Puzzle No. 511: Arrow + Between 1 & 9 Sudoku

I want to call the variant a lot of people now know as “Sandwich” by what it used to be called, including in past posts on this very blog. This is a puzzle I’d worked on a while back, for a speedsetting contest that I was too late to submit to.

In other news, the WPF Sudoku Grand Prix final results are here – https://gp.worldpuzzle.org/content/wpf-gp-sudoku-results-2021

There could be a minor change or two since the round 8 results are still “preliminary” but I’m confident that my final placement won’t change. So I’m 6th! Considering I started the year targeting a top 10 finish, I’m pretty happy with this. I had a really strong finish in the last 2 rounds.

What else.. oh ya, I just wanted to note that this is the vague schedule I’ll be going for (every alternate day). I’ll branch out on topics as I go I think.

Rules –

Insert a digit from 1 to 9 into each cell so that no digit repeats in any row, column, or bold region.

Additionally, the number in a circle is the sum of the digits which are covered by its arrow. Digits may repeat along arrows.

Also, the clues outside the grid are the sum of the numbers that are between the digits 1 and 9 in that row or column.

Penpa link to solve: https://git.io/JBj0a (You can tab with surface and Sudoku, the answer check is just for correct digits)

Puzzle No. 509: Triomino Sudoku [Daily League]

I’ve got wayyy too much to do these days, so I’ve pretty much stopped any regularity on this blog. I might make the rare post though, like this one. I was a little bored of work and had some time so quickly explored this variant that’s part of the Indian Sudoku Championship which will be held online on LMI in about 13.5 hours. This one is pretty difficult (as are all variants I randomly and quickly post here when bored), but has some nice steps to get started.

Remember that you can solve the puzzles from the League online on the Sudokucup Guest League page with a 24h delay (though I’m not yet sure if this one can be supported there, but take a leap of faith, maybe it will be!).

Rules – Place a digit from 1 to 6 into each empty cell or blacken the cell so that each digit appears exactly once in every row, column, and outlined 3×3 region along with three black(shaded) cells. Each black(shaded) cell should be part of an orthogonally connected group of three blackened(shaded) cells (a triomino). No two triominoes can share an edge.

Enjoy!

P509

Puzzle No. 508: Palindrome Sudoku [Daily League]

Remember that you can solve the puzzles from the League online on the Sudokucup Guest League page with a 24h delay.

Rules – Follow regular Sudoku rules. The numbers formed by the digits on the gray lines are palindromes, that is to say, they can be read equally in both directions.

Enjoy!

Puzzle No. 506 & 507: Trio Sudoku, Anti-Diagonal Sudoku [Daily League]

The Trio Sudoku is actually last week’s puzzle. I’d posted it on facebook but hadn’t posted it here. Thats rectified now. Its not the usual Trio Sudoku, but I prefer this slight tweak because it gives more to work with overall.

Remember that you can solve the puzzles from the League online on the Sudokucup Guest League page with a 24h delay. The Anti-Diagonal is today’s offering and will be the one appearing tomorrow on the online solver.

Also, a new puzzle genre I thought of debuted on GM Puzzles this past week. Its called Balance Loop. Have a go at these!

Balance Loop 1.

Balance Loop 2.

Balance Loop 3.

Rules for 506 – Follow regular Sudoku rules. Additionally, Circles must contain only digits 1, 2 and 3. Small squares must contain only digits 4, 5 and 6. Diamonds must contain only digits 7, 8 and 9.

Rules for 507 – Follow regular Sudoku rules. Additionally, each marked diagonal must contain exactly three distinct digits.

Enjoy!

Puzzle No. 505: Anti-Clone Sudoku [Daily League]

I’ve had enough of Saturdays where I forget its a Saturday. The days I remember are usually Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday, for no specific reason other than that I’m weird. So, I’ve switched Sunday with Rajesh Kumar for the Daily League and I’m hoping that means I remember to post regularly.

Remember that you can solve the puzzles from the League online on the Sudokucup Guest League page with a 24h delay.

Rules – Follow regular Sudoku rules. The digits at the same locations on each shaded area must sum to 10. Shaded areas cannot be rotated or reflected.

Enjoy!

Puzzle No. 504: Search 9 Sudoku [Daily League]

I’m back to the league this week and I hope that I’ll be back regularly now. Anyway, Search 9 Sudoku for today.

Remember that you can solve the puzzles from the League online on the Sudokucup Guest League page with a 24h delay.

Rules – Follow regular Sudoku rules. Additionally, each arrow points to the 9 in the respective row or column. The number in the cell with the arrow is the distance from the cell to the 9 in this row or column.

Enjoy!

P504

Puzzle No. 503 – Diagonal Sudoku [Daily League]

I’m hoping for a bit of free time at the end of the year, I might put up a detailed post about… stuff, then. For now, Sudoku! This might be hard but don’t take my word for it.

Remember that you can solve the puzzles from the League online on the Sudokucup Guest League page with a 24h delay.

Rules – Follow regular Sudoku rules. Additionally, each marked diagonal must also contain all digits from 1~9.

P503 – Diagonal Sudoku

Puzzle No. 501 & 502 – Killer Sudoku & Extra Region Sudoku [Daily League]

Now that I’ve posted my 500th puzzle, I am sharing the Sudoku I contributed to the Daily League last Saturday, along with the Sudoku I’m contributing for it today. I didn’t post the Killer last week on my blog because I wanted the space saved for the special puzzle.

Remember that you can solve the puzzles from the League online on the Sudokucup Guest League page with a 24h delay.

Common Rules – Follow regular Sudoku rules.

For Killer – The number in the top-left corner of a dotted cage is equal to the sum of this cage’s digits. No digit can repeat within a cage.

For Extra Regions – Each group of nine grey cells must also contain the digits 1 to 9.

Enjoy!

P501 – Killer Sudoku

P502 – Extra Region Sudoku

Some solving steps for Puzzle 499, a bit about LMI, and some other stuff

I am attaching a mini-walkthrough PDF for the Arrow Sudoku I posted for the league recently. Its a bit rushed, and only takes the solve through the more difficult deductions, but should be really helpful if you were stuck on that Arrow Sudoku or didn’t attempt it but want to know more about the variant in general. Here’s the PDF –

P499

Now, a bit of a plug. Want more walkthroughs? We do much more detailed ones for LMI patrons. Also, I should say that, at least currently, supporting LMI would mean you are supporting my personal goals too (which is why I don’t have any such effort for this blog).

Also, I might have to disappoint any fans of milestone puzzles by saying that I currently don’t have anything planned. But you never know right? Maybe I think of something worthwhile in the next few days. If I don’t, then come Saturday I’ll just post a League Sudoku as my 500th and that’ll be that.

Soon I’ll be shifting residence, so I’m generally a bit more busy since I want to finish a bunch of things before I probably lose internet access for a week or two.

Puzzle No. 499 – Arrow Sudoku [Daily League]

This puzzle has a nice application of group-thinking… I think. The solving path is also pretty narrow. Not something I’d advise for beginners.

Remember that you can solve the puzzles from the League online on the Sudokucup Guest League page with a 24h delay.

Rules – Follow regular Sudoku rules. Additionally, the number in a circle is the sum of the digits which are covered by its arrow. For circles with multiple arrows, apply the rule for each arrow separately.

Rated – Hard.

Enjoy!

P499