Zip Zero (yin yang, fog, zipper)
(Eingestellt am 7. Januar 2024, 18:34 Uhr von gdc)
This puzzle was inspired by one of Simons remarks when he solved Schrödingers Zipperlein. "Even in this ludicrous puzzle we can't include minus digits on the other side of the zipper" (youtube link to this quote). I felt this is a beautiful thought that deserves more research.
- Normal Sudoku rules apply.
- Fog of War: The grid is covered in fog. Placing correct digits lifts it.
- Zipper: Values of cells with an equal distance to the circled center of a line sum to the value of the central cell.
- Yin Yang: Shade some cells orange such that all shaded cells are orthogonally connected and all unshaded cells are orthogonally connected. No 2x2 area may be fully shaded or fully unshaded.
- Negativity: The value of a shaded cell is its digit. The value of an unshaded cell is zero minus its digit (a negative number).
Example Puzzle and Explanations
Here is a finished 4x4 grid that satisfies the constraints shown above. The shaded cells (orange) and unshaded cells (blue) are fully connected and each 2x2 part of the grid contains orange and blue cells. For the bottom-left line, 3 is the sum of 2 and 1, of 1 and 2, and also of 4 and -1. For the bottom-right line, -4 is the sum of -1 and -3 and also of -2 and -2 (-2 is counted twice).
Acknowledgements
The negativity part of the rules were taken from Subzero and I also used it for Sub Zero Nabner. Thanks Schwupel for this idea. Thanks to the CtC fan discord and the Skunkworks discord for testing and feedback. Thanks to marty sears and flinty for improving the rules wording.
Lösungscode: Row 9, left to right (9 digits)
Kommentare
am 7. März 2024, 22:46 Uhr von elpadrinoIV
Awesome puzzle!
I don't think the orange given is needed (I just realised that there was a given shaded :D)
Thanks for setting!
am 13. Januar 2024, 09:03 Uhr von Christounet
Great stuff ! Enjoyed it a lot. Thanks :)
am 11. Januar 2024, 16:21 Uhr von Suxamethonium
Absolute brilliance! Took me a very long time, but it was 141 minutes of pure fun!
am 11. Januar 2024, 08:24 Uhr von astronixia
The rules seem a little daunting at first, but it flows so well. Quite possibly the best zipper puzzle I have done.
am 11. Januar 2024, 07:35 Uhr von Kuraishi
I stumble even on some of the easier rated puzzles, but this flowed so well. Alternating between the math and coloring felt great, so much fun!
am 10. Januar 2024, 23:29 Uhr von ViKingPrime
There's nothing I can say here that hasn't already been said. Brilliant puzzle by a brilliant mind - do yourself a favour and get cracking, already!
am 10. Januar 2024, 10:26 Uhr von MagnusJosefsson
Wonderful puzzle!
am 9. Januar 2024, 19:10 Uhr von TheBestThatICouldDo
Wonderful - the break in feels like a real gem of a revelation. Not only is the flow really nice, but it takes you all the way through - ending up with almost no gaps left to fill in with sudoku at the end - very satisfying
am 9. Januar 2024, 16:09 Uhr von superfluid
My first 3* puzzle, and what a gem- thanks!
am 9. Januar 2024, 12:47 Uhr von gdc
Thanks everyone for those nice comments. When I posted this, I was a bit worried the rules might be too complex to get many solves. You proved me wrong :)
am 8. Januar 2024, 19:43 Uhr von madhupt
Beautiful puzzle! Very enjoyable! Thanks for sharing.
am 8. Januar 2024, 17:05 Uhr von patinthehat48
fantastic puzzle, loved the zipper and yin yang constraints working together
am 8. Januar 2024, 12:34 Uhr von samuel1997
Fabulous! Now should we investigate the combination of Schrodingers' cell and Negative number to create more ludicrous puzzles ^^?
---
gdc: Thanks! Take a look at Schrödinger's Funhouse (000GHS). It does exactly that and deserves many more solves IMO.
---
samuel1997: Thanks for the recommendation! I've had it a go and indeed that is another delighting puzzle!
am 8. Januar 2024, 12:10 Uhr von nordloc
This was magical all the way through.
am 8. Januar 2024, 12:07 Uhr von ademjaz
Lovely puzzle, one of the most enjoyable puzzles I have solved lately, absolutely brilliant!
am 8. Januar 2024, 09:37 Uhr von Snookerfan
Great puzzle and very smooth! Thank you
am 8. Januar 2024, 05:42 Uhr von rameshsrivats
Fantastic puzzle. Absolute pleasure from the beginning to the end.
am 8. Januar 2024, 03:41 Uhr von Calvinball
Such a delight from start to finish, some tricky parts in there but the entire puzzle was lovely and fair.
am 8. Januar 2024, 03:28 Uhr von ashisstuff
love this, all the deductions were so nice, and how the negatives interacted on zippers was so cool
am 8. Januar 2024, 03:23 Uhr von mathpesto
Brilliant idea AND execution!
am 8. Januar 2024, 03:14 Uhr von GentlemanJim
That was a great puzzle. I was a little intimidated at first but once I got the hang of the mechanic, it went very smoothly. I love yin yang puzzles too and this used that very nicely as well. Cool puzzle.
am 8. Januar 2024, 01:32 Uhr von Robbo
Not sure whether I just got lucky with the solution but I believe there is a section in the middle of the solution that is isolated from the other unshaded cells. Maybe I made a mistake but commenting on the off chance I am correct
Fun puzzle none the less
---
gdc: Thanks Robbo. There is a unique way of resovlving the shading which satisfies all yin yang requirements. See my hidden comment.
---
Ahh yes I see my mistake, thanks for clarifying!
am 8. Januar 2024, 00:29 Uhr von samuel1997
Is r9c8 shaded as Orange already, or is it just highlighted to spot the center of the Zipper line?
---
gdc: it is shaded as orange.
am 7. Januar 2024, 23:41 Uhr von talia_fr0st
Fortunately for me, this puzzle was not as ludicrous as its inspiration. Nonetheless, an experiment worthy of more eyes.
am 7. Januar 2024, 19:42 Uhr von vitaminz
A worthy follow-up to Schrödingers zipperlein
am 7. Januar 2024, 19:15 Uhr von chameleon
Nice logic, especially the opening! :)
