motris (![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small} motris) wrote,@ 2006-07-12 21:16:00 |
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Diagramless Kakuro
One of the fun crossword variants out there is the diagramless crossword which challenges the solver to complete the grid without knowing the grid, let alone the starting square. The diagramless puzzles that occur from time to time in GWOP are some of my favorites to solve, particularly when there is a themed grid-shape.
As "cross-sums" have roots near to "cross-words", I thought I'd try my hand at making a diagramless kakuro. The following puzzle is not tremendously hard, but suggests that it is possible, with enough care, to make such a challenge.
A few notes about the puzzle: first, I use only the digits 1-7 in the puzzle to simplify the sum space being explored by the clues; second, the puzzle obeys standard crossword rules including symmetry (180-degree rotation of black squares), no uncrossed numbers (each number is part of at least a 2-digit sum both across and down), and all white squares are connected; finally, as the "numbering" of clues in traditional crossword style would give too much information in this puzzle, I have simply listed the clues in order - as in crosswords, the order is based on the "starting square" of the entry and proceeds from left to right starting in the top row and working down.
Enjoy.
One of the fun crossword variants out there is the diagramless crossword which challenges the solver to complete the grid without knowing the grid, let alone the starting square. The diagramless puzzles that occur from time to time in GWOP are some of my favorites to solve, particularly when there is a themed grid-shape.
As "cross-sums" have roots near to "cross-words", I thought I'd try my hand at making a diagramless kakuro. The following puzzle is not tremendously hard, but suggests that it is possible, with enough care, to make such a challenge.
A few notes about the puzzle: first, I use only the digits 1-7 in the puzzle to simplify the sum space being explored by the clues; second, the puzzle obeys standard crossword rules including symmetry (180-degree rotation of black squares), no uncrossed numbers (each number is part of at least a 2-digit sum both across and down), and all white squares are connected; finally, as the "numbering" of clues in traditional crossword style would give too much information in this puzzle, I have simply listed the clues in order - as in crosswords, the order is based on the "starting square" of the entry and proceeds from left to right starting in the top row and working down.
Enjoy.
