Tapa-Like Loop by Prasanna Seshadri
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 on edges)
Theme: Pairs
Author/Opus: This is the 29th puzzle from our contributing puzzlemaster Prasanna Seshadri.
Rules: In this variation of Tapa, the wall is in the form of a single non-intersecting loop. Clues inside the grid represent the number of neighboring cells visited by the loop; if there is more than one number in a cell, each number should be represented with a separate loop segment. There is no 2×2 rule of Tapa in this puzzle. This example image should help:
Answer String: Enter the length in cells of the horizontal loop segments from left to right in the marked rows, starting at the top. Separate each row’s entry with a comma. For the example, this would be “11,12”.
Time Standards (highlight to view): Grandmaster = 1:00, Master = 2:00, Expert = 4:00
Solution: PDF
Note: Follow this link for other Tapa-Like Loop puzzles. If you are new to this puzzle type, here are our easiest Tapa puzzles to get started on.
Solved on bed, didn’t keep track of time.
For some reason the loop traced reminds me of a protester screaming, holding a torch/baseball bat/something on one hand and a shield on another. Uh.
This looked easy but was tricky. 4.42 mins to solve this one.