Dutch Flat Mates (Deconstruction X-Sums) (with Palpot)
(Published on 5. February 2025, 11:30 by Flinty)
Deconstruction
Contained within the grid are nine non-overlapping 3x3 square regions, which must be located.
Each region contains the digits 1 to 9 once each, such that no digit repeats in any row or column.
Cells outside regions do not contain digits.
X-Sums
Clues outside the grid give the sum of any digits in the first X cells from the direction of the clue, where X is the first digit in that direction. Cells outside regions have no value.
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.
Special Thanks
Thanks to Palpot for sharing the setting, proposing the constraint, and probably contributing the better clues that really pushed the constraint in cool ways.
This puzzle was inspired by Jesper's Deconstruction: X-Sums
On Monday, I released a smaller puzzle with similar rules that may help: 'Mini Deconstruction X-Sums'
Upcoming Guests
- Series co-anchor Goodcity returns with Kropki's so big they belong in fiction
- Then Sujoyku has back to back appearances, first a collab, then a solo puzzle.
To play this weeks Dutch Flat Mates, please click here 'Play CTC'
Alternate link if preferred, please click here 'Easy Mode'.
We have included hidden Killer Cages in 'Easy Mode' to aid with the conflict checker, but it's possible that pencilmarks may reveal regions early. If this link helps even one person with puzzle accessibility then it was worth it.
Optional hint to help with the start:
Regions are placed quite sneakily to make the clues feel almost impossible at first, the 5 clues for example are in different regions. And this is your weekly reminder to think about Flat Mates - haha.
Cross Section Examples:
This demonstrates the X-Sums rule with some optional fills for a hypothetical 12 clue. Also showing that not every row has 9 digits.
Puzzle Image:
I have removed the list of previous puzzles in the series, as I've noticed it is starting to affect the LMD search function. The plan is to eventually list the Dutch Flat Mates on a linked spreadsheet, and ideally edit the older puzzle pages too. For what it's worth, this has been a weekly series since '18 Oct 23' and is the 69th consecutive Wednesday!
Solution code: Digits from Column 11 (right edge) from top to bottom.
Comments
on 17. February 2025, 15:29 by MCMCHammer
Really enjoyed this, some interesting and varied logic as you went through it
on 10. February 2025, 10:37 by Crusader175
Awesome!
on 9. February 2025, 03:15 by cam
Lovely puzzle :)
on 6. February 2025, 16:22 by Snookerfan
Brilliant puzzle! Great fun, thank you
on 6. February 2025, 13:25 by Franjo
Fantastic puzzle, great setting! Thank you very much for creating and sharing this masterpiece.
on 6. February 2025, 00:56 by Gnubeutel
Thank you for the X-Sums examples. I need those. Can't wait to see Olli solve a four star puzzle. Oh wait. That was today. I wasn't able to see it. Did he do it?
Flinty: He did great. Almost exactly an hour.
on 6. February 2025, 00:12 by Big Tiger
I crashed and burned three times - will have to see if CTC puts up a video or something.
Flinty: Would be a lovely surprise if they ddi!!
on 5. February 2025, 21:42 by da-hans
Very nice. Definitely one of the trickier sort of the series but finally got it.
Flinty: Thank you :)
on 5. February 2025, 20:09 by kamkam
This was a pleasant puzzle to solve !
Flinty: Thank you :)
on 5. February 2025, 19:59 by Jesper
Great puzzle, enjoyed it a lot, thanks!
Flinty: Thank you again for the great inspiration puzzle (from both me and Palpot)!
on 5. February 2025, 16:53 by alexsmart
> 69th consecutive Wednesday!
Nice :)
Congrats!
Flinty: Thank you :) When I had the big list of previous entries in the series on the page, the child in me realised people might look at puzzle #69 in the future, so it made sense to make it one of the, err, meatier entries...
on 5. February 2025, 14:59 by gfoot
Great puzzle, nicely put together before being deconstructed
Flinty: Thank you :)
