Battleships (Minesweeper) by Thomas Snyder

Battleships by Thomas Snyder

PDF

or solve online (using our beta test of Penpa-Edit tools; use tab to alternate between ship placement and shading modes. In ship placement mode, right click gives sea, left click gives circle/square, left click and drag for rounded ships.)

Theme: Xs Mark the Spots

Author/Opus: This is the 324th puzzle from Thomas Snyder, aka Dr. Sudoku.

Rules: Variation of standard Battleships rules. Instead of exterior clues, clues inside the grid indicate the number of adjacent squares, including diagonally adjacent squares, containing ship segments. Ships do not sit on cells with numbers.

Answer String: For each row from top to bottom, enter the number of the first column from the left where a ship segment appears (enter just the last digit for any two-digit number). If the row is empty, enter 0. Enter these numbers as a single string with no separators.

Time Standards (highlight to view): Grandmaster = 3:15, Master = 5:00, Expert = 10:00

Solution: PDF

Note: Follow this link for more variations on Battleships and this link for classic Battleships. More Battleships puzzles can be found in Battleships and Variations, in The Art of Puzzles, and in our beginner-friendly collection Intro to GMPuzzles by Serkan Yürekli.

Battleships by Thomas Snyder

Battleships by Thomas Snyder

PDF

or solve online (using our beta test of Penpa-Edit tools; use tab to alternate between ship placement and shading modes. In ship placement mode, right click gives sea, left click gives circle/square, left click and drag for rounded ships.)

Theme: 10/22

Author/Opus: This is the 323rd puzzle from Thomas Snyder, aka Dr. Sudoku.

Rules: Standard Battleships rules. Use the indicated fleet.

Answer String: For each row from top to bottom, enter the number of the first column from the left where a ship segment appears (enter just the last digit for any two-digit number). If the row is empty, enter 0. Enter these numbers as a single string with no separators.

Time Standards (highlight to view): Grandmaster = 0:35, Master = 0:45, Expert = 1:30

Solution: PDF

Note: Follow this link for other classic Battleships. If you are new to this puzzle type, here are our easiest Battleships to get started on. More Battleships puzzles can be found in Battleships and Variations, in The Art of Puzzles, and in our beginner-friendly collection Intro to GMPuzzles by Serkan Yürekli.

Yajilin-Battleships by Thomas Snyder [bonus]

Our master+ subscribers receive access to two bonus puzzles each week in addition to other rewards. We make these posts so those supporters have a space to comment on these puzzles, mark as FAVES, or log their solving. If you are interested in subscribing and seeing these bonus puzzles, click here for more info.

Yajilin-Battleships by Thomas Snyder

Theme: Logical

Author/Opus: This is the 322nd puzzle from Thomas Snyder, aka Dr. Sudoku.

Rules: Variation of Battleships and Yajilin. Place the fleet of ships in the grid so that no ships touch each other, even diagonally. The grid contains internal clues (a number and an arrow) that show how many ship segments are in the indicated direction. All remaining white cells that do not contain a ship segment must be able to form a single loop, as in a Yajilin puzzle.

Answer String: For each row from top to bottom, enter the number of the first column from the left where a ship segment appears (enter just the last digit for any two-digit number). If the row is empty, enter 0. Enter these numbers as a single string with no separators.

Time Standards (highlight to view): Grandmaster = 1:30, Master = 2:30, Expert = 5:00

Note: Follow this link for classic Yajilin and this link for classic Battleships puzzles. More Battleships puzzles can be found in Battleships and Variations, in The Art of Puzzles, and in our beginner-friendly collection Intro to GMPuzzles by Serkan Yürekli.

Schedule for Next Week

Our most recent week of Castle Wall puzzles can be found in this PDF. We’re still putting the finishing touched on a Castle Wall e-book which will be released here soon.

Our next week of puzzles features the first puzzle style I was ever addicted to: Battleships. We will have several classic Battleships and some variations.

This week, our subscribers are getting early access to the full week of puzzles as well as images of the puzzle solutions. Master+ subscribers to the site are getting a bonus Yajilin-Battleships by Thomas Snyder and a bonus Battleships by Murat Can Tonta. If you want to become a subscriber and get access to bonus puzzles, solutions, e-books, and other rewards, check out this page.

Castle Wall by Thomas Snyder

Castle Wall by Thomas Snyder

PDF

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: Frame

Author/Opus: This is the 321st puzzle from Thomas Snyder, aka Dr. Sudoku.

Rules: Standard Castle Wall 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 = 1:15, Master = 2:00, Expert = 4:00

Solution: PDF

Note: Follow this link for more Castle Wall puzzles. If you are new to this puzzle type, here are our easiest Castle Wall puzzles to get started on. More Castle Wall puzzles can be found in our beginner-friendly collection Intro to GMPuzzles as well as the larger collection Castle Wall, both by Serkan Yürekli.

Schedule for Next Week

Our most recent week of sudoku puzzles can be found in this PDF.

Our next week of puzzles features Castle Wall; we will soon have a new e-book from Serkan Yürekli if you are interested in solving more Castle Wall puzzles.

This week, our subscribers are getting early access to the full week of puzzles as well as images of the puzzle solutions. Master+ subscribers to the site are getting a bonus Castle Wall by Murat Can Tonta and a bonus Castle Wall by Serkan Yürekli. If you want to become a subscriber and get access to bonus puzzles, solutions, e-books, and other rewards, check out this page.

Even/Odd Sudoku by Thomas Snyder

Sudoku by Thomas Snyder

PDF

or solve online (using our beta test of Penpa-Edit tools)

Theme: Half and Half

Author/Opus: This is the 320th puzzle from Thomas Snyder, aka Dr. Sudoku.

Rules: Standard Even/Odd Sudoku rules (i.e., cells with a square contain an even digit; cells with a circle contain an odd digit).

Answer String: Enter the 1st row from left to right, followed by a comma, followed by the 6th row from left to right.

Time Standards (highlight to view): Grandmaster = 1:30, Master = 2:30, Expert = 5:00

Solution: PDF

Note: Follow this link for more Even/Odd Sudoku puzzles. If you are new to this puzzle type, here are our easiest Even/Odd Sudoku to get started on. More Even/Odd Sudoku puzzles can be found in The Art of Sudoku 2.

Tight Fit Sudoku by Thomas Snyder

Tight Fit Sudoku by Thomas Snyder

PDF

or solve online (using our beta test of Penpa-Edit tools; use tab to alternate between Sudoku = big digits and Number candidate = small entries in the corners of cells.)

Theme: Almost 1 to 9 Twice

Author/Opus: This is the 319th puzzle from Thomas Snyder aka Dr. Sudoku.

Rules: Standard Tight Fit Sudoku rules. Remember, the smaller number goes above the larger number in all slashed cells. The range of this puzzle is 1-9.

Answer String: Enter the 4th row from left to right, followed by a comma, followed by the 5th row from left to right. (Note: for the tight fit cells, enter the top before the bottom as would be normal for the read order.)

Time Standards (highlight to view): Grandmaster = 1:45, Master = 2:30, Expert = 5:00

Solution: PDF

Note: Follow this link for other Tight Fit Sudoku puzzles on this website. If you are new to this puzzle type, here are our easiest Tight Fit Sudoku to get started on. More Tight Fit Sudoku can be found in our beginner-friendly collection Intro to GMPuzzles by Serkan Yürekli and in The Art of Sudoku 2.

Schedule for Next Week

Our most recent variety week of puzzles can be found in this PDF.

We are now entering test-solving and final layout for The Art of Sudoku 2, a collection of classic Sudoku, the main variations Tight Fit, Even/Odd, Arrow, Thermo, and Consecutive Pairs, and some other variations. Our next week of puzzles contains some great Sudoku that almost made this book, spread across all the main styles that are included.

This week, our subscribers are getting early access to the full week of puzzles as well as images of the puzzle solutions and a video walkthrough of the Friday puzzle. Master+ subscribers to the site are getting a bonus Even/Odd Sudoku by Serkan Yürekli and a bonus Classic Sudoku by Serkan Yürekli. If you want to become a subscriber and get access to bonus puzzles, solutions, e-books, and other rewards, check out this page.

Update

We’ve had some different personal matters affecting our two main editors over the last quarter, which has slowed us down some. Our next web week will officially go up 10/7-10/14, one week later than expected. We expect to have each of the next Sudoku, Castle Wall, and Battleships weeks posted on 10/7, 10/14, 10/21. Thanks for your patience.