Easy Peasy Sudoku Advent (19) - Little Palindromes
(Published on 19. 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 #377 after solving the advent version.
Little Palindromes
General hint for this type:
A palindrome with an odd count always has an odd length and an odd digit in the middle.
The clue of 3 indicates three 1’s in a row.
Apply classic sudoku rules.
Clues outside the grid indicate the sum of the digits of a palindrome, that is located somewhere in the diagonal direction of the arrow, and consists of at least three digits.
Be aware that the palindrome doesn’t have to start in the first cell in the direction of the arrow!
The clue of 46 indicates two times 23 = 6,8,9 in boxes 6 and 8.
Now R4C9 cannot be part of the 7-palindrome, and two of the digits that ARE part of it (R2C7 and R3C8) are minimal 2 and 3, because of the placed 1’s in C7 and C8.
Solution code: Column 9
Comments
on 23. December 2025, 19:54 by Tws
Einfach nur genial! Wenn ich alle Kalendertürchen offen hab' werde ich die nächsten Monate in den schweren Varianten verbringen!
---
Thanks for your kind words Tws!
That is exactly one of my goals; interesting players to solve a bit more 'obscure' sudoku variants that force you to think a bit different than with the usual variants. :)
on 20. December 2025, 06:35 by TeddieMilo
The puzzle is very nice. Tq.
But I do agree the solution checking will help for players with less confidence like myself. In some cases when the rules are complicated, I also use it to try and confirm my understanding of the rules.
Tq for the great puzzles, Merry Xmas.
on 20. December 2025, 04:05 by Decapod
It stresses me out so much when a puzzle doesn't have solution- checking. I'll come back and start the puzzle when a solution-checking version is posted in the comments, anybody, please?
Edit: I'll attempt it anyway, but just so I can express my opinion with a low rating.
---
Thanks for your comment Decapod, although I am really in shock! What a childish behavior this is. If the solve link with solution checking is published, I will hide the comment; since the players before you, didn't have that possibility and that's not fair too.
But your comment means other things as well. The beauty rating of a puzzle than doesn't actually reflect the beauty of the puzzle itself, but does also include a meaning about the presentation of a puzzle.
I suspected earlier that this kind of rating bevahior was going on, and it really hurts me as author who spends hours and hours writing puzzles that can be solved by the puzzle society for free if players approach it like this instead of being thankful what they received.
But the power is obviously with the players. They decide in the end where a puzzle ends up. Ignored, solved often, low rating, high rating... It makes me sad that authors/me are more or less forced to enable solution checking, which has not so much to do with solving a puzzle in my opinion.
But since this issue is activated a few days ago, I have let my thoughts go over it and decided that the last five days of the calender will have both; a version with and one without answer check.
I wish you a merry Christmas.
on 19. December 2025, 20:33 by dzamie
Accidentally made the puzzle a bit trickier for myself by forgetting that palindromes need to be at least 3 cells long (otherwise the 18 and 14s could be pairs of 9 and 7 respectively).
Really interesting! I enjoyed it from start to finish.
on 19. December 2025, 20:15 by wuc
Great addition to great series. Also like the missing checker. Makes it a bigger challenge thx.
on 19. December 2025, 16:15 by HeyItsErin
Really liked this puzzle. I wanted to let you know that I appreciate you keeping solution checking off, as it has helped me slow down and be more thorough in my reasoning in other puzzles as well as yours.
on 19. December 2025, 14:30 by Klausku
Lovely puzzle. I enjoyed it a lot. Thanks!
on 19. December 2025, 14:26 by Franjo
I already had solved the original, a fantastic (and hard) one. So I really enjoyed the walk through this beautiful and approachable appetizer. Thank you very much for creating and sharing this lovely puzzle.
on 19. December 2025, 11:06 by SweJo
Very fun puzzle, thanks!
At the start I wasn't sure if the digits had to be consecutive in the palindromes or not, but was able to figure it out along the way. Nice constraint!
on 19. December 2025, 09:50 by SennyK
Very nice and easy, fun little snack, thank you! :-)
on 19. December 2025, 09:42 by flutchman
We're being royally spoiled this year for Christmas :)
Thank you Richard
on 19. December 2025, 07:46 by Piatato
Very enjoyable, thanks!
