Dr. Sudoku Prescribes #93 – Masyu (Total)

Masyu by Thomas Snyder

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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: Totally symmetric?

Rules: Standard Masyu rules. Also, all possible white and black circles have been given. (In other words, the loop cannot turn in any unlabeled spot and then continue straight in the next two cells as that should be a black circle; the loop also cannot go straight in any unlabeled spot and then turn in one of the adjoining cells as that should be a white circle.)

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 = 2:30, Master = 4:00, Expert = 8:00

Solution: PDF

Dr. Sudoku Prescribes #92 – Skyscrapers

Skyscrapers by Thomas Snyder

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Theme: Middles

Rules: Standard Skyscrapers rules.

Answer String: Enter the 1st row from left to right, followed by a comma, followed by the 5th row from left to right.

Time Standards (highlight to view): Grandmaster = 0:45, Master = 1:15, Expert = 2:30

Solution: PDF

Dr. Sudoku Prescribes #87 – Tile Sudoku

Tile Sudoku by Thomas Snyder

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Theme: Diagonals

Rules: Standard Tile Sudoku rules.

Answer String: Enter the 1st row from left to right, followed by a comma, followed by the 12th row from left to right.

Time Standards (highlight to view): Grandmaster = 3:00, Master = 4:45, Expert = 9:30

Solution: PDF

Dr. Sudoku Prescribes #86 – Sudoku

Sudoku by Thomas Snyder

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Theme: Double Vision

Rules: Standard Sudoku rules.

Answer String: Enter the 1st row from left to right, followed by a comma, followed by the 9th row from left to right.

Time Standards (highlight to view): Grandmaster = 1:30, Master = 2:00, Expert = 4:00

Solution: PDF

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 classic Sudoku puzzles can be found in The Art of Sudoku, The Art of Sudoku 2 and in our beginner-friendly collection Intro to GMPuzzles by Serkan Yürekli.

From the Foxger’s Den #15: Fillomino (Nonconsecutive)

Fillomino by Grant Fikes

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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.)

This is a “Twisted Tuesday” puzzle variation.

Theme: Mostly themeless, besides the variation itself.

Rules: Variation of standard Fillomino rules. In addition to polyominoes of the same size not being allowed to touch, polyominoes that differ in size by one (for example, 3 and 4) also cannot touch.

Answer String: For each cell in the marked rows/columns, enter the area of the polyomino it belongs to. Start with the 5th row, followed by a comma, followed by the 8th row.

Time Standards (highlight to view): Grandmaster = 2:30, Master = 3:15, Expert = 6:30

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 #82 – Star Battle

Star Battle by Thomas Snyder

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

Theme: Ray Gun

Rules: Standard Star Battle rules.

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

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

Solution: PDF

Note: Follow this link for other classic Star Battles and this link for Star Battle variations. If you are new to this puzzle type, here are our easiest Star Battles to get started on. More Star Battle puzzles can be found in The Art of Puzzles, in the book Star Battle by JinHoo Ahn, and in our beginner-friendly collection Intro to GMPuzzles by Serkan Yürekli.

Dr. Sudoku Prescribes #77 – Nurikabe (Unique Islands)

Nurikabe by Thomas Snyder

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

This is a “Twisted Tuesday” puzzle variation.

Theme: Unique Islands

Rules: Standard Nurikabe rules. Also, each island shape must be unique. This means that no two islands, including rotation and/or reflection of the shapes, can be superimposed.

Answer String: Enter the length in cells of each of the black segments (the unnumbered, connected “ocean”) 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 = 4:15, Master = 6:00, Expert = 12:00

Solution: PDF

Dr. Sudoku Prescribes #76 – Cave

Cave by Thomas Snyder

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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: Even Frame

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 = 2:30, Master = 4:15, Expert = 8:30

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 #13: Sudoku (Seek and Spell)

Sudoku Variation by Grant Fikes

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This is a “Twisted Tuesday” puzzle variation.

Theme: Doctor Sudo-Who?

Rules: Standard Sudoku rules except that instead of the numbers 1-9 this puzzle uses the letters in “WORD BATCH”. Also, clues in the grid represent typical “Seek and Spell/Kanaore” clues; specifically, it must be possible to read each of the words/phrases listed below the grid by starting at the indicated number, moving one cell in the direction indicated by the arrow, and then continuing to move one cell at a time up, down, left, or right to complete the word/phrase. No cell may be used more than once in a single path, but the same cell can appear in the paths of different words/phrases.

Answer String: Enter the 1st column from top to bottom, followed by a comma, followed by the 5th column from top to bottom. Use all capital letters.

Time Standards (highlight to view): Grandmaster = 5:00, Master = 7:00, Expert = 14:00

Solution: PDF

From the Foxger’s Den #12: Cross the Streams

Cross The Streams by Grant Fikes

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

Theme: Two Easy? A counterpoint to the excellent “Two Hard!” from a few weeks ago with fourteen 2’s this time.

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 = 2:00, Master = 3:00, Expert = 6:00

Solution: PDF