Balance 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)
Theme: No Numbers
Author/Opus: This is the 146th puzzle from our contributing puzzlemaster Prasanna Seshadri.
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 = 3:00, Master = 7:00, Expert = 14:00
Solution: PDF
Note: Follow this link for other Balance Loop puzzles and this link for other less common Loop variations.
8:28.Cool !
Very nice puzzle! I missed a key (although obvious in hindsight) step near the end and wasted several minutes, though 🙁
This puzzle raises an important question for me as an inexperienced constructor. I have counted no less than 15 redundant circles, with the black circles around the top left corner standing out in particular. Surely it is not worth placing so many redundant clues to achieve symmetry along both diagonals? It was perfectly possible to achieve symmetry along only one diagonal, with far fewer redundant clues.