Balance Loop by Thomas Snyder
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: Digit Series
Author/Opus: This is the 224th puzzle from Thomas Snyder, aka Dr. Sudoku.
Rules: (Standard Balance Loop rules.) Draw a single, non-intersecting loop that passes through all circled cells. All white circles must have equal segment lengths on both sides of the circle before turning. All black circles must have unequal segment lengths on both sides of the circle before turning. Numbers indicate the sum of the segment lengths on both sides of the circle.
Also, see this example:
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. This example has the key “11,311”.
Time Standards (highlight to view): Grandmaster = 4:00, Master = 8:00, Expert = 16:00
Solution: PDF
Note: Follow this link for other Balance Loops.
25:54 A very satisfying puzzle.
It took me a very long time before I had the insight required for the break-in. And it was fun to be able to realize such a long-distance ripple effect without guessing. After that everything proceeded quite smoothly. Thanks for the challenge.
13 minutes
Lost quite a lot of times because the first thing I done was to make an error in the very top left corner, that would lead me to two loops in the end, and it took some time to think about reconsidering this corner …
As Carl said, the break-in is very satisfying !
13:53…Took a guess in between…
A tough and nice puzzle