View image directly for larger form.

PDF

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

Theme: Welcome PS to GM Puzzles! (the shading is just for artistic purposes)

Author/Opus: This is the 5th puzzle from our new contributing puzzlemaster Prasanna Seshadri.

Rules: Standard LITS rules.

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

Time Standards (highlight to view): Grandmaster = 6:00, Master = 11:30, Expert = 23:00

Solution: PDF

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

PDF

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

Theme: Question Marks — who is the author? (the shading is just for artistic purposes)

Author/Opus: This is the 4th puzzle from our new contributing puzzlemaster who will be identified tomorrow. [ETA: The author has been revealed as Prasanna Seshadri.]

Rules: Standard Nanro rules.

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

Time Standards (highlight to view): Grandmaster = 3:15, Master = 4:30, Expert = 9:00

Solution: PDF

Note: This is our second Nanro puzzle, so if you are new to this puzzle type please also try out the example on the Rules and Info page as well as our earlier Nanro post first.

PDF

or solve online (using our beta test of Penpa-Edit tools; use tab to shift between shading mode and the composite Yajilin mode where left click marks cells, right click marks dots in cells or X’s on edges, left click+drag draws lines.)

Theme: Fractional Sums (in three of the rows, treating the clues on the left as fractions and adding them together yields the integer on the right; eg 3/2+2/2+3/2 = 4)

Author/Opus: This is the 3rd puzzle from our new contributing puzzlemaster who will be identified later this week. [ETA: The author has been revealed as Prasanna Seshadri.]

Rules: Standard Tapa rules.

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

Time Standards (highlight to view): Grandmaster = 1:45, Master = 3:15, Expert = 6:30

Solution: PDF

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

PDF

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

Theme: Countdown to …

Author/Opus: This is the 1st puzzle from our new contributing puzzlemaster who will be identified later this week. [ETA: The author has been revealed as Prasanna Seshadri.]

Rules: Standard Nanro rules.

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

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

Solution: PDF

Note: This is our first Nanro puzzle, so if you are new to this puzzle type please also try out the example on the Rules and Info page.

(view image directly for a larger form)

PDF

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

Theme: Logical

Rules: Standard Cross the Streams rules.

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 = 9:00, Master = 14:00, Expert = 28:00

Solution: PDF

PDF

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

Theme: Three Tees?

Rules: Standard LITS rules.

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

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

Solution: PDF

PDF

or solve online (using our beta test of Penpa-Edit tools; use tab to shift between shading mode and the composite Yajilin mode where left click marks cells, right click marks dots in cells or X’s on edges, left click+drag draws lines.)

Theme: Threes

Rules: Standard Tapa rules.

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

Time Standards (highlight to view): Grandmaster = 1:00, Master = 1:45, Expert = 3:30

Solution: PDF

(view image directly for a 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, a number entry mode, and shading for this variation.)

Theme: Symmetry and Logic

Rules: Variation of standard Fillomino rules. All polyominoes of same size besides 4 cannot touch. But all tetrominoes must be connected to form a valid LITS solution. All 4 clues have been replaced by tetromino letters.

Answer String: For each cell in the marked rows, enter the area of the polyomino it belongs to. For the tetrominoes, instead of numbers use capital letters (L, I, T, S) in the appropriate cells. Start with the 10th column, followed by a comma, followed by the 14th column.

Time Standards (highlight to view): Grandmaster = 12:30, Master = 18:00, Expert = 36:00

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.

PDF

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

Theme: Logical

Rules: Standard Cross the Streams rules.

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 = 2:30, Master = 3:45, Expert = 7:30

Solution: PDF

Today’s Surprise originated from an unintended mistake. Despite a puzzle labeled “Star Battle” and a graphic with a “2 star” label at the top, Friday’s puzzle was attempted by first one and then many solvers out of curiosity as a LITS. While I’ve seen a Star Battle that can double as a LITS, this was not originally one of them and it is not a typical property to have.

Undaunted by the challenge, Tapio Saarinen (ArDeeJ) sent along a modification of my puzzle into a LITS. After some tweaks by me, we have a Christmas Tree LITS puzzle with very few changes from the original (see this crude sketch). Enjoy the gift that keeps on giving!

PDF

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

Theme: Christmas Tree LI(gh)TS

Rules: Standard LITS rules.

Or, if you prefer to treat this as a Star Battle for some unknown reason, use these rules: In this variation of Star Battle, place the indicated number of stars in each row, column, and region. Then shade exactly four connected cells (without stars) in each outlined region, to form an L, I, T, or S tetromino, so that the following conditions are true: (1) All shaded cells are connected with each other; (2) No 2×2 group of cells can be entirely shaded black; (3) When two tetrominoes in adjacent regions share an edge, they must not be of the same type (L, I, T, or S), regardless of rotations or reflections.

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

Solution: PDF