#23 - UKPC 2023 puzzles
Last year I had the pleasure to create some puzzles for the UK Puzzle Championship. Basically I was asked to create some well-known types, some more unfamiliar ones and perhaps a few variants. The UKPC was divided into two rounds of 90 minutes each, with 540 points up for grabs in each round (so 6 points per minute). Round 1 can be found here and round 2 can be found here. Below you can find the puzzles I created.
1.1 Mastermind (10 points)
I always like a small word puzzle in contests. That's why I created this one with mostly (stereo)typical words associated with the UK.
Rules
Identify a secret code comprised of letters (digits in the example). Each row represents a guess at the secret code, with black dots identifying letters that are in the correct position and white dots letters that are in the guess but in a different position to the code. The dots are given in no specific order, and each letter in the secret code contributes at most one dot, with black dots given priority over white dots in case of ambiguity (for example, if the guess was FREED and the secret code was GEESE, the puzzle would display 1 black and 1 white). Each letter in the secret code appears in at least one guess.
1.2 Fillomino (15 points)
Rules
Divide the grid into regions of orthogonally connected cells. Two regions of the same size may not share an edge. Clued cells must belong to a region containing the indicated number of cells.
1.11 Shikaku (45 points)
The placement of numbers is not ideal for perfect symmetry, but I do like the logical flow of this puzzle.
Rules
Divide the grid into rectangular regions of orthogonally connected cells. Each region must contain exactly one circle. A number in a circle represents how many cells are in the region the circle belongs to.
1.14 Curve Data (59 points)
I was quite happy to get this theme to work. Unfortunately this was when I thought the UKPC was going to take place in June, while it eventually took place in early July. Nevertheless, it's a tough one, but there is a logical way through!
Rules
Draw lines between the centres of cells so that each connected figure goes through exactly one clue, and all cells are used by a figure. Clues show how their figures turn and connect with themselves, not allowing rotation or reflection, but do not indicate the lengths of the line segments.
2.1 Skyscrapers (15 points)
Rules
Place a number from 1 to N into each cell so that each row and column contains every number from that range with no repeats, where N is the side length of the grid. A clue outside the grid represents how many cells in the corresponding row or column contain a larger number than all cells before it in that row or column from the direction of the clue
2.9 Tapa (Aqre) (31 points)
Rules
Shade some cells so that all shaded cells form one orthogonally connected area and no 2x2 region is entirely shaded. Clues cannot be shaded, and represent the lengths of the blocks of consecutive shaded cells in the (up to) eight cells surrounding the clue. There may not exist a run of more than three consecutive shaded or unshaded cells horizontally or vertically anywhere in the grid.
2.11 Simple Loop (Double) (36 points)
This is a variant I had once set for a speed setting competition (see post #12) and had been wanting to set again sometime. After several broken attempts, I was quite happy with the logic in this puzzle.
Rules
Draw two loops in the grid moving horizontally or vertically between the centres of cells, such that all empty cells are visited. A loop cannot touch or intersect itself. The two loops can intersect each other without turning, but may not touch each other otherwise.
2.13 Underground (48 points)
Rules Draw a loop network through the centres of some cells, which may branch or turn, but may not have any dead ends. A clue outside the grid indicates how many times the corresponding line shape (i.e. a cross, branch, straight line, or turn) appears in the corresponding row or column, irrespective of the line shape's rotation.
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