Initial Setter Difficulty: 3/5
Normal Sudoku rules apply.
Place the digits 1-9 so that they do not repeat in any row, column, or 3x3 box.
Dutch Flats
Every 5 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.
Modular Snake
Draw a one-cell-wide snake of orthogonally connected cells. The snake can't touch itself, not even diagonally.
- Every three cell sequence on the snake contains a digit from each modular group {147}, {258}, and {369}.
- Circles are on the snake.
- Squares are not on the snake.
- A digit in a circle/square counts how many cells of the same type (snake/non-snake) it sees in the row and column, including itself. The other type blocks vision.
Special Thanks / Apologies
Thank you to Sujoyku for last weeks puzzle! - It was lovely!
Apologies to Palpot! This puzzle began life as a collab, but after Palpot tested my break in (which had an error!), I got carried away and placed a few more clues and soon finished setting the puzzle without him!
I am away on holiday for the next few weeks
Marty Sears has very kindly offered to cover next week (7th Aug) with the Dutchest Dutch Flat Mate yet, then Sujoyku is back the week after (14th Aug) with a twist on Quads, finally, my series co-anchor GoodCity is back (21st Aug) so I can concentrate on relaxing, followed too quickly by unpacking and laundry!! - lol
To play this puzzle please click here: Play CTC
Hint to Start
There is an issue with the values in circles if you directly join the snake near the top of column 3.
This Weeks Puzzle
Previous puzzles in the Dutch Flat Mates series:
Solution code: Only digits in Row 7 that are NOT on the snake (left to right).
on 2. August 2024, 01:51 by yttrio
Super fun, smooth puzzle!
on 1. August 2024, 10:44 by Niverio
I actually tried to solve this puzzle without the Dutch Flat Mates rule. It almost solved, was able to get the entire snake with some fabulous deductions, but sadly the digit disambiguation did need the Dutch Flat Mates :D Cool puzzle.
Flinty: Err, thanks, I think - haha. :)
on 1. August 2024, 05:04 by Elker
What a pleasure. Thanks for setting this.
on 31. July 2024, 15:01 by sujoyku
Thank you for this gorgeous puzzle, Flinty! This time, I somehow managed not to forget about the Dutch Flat Mates and had a very enjoyable and smooth solve.
on 31. July 2024, 13:54 by marcmees
smooth. thanks
on 31. July 2024, 12:14 by gdc
love the combination of sightlines and modular snakes/loops. Very well done.