I had not intended to have a repeat author for a Sunday Surprise so soon, but Craig Kasper sent along a really nice surprise sudoku to mark the US National Championship we’ve been focusing our attention on all weekend. See if you can find your way through to the very end.

PDF

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

Theme: That US national championship happening this weekend; speaking of which, congratulations to the top finishers at the US Puzzle Championship, whomever you turn out to be.

Rules: Standard Sudoku rules. Also, the regions are irregularly shaped; instead of numbers, use the letters in “I’D GOLF, MAN” once in each row, column, and region.

Answer String: Enter the letters in the third column, from top to bottom, followed by the letters in the seventh column, from top to bottom. USE CAPITAL LETTERS.

Solution: PDF

PDF

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

This is a “Twisted Tuesday” puzzle variation.

Theme: None

Rules: Variation of Star Battle. There are still two stars per row and column, but instead of regions there is an irregular grid. Stars cannot be placed in adjacent cells that share an edge or corner.

Answer String: For each row from top to bottom, enter the number of the first column from the left where a star appears (gray numbers at the top of the puzzle here are given to help). Enter these numbers as a single string with no separators.

Time Standards (highlight to view): Grandmaster = 1:30, Master = 2:30, Expert = 5:00

Solution: PDF

PDF

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

This is a “Franken-Friday” puzzle variation.

Theme: No givens (this variation was inspired in part by the Even/Odd round at the 19th WPC by Lukasz Bozykowski.)

Rules: Standard Skyscrapers rules. All even digits (and only even digits) have been shaded gray. Note: this means that all unshaded digits, including unshaded outside digits, are odd.

Answer String: Enter the 1st row from left to right, followed by a comma, followed by the 3rd row from left to right.

Time Standards (highlight to view): Grandmaster = 2:45, Master = 4:00, Expert = 8:00

Solution: PDF

PDF

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)

This is a “Twisted Tuesday” puzzle variation.

Theme: Hidden Clues

Rules: Standard Cave rules. Also, no number may directly connect to/”see” another number within horizontally or vertically connected cells.

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 = 2:15, Master = 3:00, Expert = 6:00

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.

PDF

or solve online (using our beta test of Penpa-Edit tools in edgex mode where left click+drag draws lines and right click marks X’s)

This is a “Franken-Friday” puzzle variation.

Theme: Hex Pill

Rules: Standard Slitherlink rules.

Answer String: Enter the length in cells of each of the internal loop segments following the arrows for the marked rows, starting at the top. Separate each row’s entry with a comma.

Time Standards (highlight to view): Grandmaster = 4:45, Master = 7:30, Expert = 15:00

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.)

This is a “Twisted Tuesday” puzzle variation.

Theme: LITS

Rules: Standard Tapa rules. Also, the Tapa wall must be able to be partitioned into tetrominoes, with no two tetrominoes of the same shape (L, I, T, or S in a tetromino sense allowing for rotations and reflections) sharing an edge. In other words, this Tapa must also form a valid solution shape for a LITS puzzle.

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

Today’s surprise marks the occasion of Grant Fikes’ 26th birthday. Grant has written a surprise puzzle hunt-style puzzle that will solve to a two word answer. This is likely more challenging than our earlier “Word Search” surprise on April 1st, but we hope it is enjoyable to those who give it a shot while celebrating Grant’s birthday.

Note: the first 26 solvers (or all those who solve it within a week if fewer than 26 solve it by then) will be entered into a random drawing for a copy of Grant’s “Battle of LITS” board game.

PDF

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

Answer String: Enter the two word answer in all capital letters, with a single space between words.

Solution: PDF

Update (6/2/13): There have been 27 solvers in the week since this puzzle posted and all of those names will be placed into a drawing sometime shortly. Watch here for further updates.

**While this was initially not a numbered Grant opus, we are calling it #48 for our site count.

PDF

or solve online (using our beta test of Penpa-Edit tools; use tab to alternate between ship placement and shading modes. In ship placement mode, right click gives sea, left click gives circle/square, left click and drag for rounded ships.)

This is a “Franken-Friday” puzzle variation.

Theme: All Mine

Rules: Variation of standard Battleships rules. Instead of exterior clues, clues inside the grid indicate the number of adjacent squares, including diagonally adjacent squares, containing ship segments. Ships do not sit on cells with numbers.

Answer String: For each row from top to bottom, enter the number of the first column from the left where a ship segment appears. If the row is empty, enter 0. Enter these numbers as a single string with no separators.

Time Standards (highlight to view): Grandmaster = 2:30, Master = 4:30, Expert = 9:00

Solution: PDF

PDF

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

This is a “Twisted Tuesday” puzzle variation.

Theme: Big City

Rules: Standard Sudoku rules. Also, standard Skyscrapers rules.

Answer String: Enter the 8th column from top to bottom, followed by a comma, followed by the 9th column from top to bottom.

Time Standards (highlight to view): Grandmaster = 4:00, Master = 6:30, Expert = 13:00

Solution: PDF

Today’s surprise comes from Hans van Stippent, who sent several creative submissions in for The Art of Puzzles. For this book I’m mostly avoiding “variations”, but I found this puzzle to be a surprising twist perfect for this spot.

PDF

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.)

Theme: Diagonals

Rules: Variation of standard Fillomino rules. Some clues are not fully specified, and must simply follow the inequality value given in the cell.

Answer String: For each cell in the marked rows/columns, enter the area of the polyomino it belongs to. Start with the 2nd row, followed by a comma, followed by the 8th row.

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.