If At All Possible
(Published on 11. April 2024, 21:11 by Big Tiger)
Standard Sudoku Rules apply to the final numeric layout.
Cells connected orthogonally by a black dot have a ratio of 1:2. All possible black dots are given.
Large white circles indicate that the surrounding four digits are all of the same parity (even/odd). All possible white circles are given.
Digits along an arrow sum to the digit in the attached circle. All possible single-celled arrows are given.
Digits outside the top and left border are Sandwich clues, indicating the sum of the digits sandwiched between the 1 and the 9 in the respective row or column. All possible sandwich clues which sum to zero are given.
Diagonals indicated by the Little Killer Arrows outside the grid sum to the total of each respective arrow. All possible Little Killers summing to 15 are given.
+++++
Some puzzles over the years on "Cracking the Cryptic" have featured the negative constraint to an extreme, such as a Kropki puzzle with "all possible" dots given ... but not a single dot on the grid. The idea intrigued me, which led to "No No Nine-ette" last week and now this one.
Solution code: Row 6 then Column 6
Comments
on 18. August 2024, 13:58 by Bankey
That was fun. Thanks, @ Big Tiger :).
on 20. April 2024, 05:49 by singlemathnerd
Amazing puzzle. I am absolutely in love with the way the "all possible" constraints interacted.
By the way, here is a link to the CTC version that includes a solution: https://sudokupad.app/2fitvhtp0k if you want to change it
BT: What website/program does a person use to create SudokuPad versions that contain the solution?
singlemathnerd: There is a feature in the app that auto-generates a link which includes the solution upon completion of a puzzle, found under Settings > Advanced > New Solution Link. Clicking it copies the link to the clipboard.
on 17. April 2024, 20:24 by MartinR
I'm a fan of negative constraints- never seen it used for sandwiches/arrows/killers though, but they combine well
BT: Thanks for checking it out. I'm still not 100% satisfied - I think something even more intricate could be created on a handful of negative constraints, but it was fun getting this one to work. Time permitting I'll try one more someday.
on 14. April 2024, 01:47 by Big Tiger
We're up to 8 solvers - can we get to a Difficulty and Stars rating?
