Easy Peasy Sudoku Advent (07) - Star Battle Sandwich
(Published on 7. December 2025, 06:00 by Richard)
This sudoku advent calendar contains 24 variants that were included in my Sudoku Variants Series (SVS) but turned out to be too hard to be solved by a wide range of puzzlers. I aim for difficulties of 1-2 stars and have written some general and/or specific hints as well. I hope some players will try the original SVS puzzle #319 after solving the advent version.
Star Battle Sandwich
General hint for this type:
The central cell of a box cannot contain a star.
Apply classic sudoku rules.
Designate in each row, column and 3x3 block two digits as star, where cells with stars can not touch each other, not even diagonally. Clues on the left and above the grid indicate the sum of the two stars in the corresponding row or column. Clues on the right and below the grid indicate the sum of the digits placed between the two stars in the corresponding row or column.
45 minus star-sum minus sandwich = the sum of the digit(s) on the border(s).
If a row and column have star-sums that differ by 9 or more, there cannot be a star on the intersection of that row and column.
Solution code: Column 6
Comments
on 9. December 2025, 05:12 by Richard
Fixed minor grammar mistake and added the SVS-number to the link.
on 9. December 2025, 03:52 by Sudonym
Great puzzle thanks. Just looked at your list of published puzzles and read your history, very impressive...going to spend the rest of my life solving them :) .....brilliant!
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Reply: Many thanks for your kind words and compliment!
on 7. December 2025, 14:32 by Franjo
An ideal appetizer! Of course I now have to try the original. Thank you very much for creating and sharing.
on 7. December 2025, 11:08 by Fizz
That was fun, thanks a lot!
on 7. December 2025, 08:46 by Klausku
Lovely ruleset. I will now try the original puzzle.
