O’utcast by Serkan Yürekli
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Theme: Clue Symmetry and Logic
Author/Opus: This is the 277th puzzle from our contributing puzzlemaster Serkan Yürekli.
Rules: Place each of the given words into the grid, reading across or down; all words should interconnect, and all words formed in the grid must be from the list. Each given letter must be used by at least one word. Additionally, draw a Masyu loop: a single closed loop passing through each of the “O”s and otherwise using only unused squares. When passing through an “O”, the loop must go straight through and must make a 90 degree turn in at least one of the adjacent squares.
See also 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.
Time Standards (highlight to view): Grandmaster = 7:00, Master = 10:45, Expert = 21:30
Solution: PDF
Note: Follow this link for other Masyu variations and this link for classic Masyu. If you are new to this puzzle type, here are our easiest Masyu to get started on. More Masyu puzzles can be found in The Art of Puzzles.
Er, I’ve found a small ambiguity here, albeit one that doesn’t affect the answer string. Ebjf gra naq ryrira, pbyhzaf guerr naq sbhe bcgvbanyyl unir gur ybbc tb guebhtu p guerr. Jbhyq nqqvat bvy yrnir gur chmmyr fbyinoyr?
Can you please confirm: lbh cynprq NMBVP naq abg NMVBP (abg gur jbeq sebz gur yvfg) vagb P2. Gur pebffvat va ebj ryrira ceriragf jung lbh fnl jura V ybbx ng gur fbyhgvba.
Ah. You’re right, my mistake.
Perhaps I am dense or misunderstanding the rules but I am stuck figuring out how any of the given words can fit into the F and D in the bottom three rows of the grid. Am I missing something?
Hi Jeremy — This may be a problem misinterpreting the rules as the puzzle has one solution and many other solvers have found it. So I encourage you to examine the example further if needed.
In case it helps, the following words in the list contain an F: COLTSFOOT, FLOUNCE, FLOC
The following words in the list contain a D: RANDOM
The given letters will each be completed by a word from those lists.
I’m sure it is my mistake. I found the same words you did, so I must be misunderstanding. RANDOM only fits horizontally, as do the three F words. Those F words put either a C, U, or T above the R. Furthermore, a loop-line must go down through the O of RANDOM and then out to the left, making the R of RANDOM the last letter of a word ending either CR, UR, or TR, and there are no such words in the word bank.
If you can tell me where I’ve gone wrong, please do!
You have the correct CR/UR/TR bigrams in mind. One of these is in the word bank.
You may not be considering how one particular vowel (important for the puzzle) can be part of loop cells.
Exelent puzzle!