Dutch Flat Mates (Rellik Cages)
(Published on 29. May 2024, 11:30 by Flinty)
Normal Sudoku rules apply.
Place the digits 1-9 so that they do not repeat in any row, column, or 3x3 box.
5s live in Dutch Flats
All 5s in the grid must have a '1' directly above it or a '9' directly below it. It may have both, but it doesn't need both.
Rellik Cages
All cages are Rellik Cages.
Any combination of one or more digits within a Rellik Cage CANNOT sum to the value in the top left. Digits cannot repeat within a cage.
Special Thanks to sujoyku
If you are new to Rellik Cages, please try this tremendous introduction puzzle - Lying right to your face - and thank you sujoyku for the idea. My Flat Mates version has been in a finished state in my drafts for months, and I feel the world is finally ready for it - haha.
To play this puzzle please click here: Play CTC
Previous puzzles in the Dutch Flat Mates series:
- Classic
- Thermometers
- German Whispers
- Region Sum Lines
- Sandwich Sums
- Little Killer
- Kropki
- Zipper Lines
- Renban - By GoodCity
- Nabner - By GoodCity
- Skyscrapers - By GoodCity
- Dutch Whispers
- Killer Cages
- Arrows
- Ten Lines
- 159 Index and Even - By GoodCity
- Friendly Cells
- Quads
- Silent Killer - By GoodCity
- XV and Equality
- X-Sums
- Numbered Rooms - By GoodCity
- Diagonal X-Sums
- Yin Yang (Neighborhoods) - By Palpot
- Hit Points
- XY Difference - By GoodCity
- Double Sandwich Sums
- Foggy Knights
- Slingshot - By GoodCity
- 258 Index and Odd
Hint - Tip to Start
I love Rellik puzzles and the back and forth deductions. It may not seem likely, but you can independently fully pencilmark Boxes 1, 4 and 6 from the start. If you need a bigger nudge in Box 1, consider how you make '10' with two digits.
This Weeks Puzzle
Solution code: Digits from Row 6
Comments
on 12. August 2024, 15:37 by ChinStrap
Love rellik cages, love DFM. Loved this puzzle!
on 2. June 2024, 17:07 by EmpyClaw
This was very challenging for me, but I had a lot of fun trying to figure it all out. A satisfying conclusion! Thank you!
on 30. May 2024, 12:32 by Flinty
Thank you for the kind comments. :)
on 30. May 2024, 01:09 by sujoyku
Thank you for mentioning me in the puzzle description, Flinty! But more importantly, thank you for this wonderful puzzle. I loved the "bouncing between the cages logic" (and having set Rellik puzzles myself and therefore created lists with possible unique cage combinations definitely helped ^^). I also deeply enjoyed the contribution of the Dutch flat mate constraint. The combination led to some unexpected and fresh interactions. Take a bow for this amazing setup!
Flinty: You are very welcome. Thank you again. :)
on 29. May 2024, 17:47 by fajoogaloo
Continuing to love the puzzles in this series. These constraints feel like they were made for each other :)
on 29. May 2024, 16:58 by glum_hippo
Found it very hard, but certainly interesting
on 29. May 2024, 12:38 by 9Rookienumbers
Awesome puzzle! Rellik cages and dutch flat mates worked perfectly together
