(view image directly for a larger form)

PDF

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

Theme: 2013 XMas Tree

Rules: Place a digit from 0 to 3 into each area so that no two areas that touch (even diagonally) share the same digit.

Answer String: Enter the row marked A from left to right, followed by a comma, followed by the column marked B from top to bottom.

Time Standards (highlight to view): Grandmaster = 6:00, Master = 10:00, Expert = 20:00

Solution: PDF

I’m sure many of you were expecting ANOTHER version of the Christmas Tree puzzle from the last two weeks. I mean, I did get a very nice Double Back from Robert Vollmert (which cannot be confused as a Star Battle or a LITS). But posting such a puzzle wouldn’t be a surprise.

No, today’s Sunday Surprise comes from the pile of submissions I’ve received over the year from Hans van Stippent, who played with the usual rules of Skyscrapers a bit by hiding some of the cells from consideration. It yielded a very interesting puzzle which is Hans’ gift to you this Sunday.

PDF

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

Theme: New Variation/Logic

Rules: Standard Sudoku rules. Also, standard Skyscrapers rules. Additionally, the cells in gray are “underground” and cannot be seen for any of the outside skyscraper clues (think of them as starting with a negative sign if necessary). As an example, the 4 in row 2 refers only to seeing four buildings in columns 3 through 7, even if there is a 9 in column 1 or column 2 as that 9 cannot be seen.

Answer String: Enter the 1st row from left to right, followed by a comma, followed by the 9th row from left to right.

Solution: PDF

PDF

or solve online (using our beta test of Penpa-Edit tools; use tab to shift between number entry and shading modes.)

Theme: WPC Practice

Rules: Enter digits 1 through 4 into some cells so that each row and column contains each digit exactly once. Also, along the snail (from the upper-left corner and spiraling to the center) digits must occur in 1-2-3-4-1-2-3-4-… order. Some clues are given in the grid in the form of lit digital segments. Each of these cells must contain a digit, and that digit must have that segment lit in the form shown below the puzzle.

Or see an example from the WPC instructions using 1 to 3 here.

Answer String: Enter the marked rows from left to right, separating the two rows by a comma. Use an X (capital letter) for each empty square.

Time Standards (highlight to view): Grandmaster = 6:00, Master = 8:30, Expert = 17:00

Solution: PDF

PDF

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

Theme: Double

Rules: Standard TomTom rules, using digits from 1-5.

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 = 1:15, Master = 2:00, Expert = 4:00

Solution: PDF

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

PDF

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

Theme: Nine High

Rules: Variant of Skyscrapers rules. The numbers outside the grid represent the sum of the buildings seen in that row or column. For example, if a row is 12534, the clue from the left would be an 8 (1+2+5) and from the right would be a 9 (4+5).

Answer String: Enter the 2nd row from left to right, followed by a comma, followed by the 5th row from left to right.

Time Standards (highlight to view): Grandmaster = 1:00, Master = 2:15, Expert = 4:30

Solution: PDF

PDF

or solve online (using our beta test of Penpa-Edit tools; use tab to shift between number entry and shading modes.)

Theme: Clue Symmetry and Logic

Rules: Hybrid of Easy as ABCD and Japanese Sums puzzle types. Fill some cells with digits 1-5 so that each row and column contains each digit from 1 to 5 exactly once as well as two empty cells. Numbers outside the grid indicate the sum of all digits in the first connected group in that direction as in a Japanese Sums puzzle. For example, the row X345X12 could have a 12 clue on the left or a 3 on the right. Or see here.

Answer String: Enter the marked rows from left to right, separating the two rows by a comma. Use an X (capital letter) for each empty square.

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

Solution: PDF

Note: Follow this link for other Japanese Sums puzzles.

PDF

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

Theme: WPC Practice

Rules: Place a digit 1, 2, or 3 into each empty cell so that each digit appears exactly three times in each row and column. All cells are either white or gray. A digit in a white cell must share an edge with at least one cell containing the same digit. A digit in a gray cell cannot share an edge with any cell containing the same digit.

Answer String: Enter the digits from left to right in the marked rows, separating the rows with a comma.

Time Standards (highlight to view): Grandmaster = 10:00, Master = 15:00, Expert = 30:00

Solution: PDF

PDF

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

Theme: Logical

Rules: Place a digit from 1-7 into each circle so that no digit repeats within any straight line. The clues given inside some triangles represent the sum of the digits in the triangle’s three vertices. Or see here.

Answer String: Enter the digits in the marked lines in the direction of the arrows, separating the two lines with a comma.

Time Standards (highlight to view): Grandmaster = 3:45, Master = 4:45, Expert = 9:30

Solution: PDF

PDF

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

Theme: Nothing Important

Rules: Standard TomTom rules, using digits from 1-6.

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 = 5:15, Master = 8:00, Expert = 16:00

Solution: PDF

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

PDF

or solve online (using our beta test of Penpa-Edit tools; use tab to shift between number entry and shading modes.)

Theme: 22nd WPC in 2013 (the shaded box is just meant to accentuate the theme and has no role in solving). This puzzle type appeared in Round 7 of the WPC from the Serbian constructors under the name “False Doppelblock”

Rules: Fill each row and column of the grid with the numbers 1-6 and two blackened cells. In this false variation, clue numbers outside the grid are either one higher or one lower than the sum of the digits between the two blackened cells in that row/column. True sums can equal zero if the black cells touch. Or see here, but remember this puzzle is a “false” variation with +1/-1 clues unlike that example.

Answer String: Enter the 1st row from left to right, followed by a comma, followed by the 8th row from left to right. Use an X (capital letter) for each blackened square.

Time Standards (highlight to view): Grandmaster = 10:00, Master = 17:30, Expert = 35:00

Solution: PDF