Archive for the ‘Puzzle’ Category:

From the Foxger’s Den #46: Masyu (All Cells)

Masyu by Grant Fikes

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)

This is a “Twisted Tuesday” puzzle variation.

Theme: All Cells and All Antisymmetry!

Rules: Standard Masyu rules. Also, ALL CELLS must be visited by the loop.

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 = 1:45, Master = 2:30, Expert = 5:00

Solution: PDF

From the Foxger’s Den #45: Cave

Cave by Grant Fikes

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: Slants

Rules: Standard Cave rules.

Answer String: Enter the length in cells of each of the cave segments from left to right for the marked rows, starting at the top. Separate each row’s entry with a comma.

Time Standards (highlight to view): Grandmaster = 1:30, Master = 2:20, Expert = 4:40

Solution: PDF

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

From the Foxger’s Den #44: Fillomino

Fillomino by Grant Fikes

(view image directly for larger form)

PDF

or solve online (using our beta test of Penpa-Edit tools; use tab to alternate between a composite mode for line/edge drawing and a number entry mode. Note that the default puzzle info is too long — even for an url shortener — so copy and paste all the text in this file into the “Load” option in the upper-right of the penpa-edit interface to access.)

Theme: Visual and logical

Rules: Standard Fillomino rules.

Answer String: For each cell in the marked rows, enter the area of the polyomino it belongs to. Enter both digits of any two-digit numbers that appear. (Yes, the answer entry is very long but a large puzzle deserves sufficient checks!)

Time Standards (highlight to view): Grandmaster = 14:00, Master = 21:00, Expert = 42:00

Editorial Note: This is our second “Giant” puzzle from Grant following this Masyu, and is representative of several of this size that will be in the book The Art of Puzzles scheduled to be released sometime in September (fingers crossed). Enjoy!

Solution: PDF

Note: Follow this link for other classic Fillomino and this link for more variations on Fillomino puzzles. If you are new to this puzzle type, here are our easiest Fillomino puzzles to get started on.

Dr. Sudoku Prescribes #122 – Battleships (Square Ends)

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.)

This is a “Franken-Friday” puzzle variation.

Theme: Squares of Squares

Rules: Standard Battleships rules. The fleet in this puzzle has no rounded ends; instead, all ship segments are square and indistinguishable.

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

Time Standards (highlight to view): Grandmaster = 3:30, Master = 5:45, Expert = 11:30

Solution: PDF

Dr. Sudoku Prescribes #121 – Arrow Sudoku (8×8)

Arrow Sudoku by Thomas Snyder

PDF

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

Theme: Crazy Eights (for 8/8/13)

Rules: Standard Arrow Sudoku rules. Range is 1-8.

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

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

Solution: PDF

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

Dr. Sudoku Prescribes #120 – Skyscrapers

Skyscrapers by Thomas Snyder

PDF

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

Theme: 234

Rules: Standard Skyscrapers rules.

Answer String: Enter the 1st row from left to right, followed by a comma, followed by the 3rd row from left to right.

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

Solution: PDF

From the Foxger’s Den #43: Cross the Streams (Inverted)

Cross The Streams by Grant Fikes

PDF

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

This is a “Twisted Tuesday” puzzle variation.

Theme: Inverted Clues

Rules: Variation of Cross the Streams rules. The clues in this puzzle are inverted. They indicate the WHITE (unshaded) areas, not the black areas as in other Cross the Streams. The shaded cells must still obey the regular rules (connectivity, no 2×2 squares).

Answer String: Enter the length in cells of each of the black segments from top to bottom for the marked columns, going in order from A to B to C to D and separating each entry with a comma.

Time Standards (highlight to view): Grandmaster = 2:15, Master = 3:30, Expert = 7:00

Solution: PDF

Detuned Broadcast #7: Masyu

Masyu by Tom Collyer

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: Almost Twisted Symmetry

Rules: Standard Masyu 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 = 0:45, Master = 1:00, Expert = 2:00

Solution: PDF

Dr. Sudoku Prescribes #119 – Yajilin

Yajilin by Thomas Snyder

PDF

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

Theme: Clue symmetry and logic

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 = 4:30, Master = 7:30, Expert = 15:00

Solution: PDF

Dr. Sudoku Prescribes #118 – Cave (Hex)

Cave 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)

This is a “Franken-Friday” puzzle variation.

Theme: Prime Time

Rules: Standard Cave rules, except the grid is hexagonal.

Answer String: Enter the length in cells of each of the internal cave segments following the arrows for the marked rows, starting at the top. Separate each row’s entry with a comma.

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

Solution: PDF

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