Tapa (Different) by Thomas Snyder
or solve online (using our beta test of Penpa-Edit tools; use tab to shift between shading mode 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: 2×2 Squares (for Chris Green)
Author/Opus: This is the 292nd puzzle from Thomas Snyder, aka Dr. Sudoku.
Rules: Standard Tapa rules. Also, each dashed region must have a different combination of shaded and unshaded cells. See also this example (from Chris Green).
See also this example:
Answer String: Enter the length in cells of each of the shaded segments from left to right for the marked rows, starting at the top. Separate each row’s entry from the next with a comma.
Time Standards (highlight to view): Grandmaster = 10:00, Master = 17:00, Expert = 34:00
Solution: PDF; a solution video is also available here.
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. More Tapa puzzles can be found in The Art of Puzzles and in Tapa and Variations, both by Serkan Yürekli.
The end was as much hard as the first half was easy.
I agree with Anurag. It was a long time before I (rot13) sbphfrq ba cynpvat gur gjb nernf jvgu gjb bccbfvat pbearef, naq gura V xrcg znxvat nabgure zvfgnxr bs abg ernyvmvat nyy gur fcbgf gur nyy-juvgr nern pbhyq tb.
I also didn’t ernyvmr gur ybpngvba bs gur nyy-juvgr oybpx hagvy yngr va gur fbyir. Ubjrire, V jnf znxvat n jebat qrqhpgvba va gur gbc-pragre sbe n ybat gvzr, hagvy V sbhaq gung gur oybpx jvgu gjb bccbfvat pbearef unf gb tb va nabgure obk, abg jurer V jnf guvaxvat vg fubhyq.