(This post is part of the Genuinely Approachable Sudoku (GAS) series.)
In this Sudoku variation, similar to Outside Sudoku the clues outside the grid must be in the first three cells. However, here they must also be the median value in those three cells which adds some new and fun challenges to the logic.

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Author/Opus: This is the 61st puzzle from Clover, part of the Genuinely Approachable Sudoku (GAS) team.

Rules: Standard Sudoku rules (insert a number from 1 to 9 into each cell so that no number repeats in any row, column, or bold region). Also, each clue given outside the grid must appear somewhere in the first three cells in the corresponding direction. This clue represents the median (i.e., middle value) of those three cells. (For example, the clue to the left of row 2 indicates that in R2C123 one of the three cells is lower than 3, one is 3, and one is higher than 3.)

GAS Time Standards (highlight to view): Two party hats (🎩🥳): 7:00; One party hat (🥳): 13:00. All other solvers earn a 🦕: mid Minmi.

Thomas Hits the GAS (highlight to view): 2:10, with SudokuPad replay file shared as a download for now (requires loading via settings menu with improvements expected before people should use this regularly).

Solution: PDF and solving video with explanation from GAS team.

Note: Follow this link for other less common variations of Sudoku.

Note 2: Comments on the blog are great! For a more interactive discussion, please also consider using our Daily GAS discussion post on the GMPuzzles Discord. Not a member of the Discord? Click this link for basic access.

(This post is part of the Genuinely Approachable Sudoku (GAS) series.)
In this fun Sudoku with the title “Defying Symmetry” there are two pairs of shapes repeated four times across the grid that must contain the same numbers in the same positions.

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Theme: Defying Symmetry

Author/Opus: This is the 42nd puzzle from Philip Newman, part of the Genuinely Approachable Sudoku (GAS) team.

Rules: Standard Sudoku rules (insert a number from 1 to 9 into each cell so that no number repeats in any row, column, or bold region). Additionally, each shaded, connected shape (“clone”) in the grid must include the same numbers in the same positions with no rotations or reflections. Numbers may repeat within a clone.

GAS Time Standards (highlight to view): Two party hats (🎩🥳): 6:30; One party hat (🥳): 12:00. All other solvers earn a 🦕: Jinchuanloongish Jinchuanloong.

Thomas Hits the GAS (highlight to view): 1:55, with SudokuPad replay file shared as a download for now (requires loading via settings menu with improvements expected before people should use this regularly).

Solution: PDF and solving video with explanation from GAS team.

Note: Follow this link for other less common variations of Sudoku.

Note 2: Comments on the blog are great! For a more interactive discussion, please also consider using our Daily GAS discussion post on the GMPuzzles Discord. Not a member of the Discord? Click this link for basic access.

(This post is part of the Genuinely Approachable Sudoku (GAS) series.)
In this twist on Classic Sudoku, some outside clues indicate the specific locations — corner or edge — where their values must be placed. Can you figure out the key placements to get to the unique solution?

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or solve online (using SudokuPad)

Author/Opus: This is the 39th puzzle from Bill Murphy, part of the Genuinely Approachable Sudoku (GAS) team.

Rules: Standard Sudoku rules (insert a number from 1 to 9 into each cell so that no number repeats in any row, column, or bold region). The clues outside the grid indicate specific placements within the bold region adjacent to that clue. Corner clues (denoted by ‘C’, in blue) indicate numbers that must be placed in one of the four corner cells of the bold region. Edge clues (denoted by ‘E’, in red) indicate numbers that must be placed in one of the four edge cells of that bold region that touch the bold lines but are not corner cells. (E.g., the clue next to box 1 means that edge cells R2C1, R2C3 and R3C2 contain the numbers 1, 5, and 8 whereas the clue next to box 2 means that corner cells R1C6, R3C4, and R3C6 must contain 1, 3, and 6.)

GAS Time Standards (highlight to view): Two party hats (🎩🥳): 7:00; One party hat (🥳): 13:00. All other solvers earn a 🦕: ThrillHo(plitosaurus).

Thomas Hits the GAS (highlight to view): 2:00, with SudokuPad replay file shared as a download for now (requires loading via settings menu with improvements expected before people should use this regularly).

Solution: PDF and solving video with explanation from GAS team.

Note: Follow this link for other less common variations of Sudoku.

Note 2: Comments on the blog are great! For a more interactive discussion, please also consider using our Daily GAS discussion post on the GMPuzzles Discord. Not a member of the Discord? Click this link for basic access.

(This post is part of the Genuinely Approachable Sudoku (GAS) series.)
A special rule applies in this Sudoku puzzle where each stretch of three straight cells in a region must be divisible by three. Can you figure out the key consequences to solve the puzzle?

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or solve online (using SudokuPad)

Author/Opus: This is the 60th puzzle from Clover, part of the Genuinely Approachable Sudoku (GAS) team.

Rules: Standard Sudoku rules (insert a number from 1 to 9 into each cell so that no number repeats in any row, column, or bold region). Also, within each 3×3 region, each of the three sets of three horizontally adjacent cells or three vertically adjacent cells must have a sum that is divisible by three. For instance, R1C1 + R1C2 + R1C3 is divisible by three and R1C1 + R2C1 + R3C1 is divisible by three. This rule does not necessarily apply across regions.

GAS Time Standards (highlight to view): Two party hats (🎩🥳): 7:00; One party hat (🥳): 13:00. All other solvers earn a 🦕: divisive Diplodocus.

Thomas Hits the GAS (highlight to view): 2:28, with SudokuPad replay file shared as a download for now (requires loading via settings menu with improvements expected before people should use this regularly).

Solution: PDF and solving video with explanation from GAS team.

Note: Follow this link for other less common variations of Sudoku.

Note 2: Comments on the blog are great! For a more interactive discussion, please also consider using our Daily GAS discussion post on the GMPuzzles Discord. Not a member of the Discord? Click this link for basic access.

This post is part of the Genuinely Approachable Sudoku (GAS) series.
Will you swim with the Sudoku fishes in this “Koi Pond” pattern of givens by Bill Murphy.

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Theme: Koi Pond

Author/Opus: This is the 38th puzzle from Bill Murphy, part of the Genuinely Approachable Sudoku (GAS) team.

Rules: Standard Sudoku rules: Insert a number from 1 to 9 into each cell so that no number repeats in any row, column, or bold region.

GAS Time Standards (highlight to view): Two party hats (🎩🥳): 6:30; One party hat (🥳): 12:00. All other solvers earn a 🦕: Puzzling Puertasaurus.

Thomas Hits the GAS (highlight to view): 1:44, with SudokuPad replay file shared as a download for now (requires loading via settings menu with improvements expected before people should use this regularly).

Solution: PDF and solving video with explanation from GAS team.

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 Sudoku including variations can be found in these books in our e-store. Also, visit this page to purchase all of the puzzles from the 16th World Sudoku Championship including classic Sudoku.

Note 2: Comments on the blog are great! For a more interactive discussion, please also consider using our Daily GAS discussion post on the GMPuzzles Discord. Not a member of the Discord? Click this link for basic access.

(This post is part of the Genuinely Approachable Sudoku (GAS) series.)
Stepping a little further from single variant Sudoku into multi-rule challenges, Philip Newman has constructed this Anti-Knight and Palindrome puzzle for today’s GAS puzzle.

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Theme: Antiknight ATH Gin Kitna

Author/Opus: This is the 40th puzzle from Philip Newman, part of the Genuinely Approachable Sudoku (GAS) team.

Rules: Standard Sudoku rules (insert a number from 1 to 9 into each cell so that no number repeats in any row, column, or bold region). Numbers cannot repeat in any cells separated by a chess knight’s move. Also, the numbers along each gray line form a palindrome (i.e., read the same forwards and backwards).

GAS Time Standards (highlight to view): Two party hats (🎩🥳): 8:00; One party hat (🥳): 17:00. All other solvers earn a 🦕: Yenful Yamanasaurus.

Thomas Hits the GAS (highlight to view): 2:49, with SudokuPad replay file shared as a download for now (requires loading via settings menu with improvements expected before people should use this regularly).

Solution: PDF and solving video with explanation from GAS team.

Note: Follow this link for other less common variations of Sudoku.

Note 2: Comments on the blog are great! For a more interactive discussion, please also consider using our Daily GAS discussion post on the GMPuzzles Discord. Not a member of the Discord? Click this link for basic access.

(This post is part of the Genuinely Approachable Sudoku (GAS) series.)
Like a game of minesweeper, the circled even or odd clues in this puzzle indicate how many touching cells contain even or odd numbers.

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Author/Opus: This is the 58th puzzle from Clover, part of the Genuinely Approachable Sudoku (GAS) team.

Rules: Standard Sudoku rules (insert a number from 1 to 9 into each cell so that no number repeats in any row, column, or bold region). A circled number indicates the total count of surrounding cells (up to 8) that must have the same parity (i.e., odd or even) as the circled number. For example, if a 3 is circled, there must be exactly 3 odd numbers in the surrounding 8 cells and the other 5 cells must contain even numbers.

GAS Time Standards (highlight to view): Two party hats (🎩🥳): 7:00; One party hat (🥳): 13:00. All other solvers earn a 🦕: pear-shaped Piveteausaurus.

Thomas Hits the GAS (highlight to view): 2:50, with SudokuPad replay file shared as a download for now (requires loading via settings menu with improvements expected before people should use this regularly).

Solution: PDF and solving video with explanation from GAS team.

Note: Follow this link for other less common variations of Sudoku.

Note 2: Comments on the blog are great! For a more interactive discussion, please also consider using our Daily GAS discussion post on the GMPuzzles Discord. Not a member of the Discord? Click this link for basic access.

(This post is part of the Genuinely Approachable Sudoku (GAS) series.)
In this Fortress Sudoku, some “big birds” are marking their territory where they rule the roost. Can you place all the values in this puzzle by Bill Murphy?

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Theme: More Big Birds

Author/Opus: This is the 36th puzzle from Bill Murphy, part of the Genuinely Approachable Sudoku (GAS) team.

Rules: Standard Sudoku rules (insert a number from 1 to 9 into each cell so that no number repeats in any row, column, or bold region). A number in a gray cell must be larger than any number in an adjacent white cell that shares an edge. (To assist solvers, this is shown like a greater than/less than shape in how the gray cells are drawn.)

GAS Time Standards (highlight to view): Two party hats (🎩🥳): 6:00; One party hat (🥳): 11:00. All other solvers earn a 🦕: Perfect Pachystruthiodmanisensis.

Thomas Hits the GAS (highlight to view): 2:09, with SudokuPad replay file shared as a download for now (requires loading via settings menu with improvements expected before people should use this regularly).

Solution: PDF and solving video with explanation from GAS team.

Note: Follow this link for other less common variations of Sudoku.

Note 2: Comments on the blog are great! For a more interactive discussion, please also consider using our Daily GAS discussion post on the GMPuzzles Discord. Not a member of the Discord? Click this link for basic access.

(This post is part of the Genuinely Approachable Sudoku (GAS) series.)
Clover has galloped in here (probably with coconuts, not with real horses) with an Anti-Knight Sudoku to kick off the weekend.

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or solve online (using SudokuPad)

Author/Opus: This is the 57th puzzle from Clover, part of the Genuinely Approachable Sudoku (GAS) team.

Rules: Standard Sudoku rules (insert a number from 1 to 9 into each cell so that no number repeats in any row, column, or bold region). Also, numbers cannot repeat in any cells separated by a chess knight’s move.

GAS Time Standards (highlight to view): Two party hats (🎩🥳): 6:30; One party hat (🥳): 12:00. All other solvers earn a 🦕: mutant Muttaburrasaurus.

Thomas Hits the GAS (highlight to view): 1:49, with SudokuPad replay file shared as a download for now (requires loading via settings menu with improvements expected before people should use this regularly).

Solution: PDF and solving video with explanation from GAS team.

Note: Follow this link for other less common variations of Sudoku.

Note 2: Comments on the blog are great! For a more interactive discussion, please also consider using our Daily GAS discussion post on the GMPuzzles Discord. Not a member of the Discord? Click this link for basic access.

(This post is part of the Genuinely Approachable Sudoku (GAS) series.)
A familiar pattern with some new Renban groups to figure out; can you solve this challenging but approachable puzzle by Philip Newman?

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Theme: Runnin’ Down a Dream

Author/Opus: This is the 38th puzzle from Philip Newman, part of the Genuinely Approachable Sudoku (GAS) team.

Rules: Standard Sudoku rules (insert a number from 1 to 9 into each cell so that no number repeats in any row, column, or bold region). Numbers along each line must form a non-repeating consecutive set, in any order. (For example, a 4-cell Renban line could be 4352, but not 5679 or 2312.)

GAS Time Standards (highlight to view): Two party hats (🎩🥳): 7:30; One party hat (🥳): 15:00. All other solvers earn a 🦕: Nosy Nigersaurus.

Thomas Hits the GAS (highlight to view): 3:10, with SudokuPad replay file shared as a download for now (requires loading via settings menu with improvements expected before people should use this regularly).

Solution: PDF and solving video with explanation from GAS team.

Note: Follow this link for other less common variations of Sudoku.

Note 2: Comments on the blog are great! For a more interactive discussion, please also consider using our Daily GAS discussion post on the GMPuzzles Discord. Not a member of the Discord? Click this link for basic access.