Flower

Title: Flower

Rating: 3/5

 

Instead of the usual four colors, this one has a fifth (in the center square).  The center square belongs to both the region that goes through it horizontally and the region that goes through it vertically.  The fifth color is also the average of the two colors that correspond to those regions.

The official rules:

• The digits 1 through 9 appear in each row and each column exactly once.
• Digits in each shaded region must add to the indicated sum.   
• Squares with multiple colors contain a number that’s used in the sum for adjacent regions of each of those colors.  
• Remember: numbers can repeat within a shaded region if that doesn't violate the first rule.

Oatmeal Cookie

Title: Oatmeal Cookie

Rating: 3/5

Word has it that this drink tastes similar to the snack.  Its mixture of Irish cream, butterscotch schnapps, Kahlua, and Jägermeister make me doubt that the claim is true.  If someone wants to make one for me though, I'm happy to try it.

The official rules:

• The digits 1 through 9 appear in each row and each column exactly once.
• Digits in each shaded region must add to the indicated sum (denoted by +) or multiply to the indicated product (denoted by *).   
• Squares with multiple colors contain a number that’s used in the sum/product for adjacent regions of each of those colors.  
• Remember: numbers can repeat within a shaded region if that repetition doesn't violate the first rule.

Line in the Sand

Title: Line in the Sand

Rating: 3/5

Vacation time at the beach means it's a serendipitous time to publish this summer-y puzzle.

The official rules:

• The digits 1 through 9 appear in each row and each column exactly once.
• Digits in each shaded region must multiply to the indicated product.   
• Squares with multiple colors contain a number that’s used in the product for adjacent regions of each of those colors.  
• Remember: numbers can repeat within a shaded region if that doesn't violate the first rule.

Dreamcatcher

Title: Dreamcatcher

Rating: 3/5

 

This puzzle evolved out of wanting to experiment with more than just rectangles/squares to denote regions.  The creation of the layout was challenging enough that future experimentation went in different directions.

The official rules:

• The digits 1 through 9 appear in each row and each column exactly once.
• Digits in each shaded region must add to the indicated sum.   
• Squares with multiple colors contain a number that’s used in the sum for adjacent regions of each of those colors.  
• Remember: numbers can repeat within a shaded region if that doesn't violate the first rule.