Yajilin by Grant Fikes
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Theme: Logic
Author/Opus: This is the 261st puzzle from our contributing puzzlemaster Grant Fikes.
Rules: Standard Yajilin rules.
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.
Time Standards (highlight to view): Grandmaster = 0:40, Master = 1:00, Expert = 2:00
Solution: PDF
Note: Follow this link for other classic Yajilin. If you are new to this puzzle type, here are our easiest Yajilin to get started on. More Yajilin puzzles can be found in The Art of Puzzles 2, and in our beginner-friendly book Logic Puzzles 101.
This puzzle reminded me of a question I have had for a long time regarding the design of logic puzzles.
I had always supposed that for a high-quality puzzle to lack any kind of visual theme of the givens (e.g symmetry), there had to be a distinctiveness to the logic which made up for the unaesthetic visuals. However, I have come across a few puzzles on this site where I have felt that the logic in puzzles with a ‘logical’ theme was rather unremarkable (not to single out this puzzle, but the logic here seems like the kind you would find in any yajilin, except without any visual theme). Is there a standard for this or is it purely subjective?
Freddie, obviously purely subjective. However, I think you missed something interesting about this puzzle… Stare at the completed grid for a moment…
Follow-up: Collectively, the authors of the puzzles on this site have great taste; likely well-moderated by the lead editor(s)… (Sorry if that sounds too sycophantic; I’m just a happy subscriber along for the ride here.) Also, need it be said: this was Tuesday puzzle (i.e. easy on the weekly progression commonly used by Newspapers before this site).
Ah yes, I see it now! Very nice.
I always miss themes present in the completed solution because I’m so eager to move on to the next puzzle!
This one was easy. A very logical solution from starting to end.