Tapa (Unique Clues) by Tapio Saarinen
or solve online (using our beta test of Penpa-Edit tools; use tab to shift between shading mode, a number entry mode for placing Tapa clues, 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: Logical
Author/Opus: This is the 7th puzzle from guest contributor Tapio Saarinen. You can find more of Tapio’s puzzles on his blog.
Rules: Variation of Tapa rules. All clues have been replaced by symbols, and each clue cell must be a unique value (e.g., 113 can appear at most once as a clue value). Each question mark stands for a nonzero number; each asterisk stands for a nonzero number of question marks.
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 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.
This one’s brutal, (though very engaging). I spent a *long* time on this and I would guess I was half way through when the computer program I was drawing with crashed and I lost my porgress. So I’ll have to pick it up and try again later.
I’m very impressed, Tapio.
Wow! The ending to this puzzle is incredible (and quite satisfying).
Beautiful puzzle! Challenging to the end!
I don’t regret restarting. I pushed right through my previous sticking point, (I had failed to consider connectivity in one portion of the grid). I loved the consistent challenge throughout the entire puzzle. You earned a “fave” from me today, Tapio.
Thanks again!
Does it help to hit the fave button multiple times 🙂
19:42.
Impressive puzzle, with a lot of impressive steps.
The hardest of all Tapa puzzles that I have solved…close to 3:30 hrs