Search found 204 matches

by david mcneill
Fri 16 Feb, 2024 5:26 pm
Forum: Puzzle Competitions
Topic: UKPA Open Sudoku and Puzzle Tournament 2024
Replies: 13
Views: 649

Re: UKPA Open Sudoku and Puzzle Tournament 2024

Thanks Liane. That is not the answer I expected. It makes the constraint rather weak for long lines.
by david mcneill
Fri 16 Feb, 2024 11:22 am
Forum: Puzzle Competitions
Topic: UKPA Open Sudoku and Puzzle Tournament 2024
Replies: 13
Views: 649

Re: UKPA Open Sudoku and Puzzle Tournament 2024

Thanks Liane. One query about Round 5 Puzzle 3 - Anti-Palindrome. On a grey line, must no digit pair appear in symmetrically opposite positions? Or is it enough for the grey line as a whole to be non-palindromic? The given string 1234132 is OK under either interpretation. Whereas 1234123 fails the f...
by david mcneill
Fri 24 Mar, 2023 10:34 am
Forum: Puzzle Competitions
Topic: 2023 Puzzle Grand Prix
Replies: 4
Views: 2279

Re: 2023 Puzzle Grand Prix

Nothing easy about the example puzzle. I identified 16 possibilities for the central line of 3 cells where the CIR ends up but I had to go through these by a process of elimination.
by david mcneill
Tue 21 Jun, 2022 1:59 pm
Forum: Puzzle Competitions
Topic: UK Sudoku Championship 2022
Replies: 4
Views: 5231

Re: UK Sudoku Championship 2022

Sam, thanks so much for organising the competition. Lots of lovely puzzles. Definitely harder than last year. The Killer, Quadro, Consecutive Clone and Numbered Rooms were quite chewy. And Lockout Lines was a step too far for me. I actually found the solution quite quickly by intuition afterwards, b...
by david mcneill
Thu 25 Nov, 2021 9:37 am
Forum: Announcements
Topic: 2021 World Sudoku+Puzzle Convention
Replies: 13
Views: 15133

Re: 2021 World Sudoku+Puzzle Convention

I thought it was great fun. I didn't do the time trials but did have a go at the bonus rounds. Perhaps the first thing I should do is take my hat off to Freddie on breaking into the top 10 in the Sudoku (and whipping me in the process). No surprise to see Freddie on the puzzle podium too. Great to s...
by david mcneill
Mon 08 Nov, 2021 3:56 pm
Forum: Announcements
Topic: 2021 World Sudoku+Puzzle Convention
Replies: 13
Views: 15133

Re: 2021 World Sudoku+Puzzle Convention

Thanks Gareth. I've registered via the link you shared. Not sure what rounds I'll have time to do, but it's nice to have the option.
by david mcneill
Tue 14 Sep, 2021 11:00 pm
Forum: Puzzle Competitions
Topic: UKPA Yajilin Contest (10 Sep - 13 Sep)
Replies: 15
Views: 14373

Re: UKPA Yajilin Contest (10 Sep - 13 Sep)

I was well out of my depth here. Can't remember solving much logically during the test apart from the first Look-Air puzzle. The second Look-Air puzzle was also enjoyable, but that was afterwards. I was able to solve everything eventually using a combination of pen (for certainties) and pencil (for ...
by david mcneill
Mon 23 Aug, 2021 12:28 pm
Forum: Puzzle Competitions
Topic: UKPA Yajilin Contest (10 Sep - 13 Sep)
Replies: 15
Views: 14373

Re: UKPA Yajilin Contest (10 Sep - 13 Sep)

Sam, In the rules for Look-Air Yajilin, "the total number of distinct squares" is possibly open to misinterpretation. I briefly wondered if it meant "the number of distinct square sizes" e.g. the intended rule is that two single-celled black squares separated by a 4-cell black sq...
by david mcneill
Fri 20 Aug, 2021 7:46 pm
Forum: Puzzle Competitions
Topic: UK Puzzle League 2021-2022
Replies: 2
Views: 3473

Re: UK Puzzle League 2021-2022

I thought I would be relegated and have to live off the parachute payment. However, happy to accept the higher revenues in Division A for at least one more season.
by david mcneill
Fri 20 Aug, 2021 7:42 pm
Forum: Announcements
Topic: UKPA Yajilin Contest (10 Sep - 13 Sep)
Replies: 1
Views: 5625

Re: UKPA Yajilin Contest (10 Sep - 13 Sep)

Looks good Sam. Well done on organising. Hope to try these out.
by david mcneill
Thu 17 Jun, 2021 7:17 am
Forum: Announcements
Topic: Results: 2021 UK Sudoku Championship
Replies: 3
Views: 7437

Re: Results: 2021 UK Sudoku Championship

Yes, a lovely set of puzzles by Sam, maintaining the exceptionally high standards of the UKSC. I enjoyed the puzzles even more after the event. The Odd/Even had a very nice solving path which I missed during the competition. The solving paths in both the Diagonal and the Killer were beautiful. But t...
by david mcneill
Fri 11 Jun, 2021 12:41 pm
Forum: Announcements
Topic: UKPA Monday evening Zoom drop-ins
Replies: 37
Views: 33633

Re: UKPA Monday evening Zoom drop-ins

At the risk of intertwining quite different threads (see Deuteronomy 22:11), it was the contents that fell short of the mark.
by david mcneill
Tue 08 Jun, 2021 9:30 am
Forum: General Puzzle Discussions
Topic: Classic sudoku speed
Replies: 8
Views: 8935

Re: Classic sudoku speed

I think one largely unspoken factor in classic Sudoku speed-solving is knowing when to start guessing and in having a good system of keeping track of tentative solving chains. Guessing isn't usually as beneficial in variants but is still an important last resort. I know on CtC there is ongoing bante...
by david mcneill
Tue 08 Jun, 2021 9:02 am
Forum: Announcements
Topic: UKPA Monday evening Zoom drop-ins
Replies: 37
Views: 33633

Re: UKPA Monday evening Zoom drop-ins

Sorry Tom.

I wasn't available to join you last night. Under instructions to augment my wardrobe.
by david mcneill
Wed 26 May, 2021 7:25 pm
Forum: Announcements
Topic: UKPA Monday evening Zoom drop-ins
Replies: 37
Views: 33633

Re: UKPA Monday evening Zoom drop-ins

I'm trying to join. Please let me know if there's any change of plan.
by david mcneill
Thu 20 May, 2021 1:22 pm
Forum: Puzzle Competitions
Topic: UKPA Masyu Contest 14 May - 19 May 2021
Replies: 16
Views: 14015

Re: UKPA Masyu Contest 14 May - 19 May 2021

My first attempt to set a Masyu contest. Delighted so many took part. Just over 100 competitors, of whom 42 got all the puzzles correct within the time. I was nervous beforehand about possible answer key errors and there were no fewer than 17 puzzlers who submitted answers for all 15 puzzles but mad...
by david mcneill
Sun 16 May, 2021 11:52 am
Forum: Puzzle Competitions
Topic: UKPA Masyu Contest 14 May - 19 May 2021
Replies: 16
Views: 14015

Re: UKPA Masyu Contest 14 May - 17 May 2021

Having become aware that some puzzlers have been having difficulty registering, I have extended the competition deadline by 48 hours. This means that solutions must be submitted no later than 11pm BST on Wednesday 19 May. The results of the competition will be published at 2pm on Thursday 20 May. I ...
by david mcneill
Tue 11 May, 2021 8:30 am
Forum: General Puzzle Discussions
Topic: Monday Evening UKPA puzzle drop-ins
Replies: 10
Views: 10697

Re: Monday Evening UKPA puzzle drop-ins

Sorry, I didn't catch this message. I wasn't free last night anyway. I'll try to join on another occasion. I'm a bit uncomfortable discussing the Sudoku and Puzzle GPs in my role as test solver. Definitely uncomfortable discussing my own Masyu contest. But there may be other stuff.
by david mcneill
Fri 07 May, 2021 10:10 am
Forum: Puzzle Competitions
Topic: UKPA Masyu Contest 14 May - 19 May 2021
Replies: 16
Views: 14015

Re: UKPA Masyu Contest 14 May - 17 May 2021

Sam,

Thanks for the question. The constraint in No Touch Masyu only applies to orthogonally adjacent cells. Unvisited cells are allowed to be diagonally adjacent. I had seen the name previously applied to puzzles with the same rule set. Hope there's no confusion.

David.
by david mcneill
Wed 05 May, 2021 7:22 am
Forum: Puzzle Competitions
Topic: UKPA Masyu Contest 14 May - 19 May 2021
Replies: 16
Views: 14015

UKPA Masyu Contest 14 May - 19 May 2021

This is the discussion thread for the upcoming UKPA Masyu Contest. UK and international competitors are welcome. Dates: Friday 14 May 2021 - Monday 17 May 2021 Duration: 90 minutes Puzzles: 15 puzzles, including 4 standard Masyu, 1 large Masyu and 2 each of 5 Masyu variants Instruction booklet: post...
by david mcneill
Sun 21 Mar, 2021 12:21 pm
Forum: Puzzle Competitions
Topic: Divisions A and B 2020-2021
Replies: 68
Views: 60889

Re: Divisions A and B 2020-2021

Probably won't (try to) solve the Saturday puzzle until tomorrow. I had a few nightmares already this week. The Ripple Loop turned out to be very hard and I didn't give myself a long enough window to solve it. Had to return to it over an hour later. The Magic Snail was another disaster as I didn't k...
by david mcneill
Wed 03 Mar, 2021 2:08 pm
Forum: Puzzle Competitions
Topic: UKPA Skyscrapers Contest 25 February - 2 March 2021
Replies: 14
Views: 17103

Re: UKPA Skyscrapers Contest 25 February - 2 March 2021

The results of the UKPA Skyscrapers contest are out. Congratulations to the 14 competitors who submitted correct solutions to all the puzzles. Ridiculously good solving from the Voigt brothers. Bragging rights to Roland on this occasion. Endo Ken completed the podium places but spare a thought for T...
by david mcneill
Thu 25 Feb, 2021 8:52 am
Forum: Puzzle Competitions
Topic: UKPA Skyscrapers Contest 25 February - 2 March 2021
Replies: 14
Views: 17103

Re: UKPA Skyscrapers Contest 25 February - 2 March 2021

Just a quick reminder that the UKPA Skyscrapers Contest is about to start. It's open right through to next Tuesday. Good luck to everybody planning to take part. Hoping for lots of happy finishers. Please don't discuss the actual puzzles until the contest is over.
by david mcneill
Wed 10 Feb, 2021 9:30 pm
Forum: Puzzle Competitions
Topic: Divisions A and B 2020-2021
Replies: 68
Views: 60889

Re: Divisions A and B 2020-2021

Well done Freddie and Neil. I hate loop puzzles and this was one of the most miserable experiences I have had in a long time. Like Adam and Matthew, I have no idea what is going on with a lot of the puzzles. Some I only solved by pure luck e.g. the funny Country Road one. The remaining puzzles are i...
by david mcneill
Wed 10 Feb, 2021 8:25 pm
Forum: Puzzle Competitions
Topic: UKPA Skyscrapers Contest 25 February - 2 March 2021
Replies: 14
Views: 17103

UKPA Skyscrapers Contest 25 February - 2 March 2021

This is the discussion thread for the upcoming UKPA Skyscrapers Contest. UK and international competitors are welcome. Because there is a Puzzle GP round on the same weekend, the competition window is slightly wider than usual. Dates: Thursday 25 February 2021 - Tuesday 2 March 2021 Duration: 2 hour...