Star Battle by Thomas Snyder

Star Battle by Thomas Snyder

PDF

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

Theme: Anchor

Author/Opus: This is the 192nd puzzle from Thomas Snyder, aka Dr. Sudoku.

Rules: Standard Star Battle rules. Two stars per row, column, and region.

Answer String: For each row from top to bottom, enter the number of the first column from the left where a star appears. Enter these numbers as a single string with no separators.

Time Standards (highlight to view): Grandmaster = 1:00, Master = 1:30, Expert = 3:00

Solution: PDF

Note: Follow this link for other classic Star Battles. If you are new to this puzzle type, here are our easiest Star Battles to get started on.

Schedule for Next Week

All the puzzles from last week have been grouped in this PDF.

Next week is a variety week with the following mix of puzzles (highlight to view):
Monday: Star Battle by Thomas Snyder
Tuesday: Tapa by Grant Fikes
Wednesday: TomTom by Grant Fikes
Thursday: Masyu Variation by Swaroop Guggilam
Friday: Cave by Thomas Snyder
Saturday: Killer Sudoku by Serkan Yürekli

The bonus puzzle for our high-level supporters will be a Snail Sudoku by Serkan Yürekli.

Kuromasu by Thomas Snyder

Kuromasu by Thomas Snyder

PDF

or solve online (using our beta test of Penpa-Edit tools; use tab to shift between shading mode and the linex mode where left click+drag draws lines and right click marks X’s)

Theme: Clue Symmetry and Logic

Author/Opus: This is the 191th puzzle from Thomas Snyder, aka Dr. Sudoku.

Rules: Shade some empty cells black so that each number indicates the total count of white cells connected vertically and horizontally to that number including the numbered cell itself. Black cells cannot share an edge, and all white cells must belong to a single connected group. Or see this example:

Kuromasu by Thomas Snyder

Answer String: Enter the length in cells of each of the white segments from left to right for the marked rows, starting at the top. Separate each row’s entry with a comma. This example has the key “14,221”.

Time Standards (highlight to view): Grandmaster = 2:00, Master = 3:30, Expert = 7:00

Solution: PDF

Note: Kuromasu is a new puzzle for us this week and we are curious to hear what you think of it.

Kuromasu by Thomas Snyder

Kuromasu by Thomas Snyder

PDF

or solve online (using our beta test of Penpa-Edit tools; use tab to shift between shading mode and the linex mode where left click+drag draws lines and right click marks X’s)

Theme: Almost Doubled

Author/Opus: This is the 190th puzzle from Thomas Snyder, aka Dr. Sudoku.

Rules: Shade some empty cells black so that each number indicates the total count of white cells connected vertically and horizontally to that number including the numbered cell itself. Black cells cannot share an edge, and all white cells must belong to a single connected group. Or see this example:

Kuromasu by Thomas Snyder

Answer String: Enter the length in cells of each of the white segments from left to right for the marked rows, starting at the top. Separate each row’s entry with a comma. This example has the key “14,221”.

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

Solution: PDF

Note: Kuromasu is a new puzzle for us this week and we are curious to hear what you think of it.

Schedule for Next Week

All the puzzles from last week have been grouped in this PDF.

Next week will focus on Kuromasu puzzles with both regular puzzles and a “double” variation.

We’ve started gathering puzzles for The Art of Puzzles 2: Double Trouble, which like this coming week will feature some regular logic puzzles and “double” variations. If you are interested in contributing and haven’t already received details, please send us email at the link at the bottom of the page.

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: Symmetry and Even Clues

Author/Opus: This is the 189th 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 both digits if a 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 = 3:00, Expert = 6:00

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.

Yajilin by Thomas Snyder

Yajilin by Thomas Snyder

PDF

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

Theme: Up Two Something

Author/Opus: This is the 188th puzzle from Thomas Snyder, aka Dr. Sudoku.

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.

Schedule for Next Week

All the puzzles from last week have been grouped in this PDF.

Next week is a variety week with the following mix of puzzles (highlight to view):
Monday: Yajilin by Thomas Snyder
Tuesday: Fillomino by Grant Fikes
Wednesday: Shape Sudoku by Serkan Yürekli
Thursday: Battleships by Thomas Snyder
Friday: Sum Skyscrapers by Grant Fikes
Saturday: Statue Park by Grant Fikes

The bonus puzzle for our high-level supporters will be a Tapa by Thomas Snyder.

Even/Odd Sudoku by Thomas Snyder

Sudoku by Thomas Snyder

PDF

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

Theme: Two-Sided Problem

Author/Opus: This is the 187th 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 4th row from left to right, followed by a comma, followed by the 2nd column from top to bottom.

Time Standards (highlight to view): Grandmaster = 3:45, Master = 8:00, Expert = 16:00

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.

Sudoku by Thomas Snyder

Sudoku by Thomas Snyder

PDF

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

Theme: Clue Symmetry and Logic

Author/Opus: This is the 186th puzzle from Thomas Snyder, aka Dr. Sudoku.

Rules: Standard Sudoku rules.

Answer String: Enter the 5th row from left to right, followed by a comma, followed by the 7th column from top to bottom.

Time Standards (highlight to view): Grandmaster = 3:00, Master = 4:15, Expert = 8:30

Solution: PDF

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