puzzle. Although it feels like bruteforcing is necessary? I used bruteforce to resolve rows 2 and 9; the rest aren’t too much bruteforce although the solving path is tight.
The puzzle is also aesthetically pleasing. The row clues have a neat pattern with a bunch of question marks, while the column clues have asterisks everywhere except a nice wavy pattern of numbers.
As far as I see, thats not required, there’s a deduction in the bottom rows using row 8, row 9 and the columns. I solved it using that and it flowed quite nicely.
This is indeed closest to my intent. There must be three “escapes” from the bottom of the grid that pass through the 8th row. That limits the row 9 options to one.
8:54. I’ll take it.