Clueless Special Archive - Ruud's Puzzles
This is an archive of
Ruud's
Clueless Special puzzles and solutions, which were originally posted on sudocue.net from 2006 to 2008. The ratings are those quoted by
Ruud when he posted his puzzles.
enxio27 also found some Clueless Specials which Ruud had posted on other sites. These and other puzzles are listed at Ruud's Specialty Puzzles. Links to these puzzles are included in the final part of the table. The archive entries for these puzzles include original puzzle diagrams and code strings. Solutions can be obtained by copying the code strings into a software solver such as SudokuSolver and clicking on Solve.For those who aren’t familiar with
Clueless Specials, the nine blue boxes form an extra Sudoku grid. This form of Sudoku is called Clueless because the blue boxes don’t include any numbers (clues).
There are diagrams for each puzzle and solution. Alternatively, if you are using a software solver, there are code strings. If you are using SudokuSolver first select File, Puzzle Type -> Extended; then in the Puzzle Type drop down menu below the right-hand diagram select Clueless Special. Now Select the Code String and Copy and Paste into SudokuSolver. Other software solvers will have similar procedures.
Edit. I've now found that there's a simpler way using SudokuSolver. Select File, Import, Clueless, copy and paste the code string into the new window that opens and click OK.There is also a
Clueless Special guide which gives hints about how to get started; this guide includes a Clueless Special Starter puzzle.
I hope that this archive of
Ruud's puzzles, and the puzzles posted in this forum by
Børge,
enxio27,
Tarek and
udosuk, will encourage people who haven't tried
Clueless Special sudokus to try them.
enxio27's second puzzle was posted as another ideal starter puzzle.
Tarek's
Clueless Implosion puzzle is an interesting looking variant on the Clueless Special theme and also claims not to be too difficult.
udosuk posted two
Clueleast puzzles which only have two given numbers (clues) in each puzzle but have extra conditions which make them solvable, these will be hard puzzles.
Puzzle rating table, with links to archive entries.
At Ed's suggestion, I've added SudokuSolver(v3.6) scores to the table.A score of 0.85 indicates that SS solved these puzzles using hidden singles and box/line intersections,
scores of 0.95 and 1.00 are when SS used hidden singles, hidden pairs and box/line intersections,
higher scores indicate the use of harder techniques.
+----------------------+------------+-------+ +----------------------+------------+-------+
| Puzzle | Rating | Score | | Puzzle | Rating | Score |
+----------------------+------------+-------+ +----------------------+------------+-------+
| Starter Puzzle | Oh so Easy | 0.85 | | Clueless Special 9 | Tough | 1.45 |
| (in Clueless Special Guide) | | Clueless Special 10 | Moderate | 1.10 |
| Clueless Special 1 | Easy | 1.00 | | Clueless Special 11 | Hard | 1.00 |
| Clueless Special 2 | Very Hard | 1.70 | | Clueless Special 12 | Very Hard | 1.15 |
| Clueless Special 3 | Moderate | 0.85 | | Clueless Special 13 | Tough | 1.10 |
| Clueless Special 4 | Moderate | 1.25 | | Clueless Special 14 | Hard | 0.95 |
| Clueless Special 5 | Hard | 1.05 | | Clueless Special 15 | Very Hard | 1.40 |
| Clueless Special 6 | Tough | 1.10 | | Clueless Special 16 | Hard | 1.05 |
| Clueless Special 7 | Hard | 1.15 | | Clueless Special 17 | Very Hard | 1.10 |
| Clueless Special 8 | Moderate | 1.05 | | Clueless Special 18 | Very Hard | 1.00 |
+----------------------+------------+-------+ +----------------------+------------+-------+
Page #1 Page #2
+----------------------+------------+-------+ +----------------------+------------+-------+
| Puzzle | Rating | Score | | Puzzle | Rating | Score |
+----------------------+------------+-------+ +----------------------+------------+-------+
| Clueless Special 19 | Hard | 1.00 | | Clueless Special 29 | Tough | 1.05 |
| Clueless Special 20 | Very Hard | 1.10 | | Clueless Special 30 | Hard | 1.05 |
| Clueless Special 21 | Hard | 1.00 | | Clueless Special 31 | Hard | 1.40 |
| Clueless Special 22 | Tough | 0.95 | | Clueless Special 32 | Very Hard | 1.20 |
| Clueless Special 23 | Hard | 1.60 | | Clueless Special 33 | Hard | 2.95 |
| Clueless Special 24 | Tough | 1.10 | | Clueless Special 34 | Hard | 1.10 |
| Clueless Special 25 | Tough | 1.05 | | Clueless Special 35 | Hard | 1.15 |
| Clueless Special 26 | Tough | 1.10 | | Clueless Special 36 | Very Hard | 1.00 |
| Clueless Special 27 | Hard | 1.25 | | Clueless Special 37 | Hard | 0.80 |
| Clueless Special 28 | Hard | 1.30 | | Clueless Special 38 | Tough | 1.05 |
+----------------------+------------+-------+ +----------------------+------------+-------+
Page #3 Page #4
+----------------------+------------+-------+ +----------------------+------------+-------+
| Puzzle | Rating | Score | | Puzzle | Rating | Score |
+----------------------+------------+-------+ +----------------------+------------+-------+
| Clueless Special 39 | Tough | 0.95 | | Clueless Special 49 | Hard | 1.00 |
| Clueless Special 40 | Hard | 1.00 | | Clueless Special 50 | Hard | 1.00 |
| Clueless Special 41 | Moderate | 1.05 | | Clueless Special 51 | Tough | 1.10 |
| Clueless Special 42 | Tough | 1.05 | | Clueless Special 52 | Hard | 1.00 |
| Clueless Special 43 | Tough | 0.95 | | Clueless Special 53 | Very Hard | 1.10 |
| Clueless Special 44 | Moderate | 1.10 | | Clueless Special 54 | Tough | 1.00 |
| Clueless Special 45 | Tough | 1.10 | | Clueless Special 55 | Tough | 1.05 |
| Clueless Special 46 | Hard | 1.05 | | Clueless Special 56 | Hard | 0.95 |
| Clueless Special 47 | Tough | 0.95 | | Clueless Special 57 | Tough | 1.05 |
| Clueless Special 48 | Tough | 1.00 | | Clueless Special 58 | Tough | 1.00 |
+----------------------+------------+-------+ +----------------------+------------+-------+
Page #5 Page #6
+----------------------+------------+-------+ +----------------------+------------+-------+
| Puzzle | Rating | Score | | Puzzle | Rating | Score |
+----------------------+------------+-------+ +----------------------+------------+-------+
| Clueless Special 59 | Tough | 1.00 | | Clueless Special 69 | Very Hard | 1.10 |
| Clueless Special 60 | Very Hard | 1.05 | | Clueless Special 70 | Tough | 1.00 |
| Clueless Special 61 | Very Hard | 1.00 | | Clueless Special 71 | Tough | 1.05 |
| Clueless Special 62 | Hard | 1.00 | | Clueless Special 72 | Tough | 1.00 |
| Clueless Special 63 | Hard | 0.95 | | Clueless Special 73 | Very Hard | 1.20 |
| Clueless Special 64 | Hard | 1.00 | | Clueless Special 74 | Tough | 1.00 |
| Clueless Special 65 | Hard | 1.05 | | Clueless Special 75 | Very Hard | 1.60 |
| Clueless Special 66 | Very Hard | 1.05 | | Clueless Special 76 | Tough | 1.00 |
| Clueless Special 67 | Very Hard | 1.05 | | Clueless Special 77 | Hard | 1.15 |
| Clueless Special 68 | Tough | 1.10 | | Clueless Special 78 | Very Hard | 1.15 |
+----------------------+------------+-------+ +----------------------+------------+-------+
Page #7 Page #8
+----------------------+------------+-------+ +----------------------+------------+-------+
| Puzzle | Rating | Score | | Puzzle | Rating | Score |
+----------------------+------------+-------+ +----------------------+------------+-------+
| Clueless Special 79 | Very Hard | 1.10 | | Clueless Special 89 | Tough | 1.00 |
| Clueless Special 80 | Hard | 1.20 | | Clueless Special 90 | Hard | 1.00 |
| Clueless Special 81 | Tough | 1.10 | | Clueless Special 91 | Tough | 0.95 |
| Clueless Special 82 | Very Hard | 1.15 | | Clueless Special 92 | Tough | 1.00 |
| Clueless Special 83 | Hard | 1.00 | | Clueless Special 93 | Tough | 0.95 |
| Clueless Special 84 | Hard | 1.00 | | Clueless Special 94 | Hard | 1.05 |
| Clueless Special 85 | Tough | 1.00 | | Clueless Special 95 | Very Hard | 1.80 |
| Clueless Special 86 | Tough | 1.00 | | Clueless Special 96 | Hard | 1.05 |
| Clueless Special 87 | Hard | 1.05 | | Clueless Special 97 | Tough | 1.05 |
| Clueless Special 88 | Tough | 1.00 | | Clueless Special 98 | Tough | 1.00 |
+----------------------+------------+-------+ +----------------------+------------+-------+
Page #9 Page #10
+----------------------+------------+-------+ +-----------------------------------+-------+
| Puzzle | Rating | Score | | Puzzle | Score |
+----------------------+------------+-------+ +-----------------------------------+-------+
| Clueless Special 99 | Tough | 0.95 | | Clueless Special 4a | 1.05 |
| Clueless Special 100 | Hard | 1.10 | | Clueless Special 4b | 1.05 |
| Clueless Special 101 | Hard | 1.00 | | Clueless Special 4c | 1.10 |
| Clueless Special 102 | Tough | 0.95 | | Clueless Special 4d | 1.10 |
| Clueless Special 103 | Tough | 1.00 | | Clueless Special 6a | 1.10 |
| Clueless Special 104 | Very Hard | 0.95 | | Clueless Special 7a | 1.20 |
| Clueless Special 105 | Hard | 1.05 | | Clueless Special 10a | 1.55 |
| Clueless Special 106 | Hard | 0.95 | | Clueless Special 14a | 1.80 |
| Clueless Special 107 | Tough | 1.10 | | Clueless Special 18a | 1.15 |
| Clueless Special 108 | Hard | 1.05 | | Marlie Special Clueless | 1.00 |
+----------------------+------------+-------+ +-----------------------------------+-------+
Page #11 Page #12
Roll of HonourRuud wrote:
For each correct Clueless Special, you earn 1 point. For a submission within the first 24 hours, you earn an extra point.
To enable new players to catch up with the regulars, only the last 26 Clueless Specials will included in the score.
On Ruud's website, players with 52 points were shown with a gold medal, those with 51 points a silver medal and a bronze medal for those with 50 points.
+----+-------+--------------------------+-------------+-------+
| | Medal | Player | Country | Score |
+----+-------+--------------------------+-------------+-------+
| 1 | G | PeteTy | USA | 52 |
| 2 | G | Børge T. Anderssen | Norway | 52 |
| 3 | G | Tomas Kollen | USA | 52 |
| 4 | G | Hans Schmitten | Germany | 52 |
| 5 | G | Alain Garnier | Canada | 52 |
| 6 | G | Marlie | Netherlands | 52 |
| 7 | G | Don Parker | USA | 52 |
| 8 | G | Nouggie | USA | 52 |
| 9 | G | Brian Rothery | Sweden | 52 |
| 10 | G | Ria Tettelaar | Netherlands | 52 |
| 11 | S | slowhand | Brazil | 51 |
| 12 | S | Susan Warner | Sweden | 51 |
| 13 | S | Gemma | Netherlands | 51 |
| 14 | S | Ron Cain | USA | 51 |
| 15 | B | Byron Okamoto | USA | 50 |
| 16 | B | Oscar | México | 50 |
| 17 | B | jsmif | USA | 50 |
| 18 | B | lynn893 | Canada | 50 |
| 19 | | Nasenbaer | Germany | 49 |
| 20 | | sheila | USA | 49 |
| 21 | | sarah | USA | 49 |
| 22 | | Susan | USA | 48 |
| 23 | | Glyn | UK | 46 |
| 24 | | Yuri Joubert | Germany | 44 |
| 25 | | Yian Annette Chien | Taiwan | 43 |
| 26 | | Julie Stuckmeyer | USA | 36 |
| 27 | | Arjona | España | 28 |
| 28 | | Khunangkaro | Thailand | 27 |
| 29 | | Jason McNary | USA | 24 |
| 30 | | Neil Sinclair | Canada | 23 |
| 31 | | Thomas Jaspers | Netherlands | 19 |
| 32 | | Caida | Canada | 15 |
| 33 | | Danamario | Canada | 15 |
| 34 | | DianaB | USA | 14 |
| 35 | | chris robinson | Australia | 12 |
| 36 | | Robin Cutler | USA | 12 |
| 37 | | Miss Universum | México | 11 |
| 38 | | James G. Miller | USA | 7 |
| 39 | | Tony Cameron | Australia | 7 |
| 40 | | Gina Hines | USA | 6 |
| 41 | | Chris Sluijter | Netherlands | 5 |
| 42 | | Steve Powers | USA | 5 |
| 43 | | Pierre-Hugues Carmichael | Canada | 4 |
| 44 | | Grant | USA | 4 |
| 45 | | MaryG | Eire | 4 |
| 46 | | Jim | Canada | 2 |
| 47 | | Mark McC | UK | 2 |
| 48 | | Glyn | UK | 2 |
| 49 | | Bruce | USA | 2 |
| 50 | | E.K. | Taiwan | 2 |
| 51 | | RCC | USA | 1 |
| 52 | | Alexej | Slovakia | 1 |
| 53 | | Nick Gilmour | USA | 1 |
| 54 | | Nick | USA | 1 |
| 55 | | Marilyn | UK | 1 |
| 56 | | Alan Skinner | UK | 1 |
| 57 | | Prince Charles | Netherlands | 1 |
+----+-------+--------------------------+-------------+-------+
+-------------+-------+---------+---------+
| Country | Score | Players | Average |
+-------------+-------+---------+---------+
| USA | 618 | 22 | 28.1 |
| Netherlands | 180 | 6 | 30.0 |
| Canada | 161 | 7 | 23.0 |
| Germany | 145 | 3 | 48.3 |
| Sweden | 103 | 2 | 51.5 |
| México | 61 | 2 | 30.5 |
| UK | 52 | 5 | 10.4 |
| Norway | 52 | 1 | 52.0 |
| Brazil | 51 | 1 | 51.0 |
| Taiwan | 45 | 2 | 22.5 |
| España | 28 | 1 | 28.0 |
| Thailand | 27 | 1 | 27.0 |
| Australia | 19 | 2 | 9.5 |
| Eire | 4 | 1 | 4.0 |
| Slovakia | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
+-------------+-------+---------+---------+
There was also a list for each of the last 26 puzzles of the order in which correct solutions were submitted. There were between 26 and 40 correct solutions submitted for each of these puzzles.