Beginner's Guide to Variant Sudokus
(Eingestellt am 24. Januar 2024, 07:01 Uhr von juggler)
(If you're already an expert, you can also speed-solve all 8 back-to-back. Let me know your total solving time in the comments!)
***********************
In all of these puzzles, normal sudoku rules apply: fill the grid with the digits 1-4 (or 1-6 for the 6x6 puzzles) so that no digit repeats in any row, column, or box (the regions outlined with thick black lines).
I. Introduction to Killer Sudokus
Play on Sudokupad
KILLER
- Digits in cages sum to the number in the corner of the cage.
- Digits cannot repeat within a cage.
LITTLE KILLER
- Digits along the diagonal indicated by an arrow sum to the number by the arrow.
II. Introduction to Kropki Dots
Play on Sudokupad
KROPKI
- A white dot between two cells requires that the value in one cell is exactly 1 greater than the value of the other cell.
- A black dot between two cells requires that the value in one cell is exactly double the value of the other cell.
III. Introduction to XV
Play on Sudokupad
XV
- Two cells separated by a V have values that sum to 5.
- Two cells separated by an X have values that sum to 10.
IV. Introduction to Arrows
Play on Sudokupad
ARROWS
- The digits on the line part of an arrow sum to the value indicated on its circle / obround.
- The obround represents a two digit number, read from left to right.
V. Introduction to Anti-Knight
Play on Sudokupad
ANTI-KNIGHT
- If two cells are a knight's move apart (i.e. two steps horizontally and one step vertically, or vice versa), then they cannot have the same digit.
(this puzzle also uses the Kropki rule from earlier)
VI. Introduction to Thermometers
Play on Sudokupad
THERMOMETERS (also called "thermos" for short)
- Digits strictly increase in value along a thermometer, starting from the bulb end.
- It's not required that adjacent cells have adjacent values, for example 1-3-4 or 2-4 would both be valid.
VII. Introduction to Renban Lines
Play on Sudokupad
RENBAN
- Digits on a purple Renban line must be a set of consecutive, non-repeating digits (in any order). For example, a length 3 line could have -3-1-2-, but not -1-2-4- or -1-3-1-.
VIII. Introduction to Counting Circles
Play on Sudokupad
COUNTING CIRCLES
Any digit in a circle indicates exactly how many circles contain that digit. As an example, if there is a 2 in any circle, there are exactly two 2s in circles in the puzzle.
Fun fact: counting circles first appeared in 2023 in this puzzle by Marty Sears.
Lösungscode: The number in the lower right cell of each of the 8 puzzles, in order.
Kommentare
am 21. Juli 2025, 23:05 Uhr von em0748
i. 00:48
ii. 00:56
iii. 1:31
iv. 3:08
v. 00:29
vi. 00:30
vii. 00:39
viii. 00:42
total. 8:43
am 2. Juli 2025, 14:43 Uhr von wuc
Great introduction puzzle for new solvers thx.
am 30. Juni 2025, 01:24 Uhr von ContreBombarde32
1. 2:08
2. 1:58
3. 1:53
4. 1:12
5. 0:52
6. 1:08
7. 1:14
8. 0:50
Total: 11m15s
Absolutely delightful set.
am 3. Juni 2025, 20:11 Uhr von SanFranSam
Times ranged from 1:04 to 5:10. Been watching CTC for a while so i know a few tricks. It would be funny if the next time you put a pack together the solution code could all be the same digit. ;)
am 2. Juni 2025, 04:24 Uhr von midnight643510
Solved each in 45, 73, 81, 47, 46, 33, 88, 55 seconds respectively. Total: 7:48
am 29. Mai 2025, 20:40 Uhr von Obi Swag Kenobi
nice
am 4. Mai 2025, 20:58 Uhr von subprogram32
I got the flow of it after a while, but the first two puzzles took me 15 and 25 mins to solve respectively! XD Maybe I am even more of a beginner than expected lol.
---
juggler: That's great! The very fast times in the comments are from experienced solvers who already know all the implications of these rule sets, not the ones who are learning them for the first time :)
am 4. Mai 2025, 17:51 Uhr von PawsPurpleWoof
Fun little snacks. Good introduction to learning variants
am 4. April 2025, 00:46 Uhr von arctan
3:23 total, all fun
am 27. März 2025, 18:59 Uhr von glum_hippo
5 minutes 39 seconds
am 13. März 2025, 19:54 Uhr von ch3ka
Very nice intro set
am 9. Januar 2025, 21:17 Uhr von mightcould
In seconds, 36, 45, 110, 78, 32, 34, 27, 43. 6:45 total. Nice intro pack!
am 9. Januar 2025, 04:06 Uhr von karlmortenlunna
00:22
00:38
00:54
00:22
00:28
00:28
00:28
00:24
Total 04:04
am 31. Dezember 2024, 03:55 Uhr von randall
Gorgeous!
am 24. Dezember 2024, 08:45 Uhr von NEWS
Level 1: 25 seconds
Level 2: 82 seconds
Level 3: 51 seconds
Level 4: 20 seconds
Level 5: 16 seconds
Level 6: 27 seconds
Level 7: 17 seconds
Level 8: 15 seconds
Total: 253 seconds=4 min 13 sec
VERY NICE!
am 7. Dezember 2024, 14:57 Uhr von Riccardo
Perfect introduction to the most common sudoku variants.
am 26. November 2024, 01:24 Uhr von lupinson
0:46
0:48
1:52
1:05
0:44
0:49
0:38
0:27
Total time: 7:09
am 25. Oktober 2024, 13:19 Uhr von AkashG23
I. 0:45
II. 1:56
III. 1:21
IV. 0:55
V. 0:25
VI. 1:15
VII. 1:39
VIII. 0:23
TOTAL TIME: 8:39
This was a pretty nice starter pack and nice to speedsolve!
am 25. Oktober 2024, 03:27 Uhr von MattYDdraig
A great collection to introduce new solvers to variant sudoku.
am 10. Oktober 2024, 07:33 Uhr von AaronB
0:33
1:32
1:16
0:33
0:41
0:41
0:37
0:37
Total: 6:30.
I'm going to recommend this set to people who are interested in sudoku variants.
am 8. Oktober 2024, 08:56 Uhr von FireRide
Good for beginners who just want to get used to rules. My times:
01:32, 02:09, 03:03, 01:06, 01:08, 01:55, 01:12, 01:41
am 17. August 2024, 19:48 Uhr von regande
Great beginner's puzzle
am 17. August 2024, 01:13 Uhr von Jrosas
I came to LMD looking for easy puzzles for my wife to learn the various variants. This is exactly what I wanted. Thank you. Total time 18:36. #3 at 5:25 took me down.
am 15. August 2024, 21:03 Uhr von yasmim.nat
2:06
4:53
03:41
01:24
01:54
01:13
00:53
02:45
am 8. August 2024, 16:37 Uhr von ostio456
Very enjoyable speed run.
1:56
1:12
1:17
0:48
0:53
0:42
1:08
2:45
Last puzzle had me thinking for a second as for whatever reason i haven't come across it before!
am 23. Juli 2024, 15:44 Uhr von Creed
0:52
3:47
3:03
1:19
1:55
1:33
1:29
1:40
am 19. Juli 2024, 19:35 Uhr von leongyanhao
nice
am 16. Juli 2024, 22:53 Uhr von sockerbecca
Very cute little starter pack!
1. 01:39
2. 01:52
3. 03:13
4. 01:05
5. 00:46
6. 01:18
7. 01:13
8. 01:21
Total. 12:27
am 29. Juni 2024, 21:33 Uhr von Square Oracle
11:17, very nice :)
am 29. Juni 2024, 01:31 Uhr von Ratfinkz
Loved this, definitely sending to my mum! Speed ran them...
0.49
1.27
1.55
0.47
0.46
0.43
0.42
0.54
8minutes 5 seconds in total
am 18. Juni 2024, 20:34 Uhr von 1121
2:19, 1:32, 2:04, 1:35, 1:06, 0:46, 1:31, 0:44 total 11:37
am 21. Mai 2024, 15:07 Uhr von McParland57
1 - 1:20
2 - 2:28
3 - 3:20
4 - 1:20
5 - 0:51
6 - 0:52
7 - 2:38
8 - 0:41
am 6. Mai 2024, 20:02 Uhr von m_and_m_toastie
This would be a wonderful introduction to each of these variants. Very clear paths, which I think makes these a very good introduction to hand-made puzzles in general. Excellent set!
(In the spirit of speedrunning, I solved them all in 6:32)
am 5. Mai 2024, 03:48 Uhr von jiji7878
1. 0:20
2. 0:53
3. 1:29
4. 0:25
5. 0:19
6. 0:26
7. 0:50
8. 0:28
5:10 total
am 27. April 2024, 12:40 Uhr von mnstrmisha
So rewarding coming back to this just a week later! Last time i had *just* started solving sudoku, and couldn't get through all the puzzles.
Now my results look like this!!!
1. 1:47
2. 4:39
3. 2:22
4. 0:52
5. 1:09
6. 1:08
7. 2:37
8. 2:02
Total: 16:36!!
I know it's nowhere near *fast* but considering i only solved half the puzzle after an hour and a half last time i'm over the moon
am 11. April 2024, 06:34 Uhr von TrymanRacing
6:25 for my speed solve, a lovely set of puzzles
am 2. April 2024, 05:31 Uhr von Extarus
i too noticed the hair thing, i also noticed you could move it around by clicking in the mouse and dragging it past it. makes me wounder if theirs some hidden mechanic behind it being their
---
juggler: I think you'll find it will disappear after April 1st ;)
am 31. März 2024, 20:52 Uhr von oceansellaven
Did anyone else have a hair stuck on their puzzle?
Anyway very neat set of puzzles with great examples of the rule sets
am 27. März 2024, 19:24 Uhr von Wasa
1: 05:27
2: 11:49
3: 12:52
4: 07:25
5: 02:26
6: 01:57
7: 06:00
8: 06:19
Total: 54:15
am 22. März 2024, 12:31 Uhr von gideon
I really enjoyed these puzzles. Are there more collections like this?
am 15. Februar 2024, 23:37 Uhr von luda3
Thank you for sharing, very nice snacko puzzles
am 10. Februar 2024, 09:38 Uhr von Lulero
I thoroughly enjoyed my time spent on this :) And I'll definitely share it around!
Many thanks for setting and dressing this!
am 1. Februar 2024, 22:37 Uhr von RobertBe
6:11 total time
am 29. Januar 2024, 01:31 Uhr von deadpanditto
Sudokusnacks indeed. Fun and quick solves. I had the most trouble with the last puzzle, but mostly because I hadn't seen that variant before. My intuitive approach worked, but I'll have to look into why I'm right.
am 28. Januar 2024, 20:44 Uhr von OGRussHood
My times:
I. 45 seconds
II. 69 seconds
III. 98 seconds
IV. 44 seconds
V. 25 seconds
VI. 23 seconds
VII. 42 seconds
VIII. 45 seconds
am 25. Januar 2024, 21:35 Uhr von Benji
15 minutes of fun, thank you. :)
am 25. Januar 2024, 17:29 Uhr von ParaNox
I just spent the whole afternoon solving 4x4 "Snackdokus" and this is the first puzzle I come across today on LMG? Challenge accepted. :D Took me 3:36 in total.
Very enjoyable 3 and a half minutes, might I add.
am 25. Januar 2024, 15:32 Uhr von killroy
I love these. Exactly what should be part of some introduction/guide on basic rules.
am 25. Januar 2024, 10:14 Uhr von sujoyku
I have rushed through these nice little puzzles as well. It almost felt like eating chocolate where you can not really stop, but always need a next bite. :)
Thank you for setting and sharing, juggler!
am 24. Januar 2024, 23:43 Uhr von Jlrice2
I speed solved them as well. 4:29. The thermo one killed it for me at 1:17
am 24. Januar 2024, 22:58 Uhr von nunc
Nice little treat!
am 24. Januar 2024, 21:20 Uhr von Paxilinski
I really love the Beginner's Series. Thank you for setting this it really shows the different variants very well :)
am 24. Januar 2024, 20:51 Uhr von Demparo
Even thought it’s really easy, it’s really fun anyway. Great for its purpose. Perfect for letting my son start with variants.
am 24. Januar 2024, 20:41 Uhr von The Book Wyrm
A bunch of fun little puzzles. Very easy, but definitely should be pretty approachable to someone new to sudoku.
Decided to speed solve them, as suggested, and took 6:09 in total.
am 24. Januar 2024, 17:23 Uhr von jcelia
Fantastic job setting these. I'll be passing this along to friends who want to learn!
am 24. Januar 2024, 16:16 Uhr von Jorava
I think this is an excellent introduction for those unfamiliar with these variants. Took me 10:32.
am 24. Januar 2024, 14:30 Uhr von lordovol
Excellent introduction, though almost beginner I had a nice time solving these
Total time around 16 min, spent 6 minutes on the kropki puzzle
am 24. Januar 2024, 12:06 Uhr von Cipher Savant
Excellent introduction to the various Sudoku variants! I wasn't yet familiar with some of them, that was fun!
am 24. Januar 2024, 10:07 Uhr von str
No expert, but 12:31.
