or solve online (using our beta test of Penpa-Edit tools)
Theme: May 30th
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 = 2:15, Master = 4:00, Expert = 8:00
Solution: PDF
or solve online (using our beta test of Penpa-Edit tools)
This is a “Twisted Tuesday” puzzle variation.
Theme: TomTomTom: The Next Dimension?
Rules: Variation of TomTom rules, using digits from 1-8. In this variation, similar to Isodoku, the rows bend along the surface of an apparent cube.
Answer String: Enter the marked “column” A, starting at the arrow, followed by a comma, followed by the marked “column” B.
Time Standards (highlight to view): Grandmaster = 2:45, Master = 5:00, Expert = 10:00
Solution: PDF
or solve online (using our beta test of Penpa-Edit tools)
This is a “Franken-Friday” puzzle variation.
Theme: Spiral
Rules: Variation of TomTom rules, using digits from 1-6. In this variation, equations start at the cell marked by the arrow and proceed cell by cell performing operations in the order they are encountered to equal the value indicated in the last cell. In other words, A+BxC = 18 could be A=5, B=1, C=3 as 5+1 = 6 and 6×3 = 18.
Answer String: Enter the 3rd row from left to right, followed by a comma, followed by the 5th row from left to right.
Time Standards (highlight to view): Grandmaster = 5:00, Master = 9:00, Expert = 18:00
Solution: PDF
or solve online (using our beta test of Penpa-Edit tools)
Theme: Tetrominoes
Rules: Standard TomTom rules.
Answer String: Enter the 1st row from left to right, followed by a comma, followed by the 2nd row from left to right.
Time Standards (highlight to view): Grandmaster = 1:45, Master = 2:45, Expert = 5:30
Solution: PDF
or solve online (using our beta test of Penpa-Edit tools)
Theme: Bracket Buster. Our 64th prescription is the perfect cure for anyone concerned with their logical decision making after the last 48(+4*) basketball games.
Rules: Standard TomTom rules, including the possibility for multi-cell subtraction or division by starting from the largest number.
Answer String: Enter the 2nd row from left to right, followed by a comma, followed by the 3rd row from left to right.
Time Standards (highlight to view): Grandmaster = 1:15, Master = 1:45, Expert = 3:30
Solution: PDF
*Editorial Note: That the NCAA basketball tournament now starts with 68 teams is an accident of greed that I try not to think about too much. Like those two unclued cells in this grid that just don’t seem to fit in completely.
or solve online (using our beta test of Penpa-Edit tools)
Theme: Guess the author?
Rules: Variation of standard TomTom rules. In these puzzles, the five numbers to enter are not 1-5. In each grid, there are five unknown integers that the solver must determine.
Answer String: Enter the 3rd row from left to right in the left puzzle, followed by a comma, followed by the 3rd row from left to right in the right puzzle.
Time Standards (highlight to view): Grandmaster = 1:00, Master = 1:30, Expert = 3:00
Solution: PDF
**While this was initially not a numbered opus in this author’s work, we are calling it #47 for our site count.
First in a series with puzzle solving tips. This time, TomTom solving tips for last week’s hard Thursday puzzle.
People always ask me how to solve puzzles and fast. My first answer is practice, practice, practice! My second is notation, notation, notation! After that, I say learn how to construct interesting puzzles and run through more involved logical deductions than most puzzles tend to have. In this column I intend to dissect some of our Grandmaster Puzzles with such interesting properties and at the same time reveal ways I look at puzzle styles that might help out in the future. This week’s topic is the Thursday TomTom, advertised at medium-hard difficulty, that few solvers beat in an expected time. While it shouldn’t need saying, SPOILERS AHEAD!
or solve online (using our beta test of Penpa-Edit tools)
Theme: “Rhyming clues” – almost all clues here in this TomTom are presented with identical neighbors.
Rules: Standard TomTom rules. Range is 1-8.
Answer String: Enter the 8th row from left to right, followed by a comma, followed by the 8th column from top to bottom.
Time Standard: TomTom Master = 12:00, Expert = 36:00, Novice = 2:00:00
Solution: PDF and solving video.
Editorial note: If this is the third TomTom you’ve ever seen (just trying to solve these puzzles this week), please do not attempt it. Go through a couple of my earlier examples in the “Thomas Snyder Outdoes the NYT KenKen” series instead. This is a very difficult “Saturday” puzzle in line with the hardest content of my old blog. Next week I’ll return with much easier puzzles in two new styles on Monday/Tuesday.
or solve online (using our beta test of Penpa-Edit tools)
Theme: TomTom for 1/3/13; there are also a few interesting and unusual logical deductions to be found.
Answer String: Enter the 2nd row from left to right, followed by a comma, followed by the 6th column from top to bottom.
Time Standard: TomTom Master = 4:30, Expert = 13:30, Novice = 45:00
Solution: PDF
Note: Advice on solving this puzzle has now been posted in “Ask Dr. Sudoku #1“.
or solve online (using our beta test of Penpa-Edit tools)
Theme: “After #1, what’s next?” Many people wondered what would come after post #1 yesterday. Today’s TomTom puzzle is one literal answer, but who knows what the future actually holds?
Rules: Standard TomTom rules; use digits 1-5.
Answer String: Enter the 1st column from top to bottom, followed by a comma, followed by the 5th column from top to bottom.
Time Standard: TomTom Master = 0:40, Expert = 2:00, Novice = 6:40
Solution: PDF