Gears
(Published on 11. March 2025, 01:05 by ThePedallingPianist)
Normal sudoku rules apply. Digits in a cage do not repeat and sum to the given total.
Solution code: Row 5, left to right
Comments
on 5. March 2026, 02:43 by MysticMan
Lovely break-in!
on 28. August 2025, 18:46 by PinkNickels
Excellent setting. Break-in was fantastic.
on 1. August 2025, 17:42 by abadx
3 stars from my side due to the advance techniques needed to crack the puzzle
on 18. May 2025, 12:45 by TCK Green
I was one of those intermediate solvers who almost gve up straight away because I couldn't see the break in, but VitP's about 'pressure point' comment prompted my brain just enough that it ended up getting there. Thank you VitP!
Also, this was a *very* neat puzzle once I worked that out, thank you TPP for setting it!
on 12. March 2025, 08:58 by Voidslime
Very fun and satisfying puzzle! I agree with your thought that the break in may favor experienced solvers. Even after the break in the challenges were unique and i enjoyed making progress. I gave the difficulty a 3
on 12. March 2025, 04:23 by waffles_the_dog
Lovely and approachable break in :D
on 12. March 2025, 02:50 by juddimal
Beautiful construction
on 11. March 2025, 18:04 by OGRussHood
A great killer sudoku, but I couldn't help but channel Peter Griffin several times in saying out loud, "You know what really grinds my gears?"
on 11. March 2025, 16:31 by harwiltz
Beautiful! I had the same experience as Hamsterbase. Took me about 25m to get started, and then it just flowed continuously.
on 11. March 2025, 15:07 by Franjo
Beautiful setting! Thank you very much for creating and sharing this lovely puzzle.
on 11. March 2025, 13:00 by Visumation
Really enjoyed that. Thanks
I will say 2*, however, I have friends who would rate this 3-4 because they wouldn’t know/see the small tricks outside the cages. So I gave it a “small” 3.
on 11. March 2025, 10:58 by Snookerfan
Very nice! Thank you
on 11. March 2025, 09:38 by ThePedallingPianist
Not the first time I've totally forgotten to write "do not repeat and" in the killer rules, my apologies!
on 11. March 2025, 08:59 by VitP
i think that the very CONCEPT of the "pressure point" is out of reach of beginners, and even many intermediate solvers won't know it, so the difficulty must be 3/5.
on 11. March 2025, 08:54 by Snaques
Great puzzle. I loved how it progressed in a very satisfactory way.
I kind of get that the cage rules should state that numbers can't repeat, but maybe that is the "standard cage rule".
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TPP: You're absolutely right, I just forgot! Thanks for spotting this. Fixed now :)
on 11. March 2025, 08:02 by VitP
hang on now.
"normal sudoku rules apply" says NOTHING about any variant rules. therefore it is NOT valid to assume that digits cannot repeat in cages. and i suspect that the puzzle then becomes unsolvable.
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TPP: You're absolutely right - I always forget to write the "do not repeat" part of killer rules, sorry about that! Thank you for spotting. Edited now :)
on 11. March 2025, 07:13 by Hamsterbase
What a terrific puzzle. It took me ages (over 20 minutes) to get going, but once started it flowed really beautifully. Many thanks.
on 11. March 2025, 06:04 by mobiustrip
Beautiful puzzle!
on 11. March 2025, 02:52 by sujoyku
Very nice puzzle! Approachable, and yet full of fun little tricks. Thank you, TPP!
