Erica 38 (German Antiknight Edition) [includes 2* version]
(Published on 11. March 2026, 16:00 by SennyK)
Today we have Erica with some fresh constraint I have invented :-)
This puzzle comes with a standard version which should be around 2*, but if you feel strong, there is also a hardcore version of the same puzzle with the same solution, which was estimated by testers to be 3*, but I feel like it might be closer to 3.5*, you can decide :-)
I hope you will enjoy and I would be really grateful for all the comments and ratings.
Normal sudoku rules apply.
German whisper: Adjacent digits along a green line have a difference of at least 5.
German antiknight: Two digits lying on any German whisper line in cells a chess knight’s move apart cannot have a difference of 5 or more.
X/V: Digits in cells joined by an X sum to 10. Digits in cells joined by a V sum to 5. Not all Xs and Vs are given.
Choose if you prefer easier or harder version of the puzzle:
★★☆☆☆: SudokuPad Link
★★★☆☆: SudokuPad Link
German Antiknight Explanation:
7 is seeing both 3 and 4 by a chess knight's move and they are all on a line, so a difference between them is 4 or less. It also applies to a 4 even though it lies on a different line. 2 and 6 are not on a line, so they can have a difference of 5 or more with digits on a line (9 and 1 resp. in the example).
If you liked this puzzle, I recommend trying out my other puzzles: The Erica Series:★☆☆☆☆: 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 12, 15, 17, 23, 26, 27, 31, 32
★★☆☆☆: 3, 7, 8, 10, 11, 13, 14, 16, 18, 20, 24, 25, 29, 30, 34, 35
★★★☆☆: 9, 19, 21, 22, 28, 33, 37
★★★★☆: 36 Shading/Ying-Yang:
★★☆☆☆: Pretty Odd Shaded Area
★★★☆☆: (+5)-Yang, Negative 8 YY
★★★★☆: Aim High! (YY)
★★★★★: Why-Why? Modifiers:
★★★☆☆: Modified Flat Mates, Neighbourhood Watch Fog of War:
★☆☆☆☆: Erica 12, Erica 17
★★☆☆☆: It's What You Do in the Dark That Puts You in the Light, Find It All, What the Fog?, Erica 20, Erica 29
★★★☆☆: Broken Flashlight in the Dark Pencil Puzzle/Sudoku Hybrid:
★★☆☆☆: Masyu (Short) Sudoku, Heyawake Sudoku (Given Regions)
★★★☆☆: Tetromino Sudoku
★★★★★: Heyawake Sudoku
Pairometers:
★★☆☆☆: Pairometers (6x6 Pack 1), Pairometers
★★★☆☆: Pairometers (6x6 Pack 2), Pairometers (6x6 Pack 3) Various Puzzles:
★☆☆☆☆: Blown Fuses in Electrical Installation, Let Me Introduce Myself, French Wrench, GAS Regional Constraints, Quadsumes, Snack Latin Arrows
★★☆☆☆: Symmetrical Fan, Night Club, Important Hour on the Clock, What Was the Sum Again?, Disgroup Joints, 10-Arrows, Antiking Dutch Skyscrapers, (Not so) Little Killers, Indexing Sword, Larna's HoneyMoon
★★★☆☆: Cops & Robbers, Positive Symmetry, Doppelgänger Killer 1-25, Region Whisper Line, Christmas Chaos
★★★★☆: Liars. Liars Everywhere., Sandwiched XV Squishmates, Fireworks 2025, (Yin)German Pairrows
★★★★★: Any NEWS?, Potentially Pointer, Possibly Parity Party
Solution code: First (1st) row of the grid from left to right.
Comments
on 12. March 2026, 01:22 by Jasperrr
I think I've stared at the hard version for 3 hours throughout the evening. I just could not find out how to break the symmetry, and ended up caving and looking at the clue from the easier version.
If anyone could post the logic to solving the hard version, as a hidden comment, that would be much appreciated.
SK: I have added a hidden comment and tried to explain the logic I saw :-)
on 11. March 2026, 19:11 by superkinkel
Very interesting new constraint! I tried the hard version and would rate it three stars. It gets a little complicated to break the symmetry, but four stars is usaually tougher.
on 11. March 2026, 18:48 by Martina
German antiknight: only for values on the same line?
SK: On any line, please see and read the explanation :-)
Ok,thanks. I must have made a mistake somewhere, because row 7 isn't working out.
