Easy Peasy Sudoku Advent (05) - Confetti Sums
(Published on 5. December 2025, 06:00 by Richard)
This sudoku advent calendar contains 24 variants that were included in my Sudoku Variants Series (SVS) but turned out to be too hard to be solved by a wide range of puzzlers. I aim for difficulties of 1-2 stars and have written some general and/or specific hints as well. I hope some players will try the original SVS puzzle #275 after solving the advent version.
Confetti Sums
General hint for this type:
If there are multiple dots of the same colour fully in the same row, column or block, the sums are in the range 5-14 (two dots), 7-13 (three dots) or 9-11 (four dots).
The 9 in block 1 belongs to a dot; sum of white minimal 10.
Apply classic sudoku rules.
In all cases where the sum of two horizontally or vertically neighbouring digits is A, B or C, a white, grey or black circle is given. A, B and C are different and finding their values is part of the puzzle.
The 9 in block 7 means white has a maximum of 11.
The 1 in block 3 means that 1 black and 1 white add to 22. And black and white must be different…
Solution code: Row 9
Comments
on 9. December 2025, 05:10 by Richard
Fixed minor grammar mistake and added the SVS-number to the link.
on 8. December 2025, 15:27 by Eisbär
@tjmas: I think three of your solutions do have some "illegal" pairs without a dot?
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Thanks for your comment! I was away for a few days, without possibilities to respond.
on 5. December 2025, 22:53 by dzamie
This was fun. I spent probably half the time in Notepad before even placing a single pencilmark. It did take a while for the negative constraint to be particularly relevant, which is interesting to notice. I wonder if this is the case in the original.
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@dzamie: in the original puzzle you have to start using the negative constraint.
on 5. December 2025, 21:14 by tjmas
Loved the puzzle, but am a little confused- am I missing something or is there not a unique solution? I see 4 possible solutions (two of which matched the solution code)
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@tjmas: it is very likely that you overlooked a 'forbidden' sum without a dot inbetween.
on 5. December 2025, 13:51 by Franjo
Didn’t read the hints. Using some simple arithmetic leads to the break-in. Indeed, this WAS a simple puzzle, and I had a look at the original one. But… Thank you very much for creating and sharing this lovely puzzle.
on 5. December 2025, 12:29 by Rollo
Das war leicht :-). Aber der Einstieg ist, ohne die Hinweise natürlich, nicht trivial.
on 5. December 2025, 11:12 by Snaques
This was pretty amazing puzzle. A new ruleset for me and it turned from a complete mystery to a nice and fun puzzle in few minutes.
Well done!
on 5. December 2025, 10:07 by faltenin
That was very satisfying once it came together - and at the end not remembering the negative constraint, as is my usual!
on 5. December 2025, 10:02 by vidarino
I'm loving these snack-sized puzzles to go with my morning coffee! Thanks, Richard!
on 5. December 2025, 08:38 by flutchman
Smooth like butter.
on 5. December 2025, 08:35 by Piatato
A little bit of thinking at the start, then it flows nonstop. Smooth!
on 5. December 2025, 07:26 by Klausku
Nice one. First 2-star puzzle of this series for me. The first four were 3 stars. Or maybe I‘m in practise now. Thanks!
on 5. December 2025, 07:24 by Richard
Fixed small error in the solve hints.
