Detuned Broadcast #15: Masyu
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: Anti-Symmetry
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 = 2:00, Master = 3:30, Expert = 7:00
Solution: PDF
I would like to see the solve path of this one, since I can’t make heads or tails on how to do it logically.
I’m with Aaron on this one
After you get to the sticking point, Tom noted that you should resolve the black circle at R6C6 first, then the black circle at R3C5. In all cases you do need to picture a few stretches of loop in your head.
That R6C6 does not go left is a result of end parity being off in the bottom. That R6C6 does not go up is a result of stranding an end or forming two loops (both disallowed). After that, R3C5 cannot go down as that strands ends in the bottom again, and then it must also go right to not make two loops. Certainly tricky steps.
Finally, got it. Figuring out the two black circles in the order you mentioned helped. I definitely had to draw the paths in order to make it clear to myself when a rule was going to be violated if I was going the wrong way.
10×10 is a nice size to throw in some harder steps as the guessing space is still quite small.
Admittedly here the boundaries between a hard step and trial and error get a little blurred, and I’m not sure I’d have too many things like this in a larger sized puzzle, but this has a nice theme, and certainly requires a change of approach from most other masyu you’ll solve!
12:38