Tapa (Star) by Serkan Yürekli
or solve online (using our beta test of Penpa-Edit tools; use tab to shift between shading mode, a shape mode for entering stars, and the composite Yajilin mode where left click marks cells, right click marks dots in cells or X’s on edges, left click+drag draws lines.)
Theme: Clue Symmetry and Logic
Author/Opus: This is the 79th puzzle from our contributing puzzlemaster Serkan Yürekli.
Rules: Standard Tapa rules. Also, each row and column must contain exactly two stars (one in the example). Stars cannot touch each other, even diagonally, and all stars must be on the Tapa wall.
See also this example:
Answer String: (Like Star Battle) For each row from top to bottom, enter the number of the first column from the left where a star appears. Enter these numbers as a single string with no separators.
Time Standards (highlight to view): Grandmaster = 4:15, Master = 7:30, Expert = 15:00
Solution: PDF
Note: Follow this link for other Tapa variations and this link for classic Tapa. If you are new to this puzzle type, here are our easiest Tapa puzzles to get started on.
13:36.Expert cleared ah!
Very interesting finish!
I hate to do this, but I’ve tried to do this puzzle a few times now and I’m still failing. I try to make a legal Tapa wall and then place the stars, and each time I don’t have enough space to place 2 stars per row one way or the other. Is there a small hint or push I could get to stop doing whatever I’m doing wrong?
It’s hard to hint without more specifics, but (rot13’d): Vg’f vzcbffvoyr gb pbzcyrgr gur gncn jnyy jvgubhg hfvat vasbezngvba sebz gur fgne onggyr cneg bs gur chmmyr.
Would it be fair to ask if gur evtug svir pbyhzaf ner fbyinoyr ol cher Gncn ybtvp naq vg’f whfg gur yrsg/ybjre yrsg gung vf orvat n cnva qhr gb fgne onggyr?