Schwarzschild
(Published on 20. July 2026, 20:30 by Jay Dyer)
I've been wanting to post some new puzzles for a while, but other things continue to keep me busy. I set and tested this puzzle a few months back, then it got buried in my to-do list, and I figure it's about time I post it here.
Rules
- Each row, column, and 3x3 region contains the digits 1-8 once each, as well as one empty 'black hole' cell.
- For the purpose of cage sums, a black hole cell has a value equal to the sum of digits in all (orthogonally) adjacent cells, leaving the adjacent cells with a value of zero. A cell may not be adjacent to more than one black hole cell.
- The values of cells in a cage sum to the clue in the cage's corner. Digits may not repeat in a cage, though values may repeat.
Example:
Play online in Sudokupad.
Solution code: Column 7 (with an X marking the black hole cell)
Comments
today, 05:24 by Crusader175
Very cool idea!
on 23. July 2026, 20:15 by polcat
Very nice! I found this a borderline 5* puzzle... took me 156 minutes.
on 23. July 2026, 16:26 by Franjo
Thank you very much for creating and sharing this amazing puzzle. Not easy to find the break-in (well, for me at least), but extremely satisfying to get it done.
on 22. July 2026, 14:13 by PierreTombal
I wasn't sure whether the no repeat rule applies to black holes too. At one point I was ready to just gamble it, but I'm glad I didn't.
on 22. July 2026, 06:26 by alexsmart
Amazing puzzle. Especially enjoyed the logic in the bottom three rows.
on 21. July 2026, 18:30 by Fool on Hill
Cool puzzle. Not so hard in the end, but involves a range of varied deductions flowing from the existence of "black hole" cells - quite easy to miss an implication on a first encounter ...
on 21. July 2026, 15:51 by Miatc
Had to start over once, but second attempt was very smooth. Very clever ruleset
on 21. July 2026, 15:49 by Snookerfan
Very nice! Extremely weird ruleset, very rewarding solve, albeit with many mistakes and a lot of backtracking. Thanks
on 21. July 2026, 15:23 by Chelo
It was a bit hard to enter the rules but once in it was a hammer. Thanks a lot Jay for setting and sharing it!..
