New Word Sudoku Puzzle for Friday, 1/29/2010

My goal isn't to stump you…"
—Will Shortz

National Puzzle Day honors puzzles of all size, shape and form. Crossword puzzles are the most common; Sudoku and KenKen are perhaps the most recent rages. Queen Victoria created the double acrostic puzzle in the 1860’s; Arthur Wynne invented the world’s first "word-cross" puzzles, later known as crossword puzzles, in 1913 (www.crosswordtournament.com/more/wynne.html).

America’s best-known "enigmatologist" has to be Will Shortz, the crossword puzzle editor for The New York Times and NPR’s "Puzzle Master." The quote at the beginning of this entry is the start of Mr. Shortz’ answer to a question he was asked in the newspaper’s recurring online dialogue with readers, "Talk to The Times" (www.nytimes.com/2009/07/19/business/media/19askthetimes.html?pagewanted=all).

Shortz was asked, "Do you enjoy stumping people? How do you feel when people complain about a particularly difficult or unusual puzzle?" I believe his answer really defines what a good puzzle is—a synergy between constructor and solver that lets both enjoy the moment of connection, the former sweating to create it and the latter sweating to uncover it. It’s my daily mantra in creating the Word Sudoku puzzles you find here. (Thanks, Will!)

WHACKY
6x6 Word Sudoku Puzzle
Each row, column, 2x3 rectangle and set of circled cells contains the letters in the word exactly once

DEFTLY
6x6 Word Sudoku Puzzle
Each row, column, 2x3 rectangle and set of circled cells contains the letters in the word exactly once

DOZING
6x6 Word Sudoku Puzzle
Each row, column, 2x3 rectangle and set of circled cells contains the letters in the word exactly once

TRUMPS
6x6 Word Sudoku Puzzle
Each row, column, 2x3 rectangle and set of circled cells contains the letters in the word exactly once
Copy circled letters to the corresponding numbered cells in the quote grid to spell out the quote

Puzzles are a favorite pastime of hundreds of millions of people worldwide. Researchers say doing puzzles can keep the mind sharp. And by no means are all fun puzzles restricted to words! Remember Rubik’s Cube?

BLAZED
6x6 Word Sudoku Puzzle
Each row, column, 2x3 rectangle and set of circled cells contains the letters in the word exactly once

FUSING
6x6 Word Sudoku Puzzle
Each row, column, 2x3 rectangle and set of circled cells contains the letters in the word exactly once

TROPHY
6x6 Word Sudoku Puzzle
Each row, column, 2x3 rectangle and set of circled cells contains the letters in the word exactly once
Copy circled letters to the corresponding numbered cells in the quote grid to spell out the quote

BTW, who created this day and when remains a puzzle!

Solutions first thing in the morning.

Thanks,
--Dave