Take the Bypass
(Published on 26. January 2026, 00:01 by NotSoMagnifique)
I've wanted to do more lockout lines, and Isaiah's recent lockout/indexing puzzle inspired me! He did give me a bit of grief for the global entropy :P
Rules:
- Normal Sudoku rules apply.
- Global entropy - every 2 by 2 box of cells must contain at least one low digit (1, 2, or 3), one medium digit (4, 5, 6), and one high digit (7, 8 or 9).
- Lockout Lines - digits along a lockout line must not be between the two end digits in the diamonds, which must differ from each other by at least 4.
- Ratio Kropki - digits separated by a black Kropki dot have a ratio of 2:1. No negative constraint.
- XV sums - digits separated by X sum to 10; digits separated by V sum to 5. No negative constraint.
- Dutch Whispers - neighboring digits on an orange Dutch Whisper line differ in value by at least 4.
- Renban - digits on a purple Renban line form a set of consecutive numbers in some order.
- Palindrome - digits on a gray palindrome line read the same backwards and forwards.
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Accessibility - the palindrome line is the line cutting from R5C3 to R3C5, intersecting the lockout line at R4C4. The Renban is in the upper right corner of Box 5; the Dutch Whisper is in the lower left corner. Neither of them intersect the Lockout Lines.
Puzzle:
Solution code: Row 4 digits, left to right
Comments
on 27. January 2026, 07:20 by VitP
lockout lines rule is incorrect.
correct is "not between OR EQUAL TO".
alternate versions exist
on 26. January 2026, 03:11 by macintux
Very nice, I love coloring so I’m quickly growing fond of global entropy. (I also like negative constraints that keep the puzzle interesting after all positive constraints have been addressed, so win win.)
on 26. January 2026, 00:38 by anthe95
Forgot about the global entropy immediately after reading the rules and confused myself. Lovely puzzle after I remembered to reread the rules though :P
