Rank X-Sums
(Published on 5. September 2025, 22:30 by damo_89)
The power of rank clues were so beautifully demonstrated by the_cogito's Stinky Stuffing (if you haven't already, do solve this). This encouraged me to finish off a puzzle idea I had been mulling where X-Sums were provided not as values but as rank clues, and I liked the logic. Consensus testing estimate was 3 to 4 stars difficulty, I am plumping for 4 stars because ranks. Good luck!
- Normal sudoku rules apply: Place the digits 1 to 9 once each in every row, column, and 3x3 box
- Diagonal: The positive diagonal, marked with a blue line, contains a set of digits 1 to 9
- Rank X-Sums: Each row or column has an X-Sum value, which is the sum of the first X digits in that row or column, where X is the digit in the first cell. Clues outside the grid give the rank of those values from 1 (lowest) to 36 (highest). Two rows/columns with the same X-Sum value will share the lowest rank
- (For example if the lowest X-Sum values were in order: 1, 4, 4, 4, 7, 7, 9 then these would have the clues 1, 2, 2, 2, 5, 5, 7 respectively)
Play on Sudokupad / Play on Sudokupad (version with area for note taking)
Solution code: Row 8
Comments
on 15. September 2025, 23:14 by Danno
Very good puzzle! Was a little confusing to begin with but soon got into the swing of it.
on 8. September 2025, 16:44 by asimov.io
Very good and hard puzzle
A brilliantly made tribute to Stinky Stuffing
on 8. September 2025, 01:01 by Christounet
Great! I got stuck at some point because I forgot the part of the rule that said "share the lowest rank" after the midsolve.
Thanks :)
on 7. September 2025, 23:36 by MattYDdraig
Really nice puzzle. Surprisingly few clues yet somehow very accessible.
on 7. September 2025, 00:30 by Elker
Very tricky puzzle and lots of fun. Thanks for setting.
on 6. September 2025, 16:56 by bansalsaab
Beautiful puzzle.
on 6. September 2025, 13:05 by Agent
Cool full rank variant, and precisely set!
on 6. September 2025, 12:21 by Snookerfan
Excellent puzzle! Very interesting and sometimes confusing logic. Thank you
on 6. September 2025, 10:03 by Piatato
Awesome puzzle, thanks!
on 6. September 2025, 09:12 by marcmees
Very powerful Full Rank variant. Thanks
on 6. September 2025, 00:02 by the_cogito
A lovely tribute and solve, nicely done!
on 5. September 2025, 23:54 by jhrdina
Very interesting logic. Thanks
on 5. September 2025, 22:46 by lmdemasi
This is a good puzzle.
