Kill Me Twice
(Published on 22. July 2025, 14:22 by sujoyku)
At first, I could not believe my eyes when I had drawn the wonderful AnalyticalNinja who has impersonated me in last year’s Impostor Prompt. We already set a collab together and I was super-happy to try my hand at setting in his style. AnalyticalNinja has set with a variety of rulesets and I got inspired by his amazing puzzle Lego House. So I also set a puzzle which has to be solved in two stages (first 3x3s, then Sudoku). Probably, the first stage is harder than the second, but judge for yourselves. I wish you joyful solving!
Rules:
This puzzle must be solved in two stages.
Stage 1: 3x3s
Place the digits from 1 to 9 in the grid so that they do not repeat in any row or column. Digits can (and will) repeat in each 3x3 box. Each box will use exactly 3 of the digits from 1 to 9.
Stage 2: Normal Sudoku
Delete all digits except those in the unclued cells (i.e. not in a cage or touching a Kropki) of Row 1 and Row 9 which are givens for the remaining solve. Normal Sudoku rules apply, i.e. each row, column, and 3x3 box has to contain the digits from 1 to 9 once each.
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The following rules hold true in both stages:
- Killer Cages: Digits in a cage sum to the clue in the top left, if given. Digits in a cage without a given clue must sum to the same total in both stages of the solve.
- German Whispers: Adjacent digits on a green line must have a difference of at least 5.
- Renban: Each pink line must contain a set of consecutive non-repeating digits in any order.
- Kropki: Digits joined by a black dot have a 1:2 ratio. Digits joined by a white dot are consecutive. (Not all dots are given.)
Here you can solve the puzzle online:
Solution Check for Stage 1: Solve Stage 1 on Sudokupad
Solution Check for Stage 2: Solve Stage 2 on Sudokupad
Solution code: Column 9 of Stage 2 from top to bottom (9 digits in total)
Comments
on 16. August 2025, 18:35 by QuiltyAsCharged
Excellent puzzle! It was a very nice touch to provide solution checks for each stage. I did indeed experience joyful solving.
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Thank you for your comment, QuiltyAsCharged! I am glad you had a joyful solve. :)
Kind regards, sujoyku
on 4. August 2025, 07:27 by Lovejoy
2 hrs later read the rules again properly!
"Digits in a cage without a given clue must sum to the same total in both stages of the solve."
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Thank you for your comment, Lovejoy! That is indeed a crucial rule. I hope it did not give you too much headache and you still enjoyed the solve.
Kind regards, sujoyku
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Thanks for your kind reply Sujoyku. Not at all. I always enjoy your puzzles - especially your killer sudoku ;-)
Thank you for all you contribute to the community
Kind regards lovejoy
on 24. July 2025, 16:37 by Exigus
Lovely puzzle, thanks!
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You are much welcome, Exigus, thank you for your comment! I am glad that you enjoyed the puzzle.
Kind regards, sujoyku
on 23. July 2025, 21:17 by rdesmarais2
Very fun puzzle great setting!
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Thank you for your comment, rdesmarais2! I am glad that you liked the puzzle.
Kind regards, sujoyku
on 23. July 2025, 05:50 by Elker
Very fun. Thanks for setting
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You are much welcome, Elker, thank you for commenting! I am glad you had a fun solve.
Kind regards, sujoyku
on 23. July 2025, 02:21 by Elker
Very fun. Thanks for setting
on 22. July 2025, 22:34 by MSDOS
Really great pair of puzzles! Especially enjoyed the logic of the Stage 1 3x3s, thanks for sharing!
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You are much welcome, MSDOS, thank you for your comment! I am glad that you enjoyed the Stage 1 3x3s-logic.
Kind regards, sujoyku
on 22. July 2025, 16:39 by Bubbalubba
Wonderful puzzle! The logic is easy to follow and makes the puzzle fun to solve. Only had a hiccup at the start not realizing the exact use of only 3 digits in each region.
I really enjoyed the double solve and the novel idea of using the first to give information to the second. Awesome puzzle.
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Thank you for your comment, Bubbalubba! I am glad that you liked the concept and enjoyed the solve.
Kind regards, sujoyku
on 22. July 2025, 15:42 by PinkNickels
Incredible setting. I stared at the second stage for about 2 minutes, stuck. Then I re-read the rules and saw about the unmarked cage totals. Then it resolved quickly after that. Thanks so much.
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You are much welcome, PinkNickels, thank you for your kind comment! I am glad that you enjoyed the puzzle. The unmarked cages were kind of a "fix". I liked the logic of Stage 1 very much and did not want to add clues for Stage 2 that would bypass it. So I needed something that only became useful in the second stage.
Kind regards, sujoyku
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Makes sense! It worked out nicely.
on 22. July 2025, 14:34 by NEWS
Hurra, Erstes (und Zweite) Blut!
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Herzlichen Doppel-Glückwunsch, NEWS, und vielen Dank für deinen Kommentar!
Herzliche Grüße, sujoyku
