Thursday, April 30, 2009

New Word Sudoku Puzzle for Thursday, 4/30/2009

New Word Sudoku Puzzle for Thursday, 4/30/2009

Today’s 9x9 Classic Word Sudoku puzzle is based on the word ULTRAFINE.

ULTRAFINE
9x9 Classic Word Sudoku Puzzle
Each row, column and 3x3 square contains the letters in the word or phrase exactly once

Solution first thing in the morning.

Thanks,
--Dave

Celebrating United States History: State Sudoku

Celebrating United States History: State Sudoku

This state entered the union on April 30, 1812, the 18th state.

A SHOUT
6x6 Word Sudoku Puzzle

PENCIL
6x6 Word Sudoku Puzzle
Each row, column, 2x3 rectangle and the set of circled cells contain the letters in the word or phrase exactly once; copy the numbered letters into the corresponding cells of the quote grid to unveil the state nickname (on the first line) and the state name (on the last).

Solutions tomorrow morning.

Thanks,
--Dave

(Word Sudoku puzzles and text © 2009, David H. Thompson. All Rights Reserved. Please contact author through the blog for usage permission.)

Solutions to Wednesday’s Extra Word Sudoku Puzzles

Solutions to Wednesday’s Extra Word Sudoku Puzzles

Yesterday's Extra Qudoku puzzle set provided three answers to the latest Constant Consonants puzzle from Karen Richards at http://puzzlebits.wordpress.com/.
How many words can you think of that contain R and L, in order, and include no other consonants?
A new Word Sudoku puzzle in a few hours. And tomorrow, May 1, I'll begin an entire month of Qudoku puzzle sets (with a few exceptions on Sundays).

Thanks,
--Dave

Solution to Wednesday's Word Sudoku Puzzle

Solution to Wednesday's Word Sudoku Puzzle

Yesterday’s Classic Word Sudoku puzzle was based on the word EXPULSION.

A new puzzle in a bit.

Thanks,
--Dave

Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Extra Word Sudoku Puzzles for Wednesday, 4-29-2009: Constant Consonants

Extra Word Sudoku Puzzles for Wednesday, 4-29-2009: Constant Consonants
Given a list of consonants, how many words can you think of that contain the listed consonants, in order, and include no other consonants?
Karen Richards poses this Constant Consonants puzzle a couple Mondays each month in her puzzle blog http://puzzlebits.wordpress.com/. Please visit her blog for full rules and other intriguing puzzles.

I first try to solve Karen's puzzle; then I try to make Word Sudoku puzzles out of a few of those answers. Here's a Qudoku puzzle set supplying letters to spell out three of the longest answers I found for the consonants RL, the puzzle Karen posted Monday, 4/27/2009.

YOU'RE AIL
8x8 Constant Consonant Word Sudoku: RL
Each row, column, 2x4 rectangle and the set of circled letters contains the letters in the anagram exactly once
Copy circled letters to the corresponding numbered cell in the quote grid to spell out four "Constant Consonants" RL words

Solutions in the morning. Please visit Karen Richardson’s puzzle blog http://puzzlebits.wordpress.com/ for the complete Constant Consonants rules, her (undoubtedly many more!) solutions to her puzzle and many other brainteasers, as well.

Thanks,
--Dave

New Word Sudoku Puzzle for Wednesday, 4/29/2009

New Word Sudoku Puzzle for Wednesday, 4/29/2009

Today’s 9x9 Classic Word Sudoku puzzle is based on the word EXPULSION.

EXPULSION
9x9 Classic Word Sudoku Puzzle
Each row, column and 3x3 square contains the letters in the word or phrase exactly once

Solution first thing in the morning.

Thanks,
--Dave

Solution to 4/28/2009 State Sudoku

Solution to 4/28/2009 State Sudoku

Yesterday’s State Sudoku puzzle asked you to name the state and its nickname, given two 6x6 Word Sudoku puzzles and this clue:

This state entered the union on April 28, 1788, the 7th state.

The answers: Maryland: The Old Line State

Thanks,
--Dave

Solution to Tuesday's Word Sudoku Puzzle

Solution to Tuesday's Word Sudoku Puzzle

Yesterday’s Classic Word Sudoku puzzle was based on the word WINSOMELY.

A new puzzle in a bit.

Thanks,
--Dave

Tuesday, April 28, 2009

New Word Sudoku Puzzle for Tuesday, 4/28/2009

New Word Sudoku Puzzle for Tuesday, 4/28/2009

Today’s 9x9 Classic Word Sudoku puzzle is based on the word WINSOMELY.

WINSOMELY
9x9 Classic Word Sudoku Puzzle
Each row, column and 3x3 square contains the letters in the word or phrase exactly once

Solution first thing in the morning.

Thanks,
--Dave

Celebrating United States History: State Sudoku

Celebrating United States History: State Sudoku

This state entered the union on April 28, 1788, the 7th state.

ISLAND
6x6 Word Sudoku Puzzle

THEORY
6x6 Word Sudoku Puzzle
Each row, column, 2x3 rectangle and the set of circled cells contain the letters in the word or phrase exactly once; copy the numbered letters into the corresponding cells of the quote grid to unveil the state nickname (on the first line) and the state name (on the last).

Solutions tomorrow morning.

Thanks,
--Dave

(Word Sudoku puzzles and text © 2009, David H. Thompson. All Rights Reserved. Please contact author through the blog for usage permission.)

Solution to Monday's Word Sudoku Puzzle

Solution to Monday's Word Sudoku Puzzle

Yesterday’s Hidden Word Sudoku puzzle was based on the letters in the anagram NADIR CHEF.
A new puzzle in a bit.

Thanks,
--Dave

Monday, April 27, 2009

New Word Sudoku Puzzle for Monday, 4/27/2009

New Word Sudoku Puzzle for Monday, 4/27/2009

Today’s 9x9 Hidden Word Sudoku puzzle is based on the letters in the anagram NADIR CHEF.

NADIR CHEF
9x9 Hidden Word Sudoku Puzzle
Each row, column and 3x3 square contains the letters in the word or phrase exactly once
The hidden word or phrase is spelled down the diagonal

Solution first thing in the morning.

Thanks,
--Dave

Solution to the Sunday Challenge Word Sudoku Puzzle

Solution to the Sunday Challenge Word Sudoku Puzzle

Yesterday’s Sunday Challenge Hidden Word Sudoku puzzle was based on the letters in the anagram TIMER KNOW LAG.

A new puzzle in a bit.

Thanks,
--Dave

Sunday, April 26, 2009

Sunday Challenge: New Word Sudoku Puzzle for Sunday, 4/26/2009

Sunday Challenge: New Word Sudoku Puzzle for Sunday, 4/26/2009

Today’s 12x12 Hidden Word Sudoku puzzle is based on the letters in the anagram TIMER KNOW LAG.

TIMER KNOW LAG
Sunday Challenge: 12x12 Hidden Word Sudoku Puzzle
Each row, column and 3x4 rectangle contains the letters in the word or phrase exactly once
The hidden word or phrase is spelled down the diagonal

Solution first thing in the morning.

Thanks,
--Dave

(All puzzles and text contained in this blog are copyright © 2008, 2009, David H. Thompson. All rights reserved. You have my permission to print single copies for your individual solving pleasure, but you may not collect or further distribute these puzzles in any way without my explicit written permission. Please contact me through this blog's comment feature. And please tell your puzzle-loving friends to visit and follow this blog. Thank you!)

Solutions to Yesterday’s Extra Word Sudoku Puzzles

Solutions to Yesterday’s Extra Word Sudoku Puzzles

Yesterday’s extra Word Sudoku puzzles spelled out a quote from Entertainment Weekly’s Lisa Schwarzbaum on how she (and many others, including me) felt after watching British woman Susan Boyle sing on “Britain’s Got Talent.” Lisa’s full quote is at http://popwatch.ew.com/popwatch/2009/04/susan-boyle-why.html, and Susan’s amazing performance is at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lp0IWv8QZY.

The Sunday Challenge in a bit.

Thanks,
--Dave

Solution to Saturday's Word Sudoku Puzzle

Solution to Saturday's Word Sudoku Puzzle

Yesterday’s Diagonal Word Sudoku puzzle was based on the word LIVESTOCK.

The Sunday Challenge in a bit.

Thanks,
--Dave

Saturday, April 25, 2009

Extra Word Sudoku (Qudoku!) Puzzle for Saturday, 4/25/2009

Extra Word Sudoku (Qudoku!) Puzzle for Saturday, 4/25/2009

Today’s extra Word Sudoku puzzle is prompted by the extraordinary event we’ve all seen online by now: the singing of Susan Boyle, the British woman who appeared on “Britain’s Got Talent” not quite looking the expected part…but blowing away the audience with her performance.

If you haven’t seen it, check out this YouTube video of her singing: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lp0IWv8QZY. Even though I’ve given it away—you know she wins big—if you’re at all like me, you’re cringing for her as the audience and the judges view her rather cynically: She’s going to sing like a famous British singer? Yeah, right! And then…she does.

What is it that makes many of us jump to conclusions based on first impressions, so that we’re deeply cynical of others whom we judge harshly? And what is it that makes us turn around so quickly, like the audience here, which was cheering from the second note?

And why do many of us start crying, as we watch this video? And not just the first time we see it?

I never email links or jokes to friends. I am not a serial email forwarder. You send it to me, it dies here. But I sent this Susan Boyle video link to dozens of my friends. My note said, “if you ever need a reminder that there is grace in the world…”

But Entertainment Weekly’s Lisa Schwarzbaum said it much better than I. The Word Sudoku puzzles below provide you the letters; place them in the numbered cells in the quote grid to spell out Lisa’s reaction to watching Susan Boyle sing. I think Ms. Schwarzbaum speaks for a great many of us!

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

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

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

HUMP
4x4 Word Sudoku Puzzle
Each row, column, 2x2 square 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

Solutions in the morning. By the way, breaking my no forwarding rule yet again, you may remember that this isn’t the first time that someone has knocked the socks off the judges and audience in “Britain’s Got Talent.” Remember Paul Potts, the mobile phone salesman who wanted to be an opera singer? Here’s a YouTube link of his performance: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y703tPc4PRk. It’s also phenomenal. And for pure spirit uplift, check out this YouTube link showing what amounts to a ‘street dance’ to “Do Re Mi” from the soundtrack of “The Sound of Music” in the middle of a Norwegian train station: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0UE3CNu_rtY. If you aren’t feeling better after watching this, you’ve forgotten how!

Thanks,
--Dave

New (Diagonal) Word Sudoku Puzzle for Saturday, 4/25/2009

New (Diagonal) Word Sudoku Puzzle for Saturday, 4/25/2009

Today’s 9x9 Diagonal Word Sudoku puzzle is based on the word LIVESTOCK.

LIVESTOCK
9x9 Diagonal Word Sudoku Puzzle
Each diagonal, row, column and 3x3 square contains the letters in the word or phrase exactly once

Solution first thing in the morning.

Thanks,
--Dave

Solution to Friday's Word Sudoku Puzzle

Solution to Friday's Word Sudoku Puzzle

Yesterday’s Classic Word Sudoku puzzle was based on the word EUPHORIAS.

A new puzzle in a bit.

Thanks,
--Dave

Friday, April 24, 2009

New Word Sudoku Puzzle for Friday, 4/24/2009

New Word Sudoku Puzzle for Friday, 4/24/2009

Today’s 9x9 Classic Word Sudoku puzzle is based on the word EUPHORIAS.

EUPHORIAS
9x9 Classic Word Sudoku Puzzle
Each row, column and 3x3 square contains the letters in the word or phrase exactly once

Solution first thing in the morning.

Thanks,
--Dave

Solutions to Yesterday’s Extra Word Sudoku Puzzles

Solutions to Yesterday’s Extra Word Sudoku Puzzles

Yesterday’s extra Word Sudoku puzzles and Qudoku puzzle sets were based on a ‘Constant Consonants’ poser last Monday on another puzzle blog, http://puzzlebits.wordpress.com/. Karen Richards asked, How many words can you think of that use the consonants PRL in that order, and no others? I presented a Hidden Word Sudoku puzzle and two Qudoku puzzle sets based on a few of the prl words I came up with.



Today’s regular daily Word Sudoku puzzle will be published in a few hours.

Thanks,
--Dave

Solution to Thursday’s Word Sudoku Puzzle

Solution to Thursday’s Word Sudoku Puzzle

Yesterday’s Classic Word Sudoku puzzle was based on the word PUBLISHED.

A new puzzle in a bit.

Thanks,
--Dave

Thursday, April 23, 2009

Extra Word Sudoku (Qudoko!) Puzzle for Thursday, 4/23/2009

Extra Word Sudoku (Qudoko!) Puzzle for Thursday, 4/23/2009

Today’s extra puzzles are based on a ‘Constant Consonants’ puzzle posed last Monday by Karen Richards at her blog, http://puzzlebits.wordpress.com/. She asked: How many words can you think of that use the consonants PRL in that order, and no others?

I just started trying Karen’s puzzles a few weeks ago, and up until this one, they came fairly easy—I certainly didn’t come up with as many words as Karen did, but I was reasonably respectable! This one? I came up with about a dozen. Harder! Although that's half the fun, isn’t it?

Today I’ll give you four solutions to Karen’s puzzle, inside Hidden Word Sudoku and Qudoku puzzle sets. I’ll begin with one puzzle showing you two solutions—although they’re different words, they contain the same distinct letters.

LIP RUE
Constant Consonants: 6x6 Word Sudoku Puzzle
Each row, column, 2x3 rectangle and set of circled cells contains the letters in the anagram exactly once
Copy the circled letters into their corresponding numbered cells in the answer grid to spell out two prl words

The next solution to Karen’s puzzle poser is spelled down the diagonal of a 6x6 Hidden Word Sudoku puzzle.

ALE PRO
Constant Consonants: 6x6 Hidden Word Sudoku Puzzle
Each row, column, 2x3 rectangle and the top-left to bottom-right diagonal contains the letters in the anagram exactly once
The hidden prl word is spelled down the diagonal

Finally, one more, because I like it: it’s one of the longest words I found, 7 letters; but it contains the smallest number of distinct letters of any solution I found: only 5. And I'll give you one!

REAP
Constant Consonants: 2x2 Word Sudoku Puzzle
Each row, column, 2x2 square and set of circled cells contains the letters in the anagram exactly once
Copy the circled letters into their corresponding numbered cells in the answer grid to spell out the prl word

Solutions tomorrow. Karen Richards’ blog, containing many more ‘Constant Consonant’ puzzles and lots of others as well, is http://puzzlebits.wordpress.com/

Thanks,
--Dave

New Word Sudoku Puzzle for Thursday, 4/23/2009

New Word Sudoku Puzzle for Thursday, 4/23/2009

Today’s 9x9 Classic Word Sudoku puzzle is based on the word PUBLISHED.

PUBLISHED
9x9 Classic Word Sudoku Puzzle
Each row, column and 3x3 square contains the letters in the word or phrase exactly once

Solution first thing in the morning.

Thanks,
--Dave

Solutions to Wednesday’s Word Sudoku Puzzles

Solutions to Wednesday’s Word Sudoku Puzzles

Yesterday’s Qudoku puzzle sets spelled out quotes on the meaning and importance of Earth Day. Please let me know if the different grid sizes threw you: did that make it too difficult?



A new Word Sudoku puzzle coming your way in a few hours.

Thanks,
--Dave