This is a Melon puzzle. (22 – Hexa Briquets)

Hexa Briquets by Palmer Mebane

PDF

or solve online (using our beta test of Penpa-Edit tools using a composite mode where left click inside cell shades square, left click + drag draws line segment, right click inside cell adds dot, and right click on cell edge adds an x.)

Theme: Clue Symmetry

Rules: Place some blocks of three hexagons connected in a line (briquets) into the grid so that they do not overlap themselves or the numbered cells. For each numbered cell, the top clue indicates how many of the surrounding cells containing a briquet segment; the bottom clue indicates how many different briquets are in the surrounding cells. All cells that are not covered by briquets, including the numbered cells, must be part of a single connected group. Or see this example from the WPC instruction booklet.

Answer String: For each marked row, enter the length in cells of each group of connected cells that are part of briquets. Separate each row’s entry with a comma (eg “5,16,33,14”).

Time Standards (highlight to view): Grandmaster = 5:30, Master = 8:30, Expert = 17:00

Solution: PDF

The Puzzle Robot #23 – Easy as Japanese Sums

Easy as Japanese Sums by Serkan Yürekli

PDF

or solve online (using our beta test of Penpa-Edit tools; use tab to shift between number entry and shading modes.)

Theme: Clue Symmetry and Logic

Rules: Hybrid of Easy as ABCD and Japanese Sums puzzle types. Fill some cells with digits 1-5 so that each row and column contains each digit from 1 to 5 exactly once as well as two empty cells. Numbers outside the grid indicate the sum of all digits in the first connected group in that direction as in a Japanese Sums puzzle. For example, the row X345X12 could have a 12 clue on the left or a 3 on the right. Or see here.

Answer String: Enter the marked rows from left to right, separating the two rows by a comma. Use an X (capital letter) for each empty square.

Time Standards (highlight to view): Grandmaster = 3:30, Master = 4:15, Expert = 8:30

Solution: PDF

Note: Follow this link for other Japanese Sums puzzles.

Dr. Sudoku Prescribes #145 – Battleships

Battleships by Thomas Snyder

PDF

or solve online (using our beta test of Penpa-Edit tools; use tab to alternate between ship placement and shading modes. In ship placement mode, right click gives sea, left click gives circle/square, left click and drag for rounded ships.)

Theme: Even Versus Odd

Rules: Standard Battleships rules. Use the indicated fleet.

Answer String: For each row from top to bottom, enter the number of the first column from the left where a ship segment appears. If the row is empty, enter 0. Enter these numbers as a single string with no separators.

Time Standards (highlight to view): Grandmaster = 2:30, Master = 4:15, Expert = 8:30

Solution: PDF

Dr. Sudoku Prescribes #144 – Sudoku

Sudoku by Thomas Snyder

PDF

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

Theme: Virginia is for Sudoku Lovers (Note: This puzzle was the final puzzle for this year’s Arlington Puzzle Festival. Congratulations to Erik Agard, Carolyn Offutt, and Jim Spaulding for their 1st/2nd/3rd performance in the tournament.)

Rules: Standard Sudoku rules.

Answer String: Enter the 1st row from left to right, followed by a comma, followed by the 9th row from left to right.

Time Standards (highlight to view): Grandmaster = 2:15, Master = 3:30, Expert = 7:00

Solution: PDF

Note: Follow this link for other classic Sudoku. If you are new to this puzzle type, here are our easiest Sudoku to get started on. More classic Sudoku puzzles can be found in The Art of Sudoku, The Art of Sudoku 2 and in our beginner-friendly collection Intro to GMPuzzles by Serkan Yürekli.

Detuned Broadcast #13: Masyu

Masyu by Tom Collyer

PDF

or solve online (using our beta test of Penpa-Edit tools in linex mode where left click+drag draws lines and right click marks X’s)

Theme: Hidden

Rules: Standard Masyu rules.

Answer String: Enter the length in cells of the horizontal loop segments from left to right in the marked rows, starting at the top. If the loop only has vertical segments in the marked row, enter 0. Separate each row’s entry with a comma.

Time Standards (highlight to view): Grandmaster = 0:45, Master = 1:00, Expert = 2:00

Solution: PDF

From the Foxger’s Den #70: Cross the Streams

Cross The Streams by Grant Fikes

PDF

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

Theme: Easy Logic

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 = 1:45, Master = 2:30, Expert = 5:00

Solution: PDF

Schedule for Week 48

Last week’s puzzles are grouped together in this PDF.

This week will have a few more “regular” puzzles than the rest of November, but still some of the variety that we hope you have become thankful for over this year. And for the first time in a few weeks we will have all of our contributing puzzlemasters providing puzzles (to whom I am especially thankful for helping to grow GMPuzzles into an even more incredible site). Highlight to view the schedule:
Monday – Cross the Streams by Grant Fikes
Tuesday – Masyu by Tom Collyer
Wednesday – Sudoku by Thomas Snyder
Thursday – Battleships by Thomas Snyder
Friday – Easy as Japanese Sums by Serkan Yürekli
Saturday – Hexa Briquets by Palmer Mebane

This is a Melon puzzle. (21 – Neighbors)

Neighbors by Palmer Mebane

PDF

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

Theme: WPC Practice

Rules: Place a digit 1, 2, or 3 into each empty cell so that each digit appears exactly three times in each row and column. All cells are either white or gray. A digit in a white cell must share an edge with at least one cell containing the same digit. A digit in a gray cell cannot share an edge with any cell containing the same digit.

Answer String: Enter the digits from left to right in the marked rows, separating the rows with a comma.

Time Standards (highlight to view): Grandmaster = 10:00, Master = 15:00, Expert = 30:00

Solution: PDF

The Puzzle Robot #22 – Pentomino Puddles

Pentomino Puddles by Serkan Yürekli

PDF

or solve online (using our beta test of Penpa-Edit tools in a composite mode for line/edge drawing)

Theme: Grandmaster Puzzles (GMP in the shapes)

Rules: Divide each of the three shapes into four pentominoes so that all 12 pentominoes are present exactly once across the three shapes. An inventory of pentominoes is given below the puzzle; rotations and reflections of these shapes are allowed.

Answer String: Enter the capital letters for the pentominoes sitting in each cell along the indicated long row. Enter as a single string of 14 characters.

Time Standards (highlight to view): Grandmaster = 2:30, Master = 5:30, Expert = 11:00

Solution: PDF

The Puzzle Robot #21 – Trid

Trid by Serkan Yürekli

PDF

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

Theme: Logical

Rules: Place a digit from 1-7 into each circle so that no digit repeats within any straight line. The clues given inside some triangles represent the sum of the digits in the triangle’s three vertices. Or see here.

Answer String: Enter the digits in the marked lines in the direction of the arrows, separating the two lines with a comma.

Time Standards (highlight to view): Grandmaster = 3:45, Master = 4:45, Expert = 9:30

Solution: PDF