Nonconsecutive Sudoku by Thomas Snyder
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Theme: Primarily logic, with today’s date hidden as well.
Author/Opus: This is the 157th puzzle from Thomas Snyder, aka Dr. Sudoku.
Rules: Standard Consecutive Sudoku rules. Since there are no bars in this grid, this should be considered a Non-Consecutive Sudoku.
Answer String: Enter the 3rd row from left to right, followed by a comma, followed by the 7th row from left to right.
Time Standards (highlight to view): Grandmaster = 4:15, Master = 5:45, Expert = 11:30
Solution: PDF
Note: Follow this link for other Consecutive Sudoku. If you are new to this puzzle type, here are our easiest Consecutive Sudoku to get started on.
Noticed the pattern on this when I got the middle three rows nearly complete, and figured “This can’t possible hold through the puzzle, can it?” Of course, it did, and I could have been a lot quicker if I’d tried it.
We’ve discussed this before I think, but often nonconsecutives or very regular consecutives (because the presence/absence of bars is a very strong constraint) have unusual patterns in the rows or columns. Here the rows are definitely much quirkier than usual as just one rotating string. Or, put another way, the columns all have repeating triplets in similar spots.
I was kind of expecting it to hold all the way through the puzzle, right up until the last couple of steps, just to mess with us. 😉
4.55