Ludo Magic
(Published on 21. August 2025, 09:57 by ivaylagergova)
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Solution code: Enter the digits in Row 9 from left to right without spaces.
Comments
on 25. August 2025, 17:51 by CHalb
And a detail hidden: In my opinion the puzzle would have been a bit nicer with one given less; that might've been the 3 or the 7. And I think then the 5th magic square would be a bit more hidden. But now after so many solvers I think you shouldn't change it any more.
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Thank you for the comments! Actually, most of the puzzles I create are made for my students at 137th Secondary School. Because of the school’s number, you’ll often find some given or hidden 1s, 3s, and 7s sprinkled throughout my puzzles.
Thanks for the note about the solution code message :) as well as the hidden comments. Those will be very helpful!
on 25. August 2025, 17:46 by CHalb
To start at the end: You do not have to instruct “without spaces” in the solution code. I know this somehow has become common here among the newer authors, yet it’s unnecessary since spaces are ignored. On https://logic-masters.de/Raetselportal/Hilfe/einstellen.php?chlang=en you find a passage about the handling of illegal characters.
I personally really don’t like any openly posted solving hints. Instead hidden comments might be used.
For me your instruction is ok, since you’ve explicitly described, what for this puzzle is a magic square. One might argue that the tag “Magic Square” is inappropriate.
on 21. August 2025, 20:17 by ivaylagergova
Thanks a lot for your observations! :)
You are right that in the classical definition, a 3×3 magic square uses each number 1–9 exactly once. In my description, however, I was referring to the broader idea: every row, column, and both main diagonals add up to the same sum.
For example:
1 3 2
3 2 1
2 1 3
is a valid magic square, though not a classical one.
In this puzzle, my intention was for solvers to notice that the colored boxes actually form normal 3×3 magic squares, since 6 of their digits are in the same Sudoku box and therefore distinct.
Bonus points if you spotted the hidden 5th magic square in the grid!
on 21. August 2025, 15:56 by DiMono
A magic square does not repeat a number to arrive at its sums. You need to specify that here.
on 21. August 2025, 15:48 by PinkNickels
I am sure your students very much enjoy your class(es)!. Greetings from the USA. As one other person pointed out, you should indeed mention no repeated digits in each square. I just assumed that was the case. Regardless, very fun solve. Thanks for sharing.
