Some combinations of constraints are difficult for people with colorblindness. So there’s a version of this puzzle as I initially intended it, but a friend with deuteranopia very patiently reviewed more than a half-dozen different attempts to ensure the pink and green cages were easily distinguishable, and this is the version that was clearest for him. So it’s the official version.
I’m always looking for new ways to describe Autophilia. Homebody, lover of self, or today, driver. Whether literally, while driving a car, or metaphorically, while offering opinions, most of us have been told at least once: stay in your lane! Really, isn’t that all Autophilia is?
Life is full of contrasts, and so is this puzzle. The pink lines pull things together, while the global entropy rule pushes things apart. Push, pull, pushmi-pullyu, back and forth and then things fall apart. Or fall into place, and the puzzle is solved!
I’ve made a few references to 67 in puzzles, including just a couple of puzzles ago. I’m doing it again. 67 67 67. Why not? Sometimes you see a waveform-like shape and a need for a couple of given digits, so why pick them at random when 67 are right there? Note: This is puzzle 100 for 2026, numbered as I created them.
Bonus puzzle! SudokuBank is brand-new, just two days old, and has a lot of appeal for both puzzle setters and puzzle solvers. I was invited to set a puzzle for the launch, and this is the result. As a setter, SudokuBank includes many constraints for which I normally would use custom code, like “Ambiguous Kropki Dots,” which are new to the blog. Each dot is either a white or black Kropki dot, but which? That’s up to you to determine!
I’ll save the punchline for those who solve the puzzle. It’s the end of another month, and so time for another Gattai! This will also bring this run of Renban puzzles to close. For now. I do like Renban as a constraint, but I’ll try to mix things up for a while.
Hands / Touching hands / Reaching out // Touching me, touching you // This is a Touchy Sudoku, which is a challenge to set and this version of this puzzle is a bit of a challenge to solve.
When I provide given digits, I often provide one of each, or all odd digits. This time, it’s the first nine digits of pi. They’re shifted a bit off in each row, because the Disjoint rule would otherwise not allow the double-1 and double-5.
A “Baker’s Dozen” of Renban loops, scattered in a loose formation, none long enough to guarantee any digit, but with one of each digit given to steer by. I really enjoy this puzzle, and after a run of Quadruples puzzles, I think it’s time for a run of Renban puzzles
On one side of the Atlantic, spun sugar is called “Cotton Candy,” while on the other side, it’s called “Candy Floss.” Both names seem silly, but so does eating spun sugar! Also, don’t those pink lines look sweet?