Two not Touch Puzzles
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19 members have voted
March 8th, 2021 at 5:08:11 PM
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I just discovered two "Two not Touch" puzzles in the New York Times. The two puzzles they had were quite addictive. I asked my mother two cut them out and save them for me. Here is one of them, from the March 6, 2021 issue.
The rules are pretty simple:
1. Each row, column and region must have exactly two O's (the NY Times says stars).
2. No two O's may touch, not even diagonally.
To assist in the discussion of this problem, I offer this colored version with Battleship coordinates.
Finally, here is a little and obvious hint to get your started. No credit lost in looking at it.
The pink shape must have two O's. The only way they can fit without touching is in C3 and C5. Once you put O's in those squares, you can X out the rest of the row as well as all squares bordering either O, including diagonally.
The question for the poll is what do you think of Two not Touch puzzles?
The rules are pretty simple:
1. Each row, column and region must have exactly two O's (the NY Times says stars).
2. No two O's may touch, not even diagonally.
To assist in the discussion of this problem, I offer this colored version with Battleship coordinates.
Finally, here is a little and obvious hint to get your started. No credit lost in looking at it.
The pink shape must have two O's. The only way they can fit without touching is in C3 and C5. Once you put O's in those squares, you can X out the rest of the row as well as all squares bordering either O, including diagonally.
The question for the poll is what do you think of Two not Touch puzzles?
Last edited by: Wizard on Mar 11, 2021
"For with much wisdom comes much sorrow." -- Ecclesiastes 1:18 (NIV)
March 8th, 2021 at 5:56:02 PM
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March 8th, 2021 at 6:19:49 PM
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Quote: Torghatten
I agree!
I'll post another tomorrow
"For with much wisdom comes much sorrow." -- Ecclesiastes 1:18 (NIV)
March 9th, 2021 at 2:21:30 AM
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Here is Tuesday's puzzle.
"For with much wisdom comes much sorrow." -- Ecclesiastes 1:18 (NIV)
March 9th, 2021 at 5:17:21 AM
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March 9th, 2021 at 6:17:11 AM
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Quote: Torghatten
I agree!
"For with much wisdom comes much sorrow." -- Ecclesiastes 1:18 (NIV)
March 10th, 2021 at 4:15:16 AM
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Wednesday's Puzzle.
"For with much wisdom comes much sorrow." -- Ecclesiastes 1:18 (NIV)
March 10th, 2021 at 5:42:31 AM
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Solved, will give others a chance to do it before i post so this wont be a pure dialogue.
March 10th, 2021 at 5:47:56 AM
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Thanks for these puzzles; I've found an interesting website about these types of puzzles. More detail below. However it might be fun to find and develop your own rules.Quote: WizardWednesday's Puzzle.
Warning: There is a spoiler if you visit the website as it uses this puzzle, and its solution, on its front page.
Interesting to find https://krazydad.com/twonottouch/ who is the creator of the puzzles. There's even a useful help page https://krazydad.com/twonottouch/intro_tutorial/ which uses this puzzle as its example and goes through all the steps to solve it. This is a great place to start if you're unsure of how things work,
For brave people he also has more advanced ones https://krazydad.com/twonottouch/med_tutorial/ https://krazydad.com/twonottouch/adv_tutorial/
https://www.amazon.com/Jim-Bumgardner/e/B08DRTGK74?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_6&sr=1-6
Last edited by: charliepatrick on Mar 10, 2021
March 10th, 2021 at 7:30:47 AM
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Quote: charliepatrickWarning: There is a spoiler if you visit the website as it uses this puzzle, and its solution, on its front page.
I had to resort to searching for today's puzzle. I think I'm addicted to them, although starting to find them a bit easy now.
I ordered Krazydad's first book, which is supposed to arrive today, which will keep us in puzzles for 100 days.
"For with much wisdom comes much sorrow." -- Ecclesiastes 1:18 (NIV)
March 10th, 2021 at 1:54:23 PM
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Quote: WizardI think I'm addicted to them, although starting to find them a bit easy
I can post a link to a more challenging one tomorrow.
“Man Babes” #AxelFabulous
March 10th, 2021 at 3:28:21 PM
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Quote: WizardHint: The pink shape must have two X's.
I believe this is a typo. You meant the pink shape must have two O's.
March 11th, 2021 at 4:22:20 AM
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Quote: EdCollinsI believe this is a typo. You meant the pink shape must have two O's.
You're absolutely right.
"For with much wisdom comes much sorrow." -- Ecclesiastes 1:18 (NIV)
March 11th, 2021 at 4:25:47 AM
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Quote: mipletI can post a link to a more challenging one tomorrow.
Be my guest.
There is no rule against doing two in one day, so here is mine for today.
This is puzzle #1 from Two Not Touch (volume 1) by krazydad.
I found this one pretty easy. Three pieces had obvious O placements and from there everything else pretty quickly fell in place.
"For with much wisdom comes much sorrow." -- Ecclesiastes 1:18 (NIV)
March 11th, 2021 at 5:09:58 AM
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Looks fun. Reminds me of some of the Sudoku variants puzzles that have unique constraints in addition to the standard ones (cages, thermometers, diagonals, chess-type move restrictions). Leads you down a very satisfying logic path.
If anyone gives you 10,000 to 1 on anything, you take it. If John Mellencamp ever wins an Oscar, I am going to be a very rich dude.
March 11th, 2021 at 9:31:44 AM
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11x11 by Phistomefel.
“Man Babes” #AxelFabulous
March 11th, 2021 at 9:07:05 PM
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Quote: miplet
That's a tough one Miplet. I'm working on it. So far, I have not made much progress.
"For with much wisdom comes much sorrow." -- Ecclesiastes 1:18 (NIV)
March 12th, 2021 at 2:33:38 AM
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Here is the puzzle of the day. This is #50 from krazydad volume 1.
p.s. Two more days until pi day!
p.s. Two more days until pi day!
"For with much wisdom comes much sorrow." -- Ecclesiastes 1:18 (NIV)
March 12th, 2021 at 9:47:05 AM
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Quote: WizardQuote: miplet
That's a tough one Miplet. I'm working on it. So far, I have not made much progress.
I have got this so far, somthing to add?
March 13th, 2021 at 6:49:53 AM
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Does anyone want more puzzles from KrazyDad? My book has 300 of them.
"For with much wisdom comes much sorrow." -- Ecclesiastes 1:18 (NIV)
March 13th, 2021 at 7:19:14 AM
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Quote: WizardDoes anyone want more puzzles from KrazyDad? My book has 300 of them.
Yes, keep posting.
March 13th, 2021 at 7:47:17 AM
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Quote: TorghattenYes, keep posting.
Okay. Here is puzzle #100. I mention the number because the higher the number, the greater the difficulty.
"For with much wisdom comes much sorrow." -- Ecclesiastes 1:18 (NIV)
March 13th, 2021 at 10:35:59 AM
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March 13th, 2021 at 11:06:26 AM
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Quote: Torghatten
I agree.
"For with much wisdom comes much sorrow." -- Ecclesiastes 1:18 (NIV)
March 14th, 2021 at 8:49:49 PM
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Here is puzzle #150.
"For with much wisdom comes much sorrow." -- Ecclesiastes 1:18 (NIV)
March 15th, 2021 at 4:44:53 AM
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Quote: WizardHere is puzzle #150.
| x | x | x | x | x | x | x | O | x | O |
| x | x | O | x | O | x | x | x | x | x |
| O | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | O | x |
| x | x | x | O | x | O | x | x | x | x |
| x | O | x | x | x | x | x | x | O | x |
| x | x | x | O | x | x | O | x | x | x |
| x | O | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | O |
| x | x | x | x | x | O | x | O | x | x |
| O | x | O | x | x | x | x | x | x | x |
| x | x | x | x | O | x | O | x | x | x |
March 15th, 2021 at 9:33:36 AM
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Quote: ChesterDog
x x x x x x x O x O x x O x O x x x x x O x x x x x x x O x x x x O x O x x x x x O x x x x x x O x x x x O x x O x x x x O x x x x x x x O x x x x x O x O x x O x O x x x x x x x x x x x O x O x x x
I agree!
"For with much wisdom comes much sorrow." -- Ecclesiastes 1:18 (NIV)
March 15th, 2021 at 10:26:08 AM
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What is the trick to solve?
March 15th, 2021 at 11:32:13 PM
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Quote: WizardHere is my solve(PDF) for the following puzzle.
Thanks for the PDF, however at the bottom of page 6 (after "The shape containing E1 still needs two O’s. With only three empty cells left, they must be in E2 and G2. Then, X out F2. ") you're left with
(i) One empty square in D7 - so you can fill that in with an O.
(ii) Five empty squares in shape nr E4 -
- so F4 and F5 cannot be O, hence F8 and F10 have to be O - There's a rule that if you have a 2x3 shape (or in this case 5 of them) then the middle two cannot be O, this is row F.
- (this also gives E5 and G4)
- so columns 8 and 10 are full (which also gives B9 and D9)
- so E9 and F9 have to be X (by the 2x3 rule, if not by the above!)
- so B9 and D9 have to be O
etc.
(i) One empty square in D7 - so you can fill that in with an O.
(ii) Five empty squares in shape nr E4 -
- so F4 and F5 cannot be O, hence F8 and F10 have to be O - There's a rule that if you have a 2x3 shape (or in this case 5 of them) then the middle two cannot be O, this is row F.
- (this also gives E5 and G4)
- so columns 8 and 10 are full (which also gives B9 and D9)
- so E9 and F9 have to be X (by the 2x3 rule, if not by the above!)
- so B9 and D9 have to be O
etc.
March 16th, 2021 at 7:32:57 AM
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Quote: charliepatrickThanks - but there might be an easier way towards the end
I agree. I wrote that while I was still new to these puzzles and didn't immediately see some small piece tricks.
These are the puzzles from the March 14 New York Times.
"For with much wisdom comes much sorrow." -- Ecclesiastes 1:18 (NIV)
March 16th, 2021 at 5:36:38 PM
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The right puzzle above I found to be a very good challenge.
"For with much wisdom comes much sorrow." -- Ecclesiastes 1:18 (NIV)
March 16th, 2021 at 6:34:19 PM
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Quote: WizardThe right puzzle above I found to be a very good challenge.
Yes. It took me a long time.
| o | x | o | x | x | x | x | x | x | x |
| x | x | x | x | x | o | x | o | x | x |
| x | x | o | x | x | x | x | x | x | o |
| x | x | x | x | o | x | x | o | x | x |
| o | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | o |
| x | x | x | x | o | x | o | x | x | x |
| x | o | x | x | x | x | x | x | o | x |
| x | x | x | o | x | x | o | x | x | x |
| x | o | x | x | x | x | x | x | o | x |
| x | x | x | o | x | o | x | x | x | x |
March 16th, 2021 at 6:35:38 PM
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March 16th, 2021 at 7:48:16 PM
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I agree with both of you.
"For with much wisdom comes much sorrow." -- Ecclesiastes 1:18 (NIV)
March 17th, 2021 at 6:52:27 AM
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Here is puzzle #200 from KrazyDad Volume 1.
"For with much wisdom comes much sorrow." -- Ecclesiastes 1:18 (NIV)
March 17th, 2021 at 8:04:17 AM
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Yes #200 was a bit tricky - like some sudukos I had two options near the end and just tried out one of them (which worked).
Starting from left/top corner. a17,b35,c19,d46,e2A,f58,g3A,h68,i24,j79. (where A=row 10)
March 17th, 2021 at 10:31:37 AM
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Quote: charliepatrickYes #200 was a bit tricky - like some sudukos I had two options near the end and just tried out one of them (which worked).
It often comes down to that with me too with the harder ones. That's why I do them in Excel, because it's easier to backtrack.
"For with much wisdom comes much sorrow." -- Ecclesiastes 1:18 (NIV)
March 18th, 2021 at 5:03:44 PM
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Finally managed #150 and the two NYTimes ones. I actually find it easier to use X's for the ones required as can use little "o"s for known blanks. Another thing is when it's one of two, I put in a "?" to straddle the two cells. Sometimes this means you know the row/column is filled but not exactly where, or sometimes two rows are filled. Towards the end you find one X and then all the rest follow.
