Sunday Challenge: New Word Sudoku Puzzle for Sunday, 1/31/2010

Today’s 12x12 Hidden Word Sudoku puzzle is based on the letters in the anagram LIT SAW HUNGRY.

LIT SAW HUNGRY
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.

Beginning tomorrow, I’ll introduce you to a new kind of Qudoku puzzle set—a KeyWord Sudoku puzzle. I think you’ll find it interesting! Please check it out for the next two weeks!

Thanks,
--Dave

(All puzzles and text contained in this blog are copyright © 2008, 2009, 2010, 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 follow this blog. Thank you!)

Solutions to Saturday's Swifty Word Sudoku Puzzles

Yesterday’s Qudoku puzzle set spelled out an adverbial pun known as a Tom Swifty. This one shows Tom popping the question.

The Sunday Challenge, a 12x12 Hidden Word Sudoku puzzle, in just a few hours.

Thanks,
--Dave

Solutions to Friday night’s Extra Word Sudoku Puzzles

Friday night’s extra Qudoku puzzle set challenged you to uncover the three names from Native American traditions for the year’s first full moon. As Kevin pointed out in a comment on that blog entry, cloud cover obscured the view for many of us in the Pacific Northwest. I found this image on Twitpic (http://twitpic.com/show/thumb/10jon0.jpg):


Thanks,
--Dave

New Word Sudoku (Swifty Sudoku!) Puzzles for Saturday, 1/30/2010

I have to buy a new tire," said Tom flatly.

A Tom Swifty is an adverbial pun that simultaneously describes a speaker and refers to the speaker's statement. The name comes from the Tom Swift book series for young readers. The authors were roundly criticized for overusing adverbs and descriptive phrases, so that Tom hardly ever said "said" and rarely said anything without a qualifying adverb. A Tom Swifty pun is a parody of this style.

MILDER
Swifty Sudoku: 6x6 Word Sudoku Puzzle
Each row, column, 2x3 rectangle and set of circled cells contains the letters in the words exactly once

GRANTS
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 Tom Swifty

Solutions first thing in the morning.

Thanks,
--Dave

Solution to 1/29/2010 State Sudoku (Capitals)

Yesterday’s State Sudoku puzzle asked you to name the state and its capital, given an 8x8 Word Sudoku puzzle and this clue:

This state entered the union on January 29, 1861, the 34th state.

The answers: Topeka, Kansas

Thanks,
--Dave

Solution to Friday's Word Sudoku Puzzle

Yesterday’s two Qudoku puzzle sets remembered National Puzzle Day.




A new puzzle in a bit.

Thanks,
--Dave

Extra Word (Full Moon) Sudoku for Friday, 1/29/2010

photo: Jaime JaimeJunior, courtesy publicdomainpictures.net (Full moon)

This extra blog entry is coming at an unusual time, if you’ve noticed my usual pattern of blogging. That’s because I want you to run outside right now and look up at the moon.

Weather and cloud cover permitting, Saturday Jan. 30 at 1:18 am EST, you’ll witness the year’s first full moon, which will coincidentally be the biggest and brightest full moon of the year.

According to SPACE.com, this full moon appears about 14 percent wider and 30 percent brighter than any other full moon this year. And look just to the left of the moon: that reddish object is Mars.

Robert Roy Britt, the Editorial Director of SPACE.com, explains just why the moon appears bigger and brighter in an article published today (http://news.yahoo.com/s/space/20100129/sc_space/biggestandbrightestfullmoonof2010tonight). The moon’s perigee, the closest point of its elliptical orbit to the earth, coincides with the full moon.

As an indication of just how good SPACE.com is, the fascinating story of full moons just gets started with Britt’s article. Joe Rao, SPACE.com columnist, instructor at New York's Hayden Planetarium and meteorologist for News 12 in Westchester, New York, explains in another article (http://www.space.com/spacewatch/full-moon-names-2010-100127.html) how full moons get their names throughout the year from Native America traditions.

Solve the Qudoku puzzle set here first before reading Rao’s article. That’s because the puzzle challenges you to discover the three names for the year’s first full moon.

WALNUT
Full Moon Sudoku: 6x6 Word Sudoku Puzzle
Each row, column, 2x3 rectangle and set of circled cells contains the letters in the words exactly once

FORMED
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 names of this full moon

Solutions first thing in the morning. I’ll continue this theme throughout the year, on the day of each full moon.

Thanks,
--Dave

Celebrating United States History: State Sudoku (Capitals)

This state entered the union on January 29, 1861, the 34th state.

NOT PEAKS
8x8 Word Sudoku Puzzle
Each row, column, 2x4 rectangle and set of circled cells contains 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 capital (on the first line) and the state name (on the last)

Solutions tomorrow morning.

Thanks,
--Dave

(Word Sudoku puzzles and text ©2010, David H. Thompson. All Rights Reserved. Please contact author through the blog for usage permission.)

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

Solution to Thursday's Word Sudoku Puzzle

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

A new puzzle in a bit.

Thanks,
--Dave

New Word Sudoku Puzzle for Thursday, 1/28/2010

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

QUAGMIRED
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 Wednesday's Word Sudoku Puzzles

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

A new puzzle in a bit.

Thanks,
--Dave

New Word Sudoku Puzzle for Wednesday, 1/27/2010

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

VEXATIOUS
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 1/26/2010 State Sudoku (Capitals)

Yesterday’s State Sudoku puzzle asked you to name the state and its capital, given a 9x9 Word Sudoku puzzle and this clue:

This state entered the union on January 26, 1837, the 26th state.

The answers: Lansing, Michigan

Thanks,
--Dave

Solution to Tuesday's Word Sudoku Puzzle

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

A new puzzle in a bit.

Thanks,
--Dave

Celebrating United States History: State Sudoku (Capitals)

This state entered the union on January 26, 1837, the 26th state.

CALMS NIGH
9x9 Word Sudoku Puzzle
Each row, column, 3x3 square and set of circled cells contains 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 capital (on the first line) and the state name (on the last)

Solutions tomorrow morning.

Thanks,
--Dave

(Word Sudoku puzzles and text ©2010, David H. Thompson. All Rights Reserved. Please contact author through the blog for usage permission.)

New Word Sudoku Puzzle for Tuesday, 1/26/2010

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

BREATHILY
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 Monday's Word Sudoku Puzzle

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

A new puzzle in a bit.

Thanks,
--Dave

New Word Sudoku Puzzle for Monday, 1/25/2010

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

DECLAWING
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