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or solve online (using our beta test of Penpa-Edit tools)
Theme: Groups
Author/Opus: This is the 17th puzzle from our new contributing puzzlemaster JinHoo Ahn.
Rules: Variation of Cross the Streams rules. Instead of their usual meaning, clues refer to the distribution of the white cells. The shaded cells must still obey the regular rules (connectivity, no 2×2 squares).
Difficulty: 4 stars
Time Standards (highlight to view):Grandmaster = 6:30, Master = 10:30, Expert = 21:00
Solution:PDF; a solution video (with info on an Easter Egg for this puzzle) is also available here.
A written transcript of the audio is here, to reduce the frightful nature of this difficult puzzle after Halloween.
or solve online (using our beta test of Penpa-Edit tools; use tab to alternate between a shading mode and a number entry mode to track clues.)
Theme: Ten Out of Ten
Author/Opus: This is the 329th puzzle from our contributing puzzlemaster Grant Fikes.
Rules: Standard Cross the Streams rules. Also, (as transcribed from the audio file): “You will hear the clues read to you, first the across clues (starting with the topmost row and moving towards the bottom) and then the down clues (starting with the leftmost column and moving towards the right). In this charming 10×10 puzzle, called “Ten Out of Ten”, grandmaster Grant Fikes demonstrates an affinity for the number 10, using it not just once but twice in the column clues.”
Difficulty: 4 stars
Time Standards (highlight to view):Grandmaster = 9:00, Master = 13:00, Expert = 26:00
Solution:PDF; a solution video is also available here.
or solve online (using our beta test of Penpa-Edit tools; use tab to alternate between a shading mode and a composite mode where left click inside cell shades square, left click + drag draws line segment, right click inside cell adds dot, and right click on cell edge adds an x.)
Theme: Foursomes
Author/Opus: This is the 363rd puzzle from Thomas Snyder, aka Dr. Sudoku.
Rules: Standard Cross the Streams rules. Also, the shaded region must be able to be split into tetrominoes to form a valid LITS solution (meaning all tetrominoes are connected but no two tetrominoes sharing an edge are the same shape, including rotations and reflections).
Difficulty: 4 stars
Time Standards (highlight to view):Grandmaster = 5:45, Master = 11:00, Expert = 22:00
Solution:PDF; a solution video is also available here.
or solve online (using our beta test of Penpa-Edit tools)
Theme: Cubes
Author/Opus: This is the 17th puzzle from guest contributor Bryce Herdt.
Rules: Variation of Cross the Streams. Instead of the “no 2×2 shaded square” rule, in this hexagonal grid no 3 cells that share a point can be shaded. All vertical clues and rows, whether slanted left or slanted right, are to be read from top to bottom.
Difficulty: 2.5 stars
Time Standards (highlight to view):Grandmaster = 2:45, Master = 4:30, Expert = 9:00
