Archive for the ‘Puzzle’ Category:

Dead or Alive Arrow Sudoku by Bill Murphy

(This post is part of the Genuinely Approachable Sudoku (GAS) series.)
In this Sudoku variant, some arrows indicate numbers that are “alive” and must appear again on that diagonal direction, while other arrows indicate numbers that are “dead” and cannot.

Dead or Alive Arrow Sudoku by Bill Murphy

PDF

or solve online (using SudokuPad)

Author/Opus: This is the 32nd puzzle from Bill Murphy, part of the Genuinely Approachable Sudoku (GAS) team.

Rules: Standard Sudoku rules (insert a number from 1 to 9 into each cell so that no number repeats in any row, column, or bold region). Numbers in cells with full gray arrows must appear at least once in the direction indicated by the arrow. Numbers in white arrows must not appear in the direction indicated by the arrow.

GAS Time Standards (highlight to view): Two party hats (🎩🥳): 6:30; One party hat (🥳): 12:00. All other solvers earn a 🦕: Observable Ornithomimus.

Thomas Hits the GAS (highlight to view): 2:32, with SudokuPad replay file shared as a download for now (requires loading via settings menu with improvements expected before people should use this regularly).

Solution: PDF and solving video with explanation from GAS team.

Note: Follow this link for other less common variations of Sudoku.

Note 2: Comments on the blog are great! For a more interactive discussion, please also consider using our Daily GAS discussion post on the GMPuzzles Discord. Not a member of the Discord? Click this link for basic access.

Palindrome Sudoku by clover!

(This post is part of the Genuinely Approachable Sudoku (GAS) series.)
Can you go back and forth to place all the logic in this Palindrome Sudoku puzzle by clover!?

Palindrome Sudoku by clover!

PDF

or solve online (using SudokuPad)

Author/Opus: This is the 53rd puzzle from Clover, part of the Genuinely Approachable Sudoku (GAS) team.

Rules: Standard Sudoku rules (insert a number from 1 to 9 into each cell so that no number repeats in any row, column, or bold region). The numbers along each gray line form a palindrome (i.e., read the same forwards and backwards).

GAS Time Standards (highlight to view): Two party hats (🎩🥳): 6:00; One party hat (🥳): 11:00. All other solvers earn a 🦕: Leinkupalindrome.

Thomas Hits the GAS (highlight to view): 2:13, with SudokuPad replay file shared as a download for now (requires loading via settings menu with improvements expected before people should use this regularly).

Solution: PDF and solving video with explanation from GAS team.

Note: Follow this link for other less common variations of Sudoku.

Note 2: Comments on the blog are great! For a more interactive discussion, please also consider using our Daily GAS discussion post on the GMPuzzles Discord. Not a member of the Discord? Click this link for basic access.

Zipper Lines Sudoku by Philip Newman

(This post is part of the Genuinely Approachable Sudoku (GAS) series.)
In a Zipper Lines Sudoku, each line has a key value at its center that defines how all the remaining pairs of cells get filled in. Can you work through this pattern of lines to the one solution?

Zipper Lines Sudoku by Philip Newman

PDF

or solve online (using SudokuPad)

Theme: Learning to Fly

Author/Opus: This is the 34th puzzle from Philip Newman, part of the Genuinely Approachable Sudoku (GAS) team.

Rules: Standard Sudoku rules (insert a number from 1 to 9 into each cell so that no number repeats in any row, column, or bold region). For each line, the numbers in each pair of cells an equal distance away from the center of the line must sum up to the value in the central cell of the line. (In this puzzle, the lines that cross go straight through those cells; this means, for example, R6C2 + R6C4 = R6C3 from the Zipper Lines rule.)

GAS Time Standards (highlight to view): Two party hats (🎩🥳): 7:00; One party hat (🥳): 14:00. All other solvers earn a 🦕: Examined Elosaurus.

Thomas Hits the GAS (highlight to view): 3:24, with SudokuPad replay file shared as a download for now (requires loading via settings menu with improvements expected before people should use this regularly).

Solution: PDF and solving video with explanation from GAS team.

Note: Follow this link for other less common variations of Sudoku.

Note 2: Comments on the blog are great! For a more interactive discussion, please also consider using our Daily GAS discussion post on the GMPuzzles Discord. Not a member of the Discord? Click this link for basic access.

Killer Sudoku by Bill Murphy

(This post is part of the Genuinely Approachable Sudoku (GAS) series.)
This Killer Sudoku by Bill Murphy looks a bit unusual but has a very interesting solve if you can find all the steps on the path of dominoes.

Killer Sudoku by Bill Murphy

PDF

or solve online (using SudokuPad)

Theme: Thought You Were Waving

Author/Opus: This is the 31st puzzle from Bill Murphy, part of the Genuinely Approachable Sudoku (GAS) team.

Rules: Standard Sudoku rules (insert a number from 1 to 9 into each cell so that no number repeats in any row, column, or bold region). Also, the sum of the numbers in each cage must equal the value given in the upper-left corner of that cage. Numbers cannot repeat inside a cage.

GAS Time Standards (highlight to view): Two party hats (🎩🥳): 8:00; One party hat (🥳): 15:00. All other solvers earn a 🦕: Memorial Magyarosaurus.

Thomas Hits the GAS (highlight to view): 4:30, with SudokuPad replay file shared as a download for now (requires loading via settings menu with improvements expected before people should use this regularly).

Solution: PDF and solving video with explanation from GAS team.

Note: Follow this link for more Killer Sudoku and this link for classic Sudoku. More Killer Sudoku puzzles can be found in Killer Sudoku by Serkan Yürekli.

Note 2: Comments on the blog are great! For a more interactive discussion, please also consider using our Daily GAS discussion post on the GMPuzzles Discord. Not a member of the Discord? Click this link for basic access.

Renban / Little Killer Sudoku by Mr.Menace

(This post is the first in a new: “Cryptic Sudoku series”.)
This brilliant puzzle by Mr.Menace was first created in 2021 and is now being licensed to share on GMPuzzles as part of our Cryptic Sudoku series, with a YouTube discussion as well.

Renban Little Killer Sudoku by Mr.Menace

PDF

or solve online (using SudokuPad)

Theme: Renban ModE

Author/Opus: This is the 2nd puzzle from guest contributor Mr.Menace.

Rules: Standard Sudoku rules (insert a number from 1 to 9 into each cell so that no number repeats in any row, column, or bold region). Numbers along each line must form a non-repeating consecutive set, in any order. (For example, a 4-cell Renban line could be 4352, but not 5679 or 2312.) Also, numbers along the indicated diagonals must sum to the given total outside the grid. Numbers can repeat on the diagonals if not violating standard Sudoku rules.

Difficulty (highlight to view): 4 – 4.5 stars

Thomas time (from video with talking): 13:21

Solution: PDF and also covered as part of this YouTube video.

Note: Follow this link for other less common variations of Sudoku. For some easier Sudoku like this check out the Genuinely Approachable Sudoku (GAS) series.

Note 2: Comments on the blog are great! For a more interactive discussion, please also consider using our Twelve Months of Sudoku? post on the GMPuzzles Discord. Not a member of the Discord? Click this link for basic access.

Thermo-Sudoku by clover!

(This post is part of the Genuinely Approachable Sudoku (GAS) series.)
All the thermometers go to the right in this puzzle; will you be able to find the right solution quickly?

Thermo-Sudoku by clover!

PDF

or solve online (using SudokuPad)

Author/Opus: This is the 52nd puzzle from Clover, part of the Genuinely Approachable Sudoku (GAS) team.

Rules: Standard Thermo-Sudoku rules. (Insert a number from 1 to 9 into each cell so that no number repeats in any row, column, or bold region. Some thermometer shapes are in the grid; numbers must be strictly increasing from the round bulb to the flat end.)

GAS Time Standards (highlight to view): Two party hats (🎩🥳): 6:00; One party hat (🥳): 11:00. All other solvers earn a 🦕: mercurial Mercuriceratops.

Thomas Hits the GAS (highlight to view): 0:58, with SudokuPad replay file shared as a download for now (requires loading via settings menu with improvements expected before people should use this regularly).

Solution: PDF and solving video with explanation from GAS team.

Note: Follow this link for more Thermo-Sudoku puzzles. If you are new to this puzzle type, here are our easiest Thermo-Sudoku to get started on. More Thermo-Sudoku puzzles can be found in these books in our e-store. Also, visit this page to purchase all of the puzzles from the 16th World Sudoku Championship including some Thermo-Sudoku.

Note 2: Comments on the blog are great! For a more interactive discussion, please also consider using our Daily GAS discussion post on the GMPuzzles Discord. Not a member of the Discord? Click this link for basic access.

Ratio Pairs Sudoku by Philip Newman

(This post is part of the Genuinely Approachable Sudoku (GAS) series.)
There are only black circles in this simplified version of a Kropki Pairs Sudoku, so you’ll be focusing on doubling or halving certain values to make some of the key placements.

Ratio Pairs Sudoku by Philip Newman

PDF

or solve online (using SudokuPad)

Theme: Don’t Come Around Here No More

Author/Opus: This is the 33rd puzzle from Philip Newman, part of the Genuinely Approachable Sudoku (GAS) team.

Rules: Standard Sudoku rules (insert a number from 1 to 9 into each cell so that no number repeats in any row, column, or bold region). If a black circle is given between two adjacent cells, then the two numbers must have a ratio of 2. Pairs of cells without circles can have any relationship.

GAS Time Standards (highlight to view): Two party hats (🎩🥳): 6:30; One party hat (🥳): 13:00. All other solvers earn a 🦕: Cyclical Caieiria.

Thomas Hits the GAS (highlight to view): 2:08, with SudokuPad replay file shared as a download for now (requires loading via settings menu with improvements expected before people should use this regularly).

Solution: PDF and solving video with explanation from GAS team.

Note: Follow this link for other less common variations of Sudoku.

Note 2: Comments on the blog are great! For a more interactive discussion, please also consider using our Daily GAS discussion post on the GMPuzzles Discord. Not a member of the Discord? Click this link for basic access.

Extra Space Sudoku by Bill Murphy

(This post is part of the Genuinely Approachable Sudoku (GAS) series.)
Bill Murphy has constructed this extra large grid but only taking the numbers from 1-9. Call you fill in all the white space successfully?

Extra Space Sudoku by Bill Murphy

PDF

or solve online (using SudokuPad)

Author/Opus: This is the 30th puzzle from Bill Murphy, part of the Genuinely Approachable Sudoku (GAS) team.

Rules: Insert a number from 1 to 9 into each white cell so that no number repeats in any row, column, or bold region.

GAS Time Standards (highlight to view): Two party hats (🎩🥳): 15:00; One party hat (🥳): 30:00. All other solvers earn a 🦕: Extra Einiosaurus.

Thomas Hits the GAS (highlight to view): 5:14, with SudokuPad replay file shared as a download for now (requires loading via settings menu with improvements expected before people should use this regularly).

Solution: PDF and solving video with explanation from GAS team.

Note: Follow this link for more Genuinely Approachable Sudoku puzzles on this site. Follow this link for other less common variations of Sudoku.

Note 2: Comments on the blog are great! For a more interactive discussion, please also consider using our Daily GAS discussion post on the GMPuzzles Discord. Not a member of the Discord? Click this link for basic access.

Sudoku by clover!

(This post is part of the Genuinely Approachable Sudoku (GAS) series.)
We’re starting September with some fresh GAS (now that the August Guessing Game is over). Today we’re back to regular Sudoku with a great classic by clover!

Sudoku by clover!

PDF

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

Author/Opus: This is the 51st puzzle from Clover, part of the Genuinely Approachable Sudoku (GAS) team.

Rules: Standard Sudoku rules.

GAS Time Standards (highlight to view): Two party hats (🎩🥳): 5:30; One party hat (🥳): 10:00. All other solvers earn a 🦕: traditional Triceratops.

Thomas Hits the GAS (highlight to view): 1:54, with SudokuPad replay file shared as a download for now (requires loading via settings menu with improvements expected before people should use this regularly).

Solution: PDF and solving video with explanation from GAS team.

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 Sudoku including variations can be found in these books in our e-store. Also, visit this page to purchase all of the puzzles from the 16th World Sudoku Championship including classic Sudoku.

Note 2: Comments on the blog are great! For a more interactive discussion, please also consider using our Daily GAS discussion post on the GMPuzzles Discord. Not a member of the Discord? Click this link for basic access.

XV Pairs Sudoku by Philip Newman

(This post is part of the Genuinely Approachable Sudoku (GAS) series.)
With the end of the August guessing game, we’re starting to see new themes again from GAS starting with this highly symmetric XV Pairs Sudoku puzzle from Philip.

Factor Lines Sudoku by Philip Newman

PDF

or solve online (using SudokuPad)

Theme: Breakdown

Author/Opus: This is the 32nd puzzle from Philip Newman, part of the Genuinely Approachable Sudoku (GAS) team.

Rules: Standard Sudoku rules (insert a number from 1 to 9 into each cell so that no number repeats in any row, column, or bold region). Whenever an X or V, reflecting the Roman numerals for 10 or 5, is placed on the edge between cells, the numbers in the two adjacent cells must sum to exactly 10 or 5. (Pairs of cells without an X or V mark can have any sum value.)

GAS Time Standards (highlight to view): Two party hats (🎩🥳): 6:00; One party hat (🥳): 12:00. All other solvers earn a 🦕: Baalsaurus, Breaker of Hearts.

Thomas Hits the GAS (highlight to view): 2:04, with SudokuPad replay file shared as a download for now (requires loading via settings menu with improvements expected before people should use this regularly).

Solution: PDF and solving video with explanation from GAS team.

Note: Follow this link for other less common variations of Sudoku.

Note 2: Comments on the blog are great! For a more interactive discussion, please also consider using our Daily GAS discussion post on the GMPuzzles Discord. Not a member of the Discord? Click this link for basic access.