A Deal With the Devil
(Published on 14. December 2023, 16:30 by ViKingPrime)
PUZZLE:
RULES:
Normal Sudoku rules apply.
Normal Arrow, Circle, Kropki, Odd/Even and Ziffer (lavender) rules apply
(a circled digit indicates exactly how many circles contain that digit; digits an equal distance from the center of a lavender line must have a difference equal to the digit in the middle of that line).
• Dutch Whisper (orange): Orange dots separate two digits that differ by at least four [4].
• German Whisper (green): Green dots separate two digits that differ by at least five [5].
• Nabner (brown): Brown dots separate two digits of non-adjacent value [2+].
• Parity (red): Red dots separate two digits containing opposite parity [odd/even].
• Same Difference (turquoise): Turquoise dots separate digits of the same difference (across all turquoise dots), to be deduced by the solver.
• Killer: Digits within a Killer cage must sum to the number given in the top-left corner. Digits must not repeat within a Killer cage.
• Look-and-Say: The number given in the top-left corner of a Look-and-Say cage indicates the number and type of digits within that cage (e.g. if a Look-and-Say cage reads as "12" then there is one 2-digit within that cage; a "32" would indicate three 2-digits within that cage). Digits may repeat if allowed by other rules.
MODIFIERS:
• Cage Ambiguity: The nature of each cage must be determined by the solver (if relevant).
• Two Truths and a Lie: Each of the above standard clue types occurs exactly three times in the grid; for each, exactly two of the appearances of that clue are correct and the other is incorrect.
INTRODUCTION:
This is going to feel like a lot to take in at first blush, however this will all be familiar logic for those who have been solving variant sudoku for awhile. Even the dots utilize quite popular constraints (just in new, compact dot form!).
Here are some puzzles from other setters using the same constraint:
"Two Truths and a Lie" by zetamath
"Call My Bluff" by tallcat
Have fun!
Solve in SudokuMaker!
Solve in SudokuPad!
Solve in SudokuMaker! (colour-limited version)
Solve in SudokuPad! (colour-limited version)
- "What Lies Beyond the Fog" (Fog-of-War)
- "The Unity of Opposites" (Fog-of-War)
- "Uneasy Alliances" (Anti-Kropki) with co-setter Justin Vitanza
- "Trick Play" (Circle/Zipper)
- "A Deal With the Devil" (Look-and-Say)
- "Sweet Little Lies" (Circle/Diagonal)
- "Mephistopheles' Misty Sophistries" (Fog-of-War) by heliopolix
Solution code: The digits along Row 5, left-to-right.
Comments
on 23. April 2024, 17:14 by vfig
i always enjoy a good two truths and a lie! thanks
on 22. April 2024, 20:06 by lmdemasi
Fantastic puzzle! How does this only have 15 solves? It's so good.
on 11. March 2024, 11:22 by Mr. Happy
I loved this. The multiple levels of ambiguous rules were very satisfying to sort through.
on 23. December 2023, 21:52 by wand
phew, really quite lovely and smooth after sorting out some zifferences!
on 23. December 2023, 21:27 by wand
oh my god *forehead* they are ziFFer lines. good choice because it doesn't solve as well using zipper lines
we should make ziffer lines a different color, or have little 'f's on them
really enjoying it so far though!
on 22. December 2023, 11:32 by QuiltyAsCharged
Another sublime puzzle in the Two Truths and a Lie series! The compact dot constraints are cool. Only a few solves so far, I hope more people give it a go.
on 17. December 2023, 01:23 by Slink
Very cool logic around locking the position of the fives in the corner boxes.
