Logic Masters Deutschland e.V.

Primeval Vexation

(Published on 1. April 2026, 00:00 by NXTMaster)

This is the original, diabolical scanning puzzle I set using my Disjoint MIN/MAX ruleset four years ago. It may look a lot like the easier version -- Vexation -- but do not let appearances fool you. You can try the 6x6 version here: Confusion.

The rules are as follows:
  • Place the digits 1-9 once in every row, column, and box.
  • Littler Killer: The number by an arrow indicates the sum of the digits along the indicated diagonal. The letter P represents a prime value.
  • Disjoint Groups: Each "group" is made up of cells in the same relative position in boxes. Digits may not repeat within each group.
  • Disjoint MIN/MAX: Digits in gray cells must be greater than (when the arrows point outward) or less than (when the arrows point inward) the digits in the adjacent cells of the disjoint group (i.e., if a MIN cell were in row 5 column 5 [r5c5], then that cell would have to be less than r5c28 and r28c5).

The puzzle is available on SudokuPad. Since the puzzle is meant to be diabolical, there is no solution check. Good luck!

Solution code: The eight digits along the diagonal marked "P" starting at r8c9 working up to r1c2.

Last changed on -

Solved by ZornsLemon, Justalilguy, Fool on Hill, dodo, SKORP17, War, 6rank, pms_headache, itsid, han233ing
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Comments

Last changed on 7. April 2026, 19:06

on 7. April 2026, 18:57 by itsid
sheeesh, finally...
now my ears are bleeding from all the thinking *gg*
No that was really really hard, and as you might have expected I neeeded to bifurcate in order to get the solution.
The window within the prime needed to be was narrow, so this time I (after getting the main diagonals 'optionalised' cared about removing the "those numbers do not make a number I like" digits from the P diagonal...
But boy oh boy that nut nearly took my tooth out.

Thanks for the puzzle, it was fun to try.
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I salute you, soldier. thank you for the solve

on 7. April 2026, 17:21 by itsid
nooooooo... sh17 :( I was sooo confident the first time... aaand not a prime (35) so I backtracked aaaand not a prime again (33) I think I need to try again one other time :-(

Last changed on 3. April 2026, 22:01

on 3. April 2026, 16:25 by 6rank
Thank you for this puzzle, though I would say it belongs into the category - don't try this at home :)

I used AI to solve it. That is putting the letters A and I in cells, where certain digits go in one or the other variation.
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Haha, you had me for a second there. good strategy

on 2. April 2026, 21:37 by War
Hmmm, Break-in was the same as the previous one. The tough part was solving the prime without bifurcating, but even if you only bifurcate the right digit(s) one time you will solve.

on 1. April 2026, 12:53 by Justalilguy
I have done it but at what cost...

Difficulty:5
Rating:N/A
Solved:10 times
Observed:1 times
ID:000S2H

Variant combination Online solving tool Arithmetic puzzle

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Solution code:

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