Cave by Grant Fikes
or solve online (using our beta test of Penpa-Edit tools; use tab to shift between shading mode and the linex mode where left click+drag draws lines and right click marks X’s)
Theme: Cave is a 4-Letter Word
Author/Opus: This is the 137th puzzle from our contributing puzzlemaster Grant Fikes.
Rules: Standard Cave rules.
Answer String: Enter the length in cells of each of the cave segments from left to right for the marked rows, starting at the top. Separate each row’s entry with a comma.
Time Standards (highlight to view): Grandmaster = 1:00, Master = 2:15, Expert = 4:30
Solution: PDF
Note: Follow this link for other classic Caves. If you are new to this puzzle type, here are our easiest Cave Puzzles to get started on.
19:38.Bottom half was very difficult to resolve.
I found it an enjoyable match to weekday difficulty level. I’d be especially interested in what logic would arise if we were told that all possible 4’s or n’s were given (which is not the case here).