Technically correct
(Published on 26. January 2025, 21:08 by Lorena)
Click here to Play in Sven’s SudokuPad
This sudoku is the second in an April Fool’s series that I hope to finish by April 1st, hence the early publication date.
The first entry in the series received a lot of lovely feedback, with several people requesting a follow-up. I feel like I owe an apology to those people. This sudoku… is not like the previous one. It’s still very much an April Fool’s sudoku, just in a completely different vein. Rest assured, though, it is entirely solvable.
Rules:
Fill in the grid with digits, which cannot repeat in any row, column or marked 3x3 box.
Kropki quads: The digits inside the circles must appear in the cells that they touch. IN ADDITION, the quad circles function diagonally as black kropki dots, i.e. when two digits are separated diagonally by a circle with numbers inside, one of those digits is twice the other. (Edited to clarify: this applies to all cells touched by quads, not only to the numbers written inside).
White kropki dots separate consecutive digits. Not all possible dots are necessarily shown.
Edit: I was honored to have Simon from Cracking the Cryptic solve this on Youtube, you can watch it here.
Thank you to everyone who mentioned the many ways in which this ruleset might not be “Technically correct”. My favourites were those who asked whether the digits are in base 10 (they are) and whether more than one digit can fit inside a cell (no). Excellent points, please keep them coming!
Solution code: Row 3, left to right (9 digits, no spaces)
Comments
on 10. February 2025, 17:34 by Peteronium
What a terrible puzzle, needed to restart 3 times. :-D
Please please pretty please make more.
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Reply by Lorena: I couldn’t stop if I tried. Thanks for commenting!
on 7. February 2025, 22:42 by ghaia
This was way harder for me to start than I'd like to admit to xd. Also, there is... An embarrasing moment. Along the completion of this puzzle, I may have done a dumdum. In my defense, division is a weird operation and I expect anything and everything of you by now.
Nevertheless, it's a really nice puzzle! Thank you :)
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Reply by Lorena: Division IS weird, and you do well to stay on your guard. Thanks for commenting!
on 4. February 2025, 21:17 by QuiltyAsCharged
I don't know how people can be upset when you openly declare it's an April Fool's puzzle. Expect some tomfoolery! Very fun puzzle.
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Reply by Lorena: I know, right? I cracked the code! You just say “April Fools” and people will put up with anythi… Wait! What are you doing with that pitchfork?!
on 30. January 2025, 23:57 by dzamie
Finished! That was a lot of fun, though I had to set it down until the next day. Lots of juggling pencilmarks.
It's really impressive that this works, actually. I don't know how you setters do it.
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Reply by Lorena: I’m sure veteran setters have their ways but, as a newbie, I make do with trial an error. No secret there! Thanks for the solve and the nice comment.
on 30. January 2025, 19:36 by trashghost
For a while I was thinking some cells would have to be empty hahaha
Funny and interesting puzzle, thanks!!
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Reply by Lorena: I’m glad you liked it!
on 30. January 2025, 15:09 by mau
apology accepted :D nice one, very tricky, even after figuring out the entry! so far, this is the hardest one I was able to solve (~3hr).
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Reply by Lorena: That feels like a milestone, congrats!
on 30. January 2025, 14:10 by Agent
Lovely puzzle!
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Reply by Lorena: Lovely comment!
on 30. January 2025, 01:08 by Lorena
Added CtC video (while jumping up and down) and clarification to the rules.
on 30. January 2025, 01:07 by dzamie
...with digits, huh?
(I have not yet started this puzzle)
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Reply by Lorena: Or toes, I don’t judge.
on 29. January 2025, 23:42 by heighlylikely
Absolutely not a fan of rules that are purposefully worded to be unclear. I realize that it makes for a "funny" interaction with the title of the puzzle, but I will sacrifice that 100% of the time for clarity.
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Reply by Lorena: I recommend you refrain from solving April Fool’s puzzles then.
on 29. January 2025, 22:40 by Zeddecks
I love when puzzles play on your assumptions and force you to think laterally. I might be the only one, but I kind of wish there wasn't a hint that there was a trick since I caught on to it before starting. It didn't cheapen the solve, I just like to suffer before figuring it out. There are other constructors who put hints on the LMD page in invisible white text that you have to highlight in order to read. Just my two cents. Still fun though.
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Reply by Lorena: That’s an excellent tip, I’ll keep that in mind, thank you! Based on your comment, I think you’ll enjoy the rest of the series, a few of them are up already.
on 29. January 2025, 22:01 by wspikes
This was absolutely wonderful, and I found myself thoroughly laughing as I realized what was put upon us. Thanks for brightening my morning :)
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Reply by Lorena: Awww, thank YOU for your lovely comment!
on 29. January 2025, 19:22 by rab1226
Guillem98, glad to know I'm not the only one!
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Reply by Lorena: I’m sorry! I have “unhidden” a few comments that may hold a trace of a sliver of a quantum of a modicum of a hint, I hope that helps.
on 29. January 2025, 15:58 by greyhathero
You are very tricksy. Technically correct, the best kind of correct
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Reply by Lorena: You get it!
on 29. January 2025, 12:16 by Guillem98
I really want to try this puzzle, since everybody in the comments is saying that it is amazing. But I don't get what's wrong, I can't do anything in box 6, could someone help me?
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Reply by Lorena: I scratched my head for a long time trying to figure out how to help, then it dawned on me that I had hidden a bunch of comments because they hinted at something, so what I did was I made them visible now, so that people can read them if they’re feeling frustrated. I hope that helps.
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Reply by Guillem: I finally get how can I solve it, thanks for the help, it's a really good puzzle
on 28. January 2025, 18:03 by Lorena
Small modification to the rules, thanks Timotab, good catch!
on 28. January 2025, 05:00 by Elker
Very clever and fun throughout. Can’t wait for the next in the series. Thanks
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Reply by Lorena: Thank you for your comment! I’ve published a few more, but they’re all quite different.
on 27. January 2025, 21:46 by OboeSapien
Great puzzle! Thank you for making it obvious early something was fishy; I would have lost my mind if the reveal had been later
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Reply by Lorena: Thanks for the solve and the comment!
on 27. January 2025, 19:47 by MattYDdraig
You are a bad, bad woman. You know that, right? ;)
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Reply by Lorena: Yes, daddy.
on 27. January 2025, 19:37 by avishai
So delightful! I was banging my head against *** unsure of what fundamental mistake i was making until realization dawned, a large smile broke out, and I thoroughly enjoyed the tricky puzzle. Thank you!
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Reply by Lorena: This comment is like all my highest hopes about this puzzle became reality. Thank you.
on 27. January 2025, 18:20 by Qashqai4eg
Thanks for ‘breaking’ the puzzle quite soon so that you do not have to think what you have done wrong!
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Reply: That was definitely on my mind, but this is just the start of the series. Things will get more complicated later :)
on 27. January 2025, 17:10 by jwsinclair
Always nice to see a really fun idea executed so well.
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Reply by Lorena: y’all are making me blush so hard, my cheeks look like column indexing cells!
on 27. January 2025, 14:25 by Wile E. Coyote
The moment, when you declare the puzzle as broken, but still have in mind the words "aprils fool", so start thinking outside the box and crack it....
Mindblowing.
Thanks so much for this beautiful, funny, but still challenging journey.
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Reply by Lorena: wow that’s such amazing feedback I don’t know what to say! Thank you!!
on 27. January 2025, 11:44 by Nylimb
I loved this! Thanks.
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Reply by Lorena: awww thank YOU for the lovely comment.
on 27. January 2025, 10:25 by Lorena
Added clarification to the rules
on 27. January 2025, 10:16 by Elytron
Totally got me with the misdirection! After 20 minutes of trying to reason why this shouldn't be impossible, I finally figured it out. Very fun and clever :D
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Reply by Lorena: Thank you for being a good sport about it!
on 27. January 2025, 10:05 by mosse
Does the diagonal quad rule apply to digits that appear around the quad circle but are not written on the circle?
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Reply by Lorena: Yes!
on 27. January 2025, 03:19 by Freegerator
I love the misdirection as to what the April fools thing is. You got me hahaha
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Reply by Lorena: Thank you for being a good sport about it!
on 26. January 2025, 23:00 by Blashyrkh
This is actually a really clever construction!
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Reply by Lorena: I’m glad you liked it!
on 26. January 2025, 22:41 by sujoyku
I think 3 stars is fine for difficulty. But I have to say, I liked the first one of the series better. Anyhow, thank you for these weird puzzles, Lorena!
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Reply by Lorena: That’s the problem with doing the one that I was most excited about first, it’s all downhill from here! Luckily I gave myself a whole month so I’m hoping to come up with something even weirder. Thank you very much for your comment, I was so intimidated at first but y’all have been so kind!
on 26. January 2025, 22:37 by Paquet Voleur
A different kind of funny, a more cruel kind of funny, but indeed, no reasons to say you're sorry. Thanks for the good fun!
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Reply by Lorena: I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: mwahahahahaha!!!!
on 26. January 2025, 22:29 by brimmy
:-)
on 26. January 2025, 22:20 by Lorena
Lowered difficulty based on feedback (ie based on me fangirling over THE Myxo)
on 26. January 2025, 22:13 by Myxo
Funny puzzle, I enjoyed it :) Difficulty felt like 2* for me.
on 26. January 2025, 21:40 by SKORP17
kein Grund für "I am sorry"
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Reply by Lorena: I thought people would be mad at me!
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Edit a few days later: I was right, people are mad at me :)
