Logic Masters Deutschland e.V.

am 6. April 2025, 10:24 Uhr von TheNineElements
Solve tome: 38:14*

I rated this 2/5 difficulty.

Excellent killer puzzle! Really liked the geometry of the cage placements, and it led to a really interesting and fun solve!

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* I think 2* is a totally fair rating for this puzzle - but for whatever reason I was REALLY struggling to find the break-in "trick". I spent nearly 25 minutes before I placed a single digit, but once I placed my first digit (when I realized I could eliminate one cage combination in one) the whole puzzle went very smoothly and was completely approachable.

Based on my solve time being so long (nearly 40 mins), I would typically rate this puzzle 3* difficulty. However, my solve time being so long was completely caused by my poor scanning at the beginning of my attempt, and my determination to make my logic as complicated as possible.

At first, I was able to pencilmark several cages and non-caged cells, but I spent FAR too long coloring the extreme digits that were in the very large and very small cages - to absolutely no avail. During my coloring of the extreme/constrained digits, I spent most of that time eliminating cell candidates for the colored digits using some excessively complex geometries. I nearly gave up because my progress stalled for so long, but I then realized that I had totally overlooked very basic sudoku techniques. Right before giving up, I realized that I had a [hidden] pointing pair that resolved one of the cages. The logic was extremely simple, but I had just totally ignored/missed it for some reason.

I think I spent so long coloring because I didn't know the difficulty of the puzzle (that it was easier), and I was able to spot some really interesting ideas with the giving placements of the 21/22 and 8/10/11 cages. This was the sort of logic I would expect from a 4-5* puzzle break-in - but something I wouldn't generally attempt on an easier puzzle because there ought to be a more straightforward approach on an easy puzzle. I was making just enough progress to think it could be the "trick", but obviously that didn't work out. If I went into the solve knowing it was a 2* puzzle, I don't think I would have spent so long coloring.

That missed deduction would be totally fair for even a 1* puzzle - and the remainder of the puzzle logic felt around 1-2* difficulty.

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Either way, the whole puzzle was very enjoyable and I was able to appreciate the geometry without struggling so much during the midgame. I highly recommend giving this puzzle a go!

Do not be deterred by my long solve time as I expect a high-beginner to low-intermediate to be able to solve this puzzle without too much difficulty.

Thanks for sharing!

am 6. April 2025, 00:21 Uhr von Snookerfan
Nice one, thank you!

am 5. April 2025, 21:15 Uhr von Piatato
Fun puzzle! Hard and easy simultaneously, if that makes sense :)

am 5. April 2025, 19:12 Uhr von CorpJigsQuand
Liked it very much. But didn't find it that easy. Maybe i looked at the wrong places for too long. Thx for the puzzle!

am 5. April 2025, 14:23 Uhr von GeorgeTheToad2
Nice smooth solve, lovely.

am 5. April 2025, 12:07 Uhr von mihel111
This a puzzle has a great flow, but no particular difficulties if you have a methodical approach. A lovely 2* in my humble opinion.