Bar Korpi-it's a bar, dot got fat
(Published on 12. January 2021, 00:44 by bigger)
Warning, this is a 4 star difficulty, I really mean it.
The idea comes from PrimeWeasel. I don't think any puzzle will help you with this one. Also, this is the last of my ideas on two cell kropki series.
Standard sudoku rules applies. Fill the grid with numbers from 1 to 9 so each digit occurs exactly once in every row, column and 3x3 box.
A fat black dot indicates that the two cells on one side have a sum that is double the sum of the two cells on the opposite side.
A fat white dot indicates that the two cells on one side of the dot have a sum that is 1 higher or lower than the sum of the two cells on the opposite side.
All possible fat dots/bars are given.
This puzzle is made by Old Miles from China.Now you can't try a whole row or column (unless you are too good at it). You have to do it in two(or not)
Fun fact, Old Miles said this one should be A LOT easier, for it has more combination to try with. And it doesn't work. It is easier than the two cell kropki for sure. But still not that easy to solve. I also have an evil idea of making dots in the centre of a tetris. But I think I have enough torture, so, no.
My after thought on this series: It's interesting how simple change on simple puzzle can change so much. It shows what kropki has instored but not yet fully used. It's a new angle to a simple puzzle. It's kind of funny seeing me and SirWoezel trying so hard to make this idea less scary and support the orginial idea with our own twist. Yet it seems people like familiar rules and easy puzzle more. So thanks everyone for taking a part in this idea growth. Hope you enjoy the ride.
Solution code: Row 9 and column 1
Comments
on 13. January 2021, 09:47 by SirWoezel
@bigger
The break in was fine! It was the rest of the puzzle that was -and I honestly mean to say this in a respectful way'- one long, frustrating and unenjoyable experience.
***
bigger: I get that. But it's hard to find tricks in this type. Black and white cross sure are useful, but I didn't find other tricks. The difference between this one and the two cell kropki is this one use negative constraint more. It makes the ending part not that satisfy. Also bar has a problem of symmetry. Flip it around and it will have another solution. That's why it's hard to find the combination.
Anyway, I think this one much as an experiment on a different rule, trying to find out if a block of 4 is easier than a stripe of 4. I think the block kind of ease up the beginning part and harden the end part. As the type series shows(you can try that and see if i'm right), some people get tedious. I think it might be a natural flaw in this kind of rules. Now comes the hard problem, is there a negative restraint rule that can make the block less tedious. I don't know, therefore I try.
on 13. January 2021, 01:17 by bigger
That's why it's a 4 star, not enough to make it 5, but showing how it could become. It's just hard to think of a break in other than try a row of column. So, here comes the box.
on 12. January 2021, 21:45 by marcmees
Agree with SirWoezel. After a clear break in, it became an elimination of an extensive amount of possible combinations. More logic please.
on 12. January 2021, 18:57 by SirWoezel
Oh, and other than Old Miles I thought this was at least twice as hard as the two cell kropki... But that's just my 2 cents.
on 12. January 2021, 18:50 by SirWoezel
Ok, so there is some nice logic to finding the 'break in', but after that -as far as I could discover- sadly the logic (and the fun) was over.
It's a very interesting puzzle type, but it really, really needs a good solving path.
on 12. January 2021, 14:00 by PrimeWeasel
As much as I like you guys making new versions of the one I made, when trying yours myself, I realize how difficult they can get.
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bigger: That's exactly why that puzzle is so underrated in my mind. I only take a part of the rule, and it's still hard. You use a complicated rule, but the puzzle still doesn't get that hard. It's interesting to see a seemingly hard rule has nearly the same difficulty as the shorter one. As a solver, it motivates me to try those longer rule puzzle. That is what makes your puzzle special, at least to me.
on 12. January 2021, 12:36 by bigger
Add link
on 12. January 2021, 12:06 by SirWoezel
Here is a penpa+ link:
https://git.io/Jtvzu
