Dr. Sudoku Prescribes #125 – Star Battle

Star Battle by Thomas Snyder

View directly for larger form

PDF

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

Theme: Clown

Rules: Standard Star Battle rules. Three 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. Enter both digits for any two-digit number that is required.

Time Standards (highlight to view): Grandmaster = 11:30, Master = 21:00, Expert = 42:00

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.

  • Jack Bross says:

    Oh, look. Pennywise the Puzzle.
    “You’ll float too, when you’ve solved the puzzle!”
    (shudder)

  • skynet says:

    46:18 s .
    Hi motris how would you rate this in difficulty compared to the one you had created in puzzle marathon?I have solved both and i took much more time to complete the one you had created in puzzle marathon.
    I took a guess in this puzzle and then the solve was a bit easier.But a very nice puzzle .Thnks again and as i had mentioned earlier the fun level in this puzzle was truly in direct proportion to the size.Love solving puzzles of these kind rather than the dry LITS ,TAPA and so on….

    • Avatar photo drsudoku says:

      I don’t have testing times from the same people to be sure, but I’d say this one is slightly harder. Both have an initial start that involves looking at a small number of regions, but in the Marathon puzzle I think that after that most of it is straightforward. This one has one or two other tricks up its sleeve. Maybe you are simply getting better at solving these hard star battles?

    • MellowMelon says:

      To give one data point, my Puzzle Marathon Star Battle solve was just under 9 minutes. When I tested this one I got just under 11 minutes with the benefit of a lucky guess. So motris’s claim of “slightly harder” sounds about right.

  • Aaron Chan says:

    That was horrible (of me). I managed to botch it multiple times before getting it right. I love the tricks used in it though. It’s very varied and elegant.

  • Jay says:

    Online version: [EDIT: Removed as we added our own official link to post]

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.