Stickiest Notes
(Published on 24. January 2026, 22:00 by jwsinclair)
Stickiest Notes, by James Sinclair
Divide the grid into nine orthogonally-connected nine-cell regions, and place the digits 1-9 once in each row, column, and region.
Each region has a corresponding color. A note outside the grid indicates that the region of that color contains a run of one or more orthogonally-connected cells (bounded on either side by a region border or the edge of the grid) in that row or column, and the number in the note (if given) is the sum of the digits in these cells.
If a region contains multiple sets of orthogonally-connected cells in the same row or column, a note only applies to one of them.
When notes overlap, the note on top has a lower sum than the note immediately below (this applies even if a sum is hidden or not given).
SudokuPad | version with region labels
See also:
- Sticky Notes, which was originally published in Artisanal Sudoku, Volume 211
- Stickier Notes
Solution code: row seven, with a dash ("-") to indicate each region border
Comments
on 22. May 2026, 00:50 by softie
I am happy to report that the puzzle also solves uniquely if you swap the order of the sticky notes in row 6. I am very unhappy to report that this makes the puzzle much, much harder to finish! It also has the disadvantage of not giving the right solution code.
on 7. February 2026, 20:54 by Motty
A refreshing combination of formalism and look-and-tell.
on 29. January 2026, 21:45 by virus_dave
Beautiful puzzle, with a challenging break in. Very pleased once I finally got it.
Thank you!
on 28. January 2026, 10:32 by juggler
Lovely puzzle! Quite challenging but very smooth once you spot what to do.
on 27. January 2026, 22:34 by dzamie
The hardest part was definitely the break-in, or rather setting up my notes. I got most of blue's area figured out pretty quickly, but immediately hit a wall and had to just kinda stare at stuff for a while.
Once I started narrowing down possibilities, it was easier to see where I could go next.
Still took me nearly 2 hours, though.
on 27. January 2026, 01:35 by QuiltyAsCharged
Incredible puzzle! I loved the logic of the break-in. The hardest part for me was towards the end
on 26. January 2026, 22:28 by Norkas
The break in was a bit tricky for me, but overall the puzzle felt easier on average to me than the 7×7 one, having solved the three in sequence. I liked the flow of this one a lot, probably my favorite of the three.
on 26. January 2026, 19:20 by dumediat
Excellent follow-up to the 7x7. I really liked the implementation of the color-specific regions, I hope there are more to come!
on 26. January 2026, 17:10 by Chilly
Very nice puzzle, James. Fun geometrical logic.
on 25. January 2026, 21:47 by sorryimLate
I agree with KNT, it was easier to get started with this one. I didn't feel as confident with the logic of the 7x7. Thanks for the beautiful puzzles!
on 25. January 2026, 21:25 by KNT
Really nice! I actually found the 7x7 more difficult.
on 25. January 2026, 19:41 by SimiC
I just binge-solved all 3 puzzles of this series in a couple hours and it was amazing. Each puzzle was harder and better than the previous one, with the first already being a lot of fun. Amazing experience, thank you for creating these
on 25. January 2026, 17:45 by Snookerfan
Gorgeous again! Not hard, but very rewarding. Thanks
on 25. January 2026, 14:48 by v8nagrom
Surprisingly approachable once you've got familiar with the rules.
Really astonishing construction, thanks!
on 25. January 2026, 05:10 by Eespi
Wow! One of the most simultaneously fun and approachable (having done the two puzzles leading up to this) chaos constructions I've seen.
