or solve online (using our beta test of Penpa-Edit tools)
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
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Theme: 2 to 5, twice
Rules: Standard Skyscrapers rules.
Answer String: Enter the 3rd row from left to right, followed by a comma, followed by the 4th row from left to right.
Time Standards (highlight to view): Grandmaster = 5:00, Master = 7:30, Expert = 15:00
Solution: PDF
or solve online (using our beta test of Penpa-Edit tools)
This is a “Twisted Tuesday” puzzle variation.
Theme: Arithmetic Series
Rules: Variant of Skyscrapers rules. The numbers outside the grid represent the sum of the buildings seen in that row or column. For example, if a row is 12534, the clue from the left would be an 8 (1+2+5) and from the right would be a 9 (4+5).
Answer String: Enter the 3rd row from left to right, followed by a comma, followed by the 5th row from left to right.
Time Standards (highlight to view): Grandmaster = 1:30, Master = 2:45, Expert = 5:30
Solution: PDF
or solve online (using our beta test of Penpa-Edit tools)
Theme: On a scale of difficulty from one to five — this is “Mostly Five”
Rules: Standard Skyscrapers rules.
Answer String: Enter the 4th row from left to right, followed by a comma, followed by the 7th row from left to right.
Time Standards (highlight to view): Grandmaster = 5:45, Master = 10:00, Expert = 20:00
Solution: PDF
Editorial Note: This should go without saying, but it is advised that you pursue logic as far as you can take it instead of guessing.
Sixth in a series with puzzle solving tips. This time with advice on both solving and constructing skyscrapers puzzles.
I’ve gotten a lot of requests for tips on how to construct puzzles. I don’t offer many online as I have a monthly column in GAMES magazine that covers this and I don’t like competing with myself for less money. But Mike Selinker and I have improved on that content recently in turning our columns into a book, Puzzlecraft: The Ultimate Guide on How to Construct Every Kind of Puzzle
This week, I thought I would give some insights into how I made this puzzle. Since I often construct a puzzle by thinking in the same way that I would solve the puzzle, the images below will show you both how I made the grid (and when I needed to use certain clues) and also how solvers likely completed the grid (and when they needed to use certain clues).
or solve online (using our beta test of Penpa-Edit tools)
Theme: Countdown!
Rules: Standard Skyscrapers rules.
Answer String: Enter the 8th row from left to right, followed by a comma, followed by the 1st column from top to bottom.
Time Standard: Skyscrapers Grandmaster = 5:15, Master = 8:00, Expert = 16:00
Solution: PDF
or solve online (using our beta test of Penpa-Edit tools)
Theme: Either/or — a hard solving theme despite so many clues.
Rules: Standard Skyscrapers rules.
Answer String: Enter the 3rd row from left to right, followed by a comma, followed by the 4th column from top to bottom.
Time Standard: Skyscrapers Grandmaster = 3:00, Master = 5:30, Expert = 11:00
Solution: PDF
Note: Advice on solving this puzzle, and also constructing Skyscraper puzzles, has now been posted in “Ask Dr. Sudoku #6”
or solve online (using our beta test of Penpa-Edit tools)
Theme: A little of everything — the rows have clues from 1 to 6.
Rules: Standard Skyscrapers rules.
Answer String: Enter the 4th row from left to right, followed by a comma, followed by the 5th column from top to bottom.
Time Standard: Skyscrapers Grandmaster = 1:00, Master = 1:45, Expert = 3:30
Solution: PDF