Points Structure

The points structure is very similar to last year.

Similarity :
1) Fixed points if the puzzle is solved.
2) Variable Bonus points if the puzzle is solved within 60 minutes.

Difference
1) The bonus point is normalized (so the bonus point has a maximum limit)
2) A player's bonus is dependent on his Rank and on his solving time.

The bonus structure is based on LMI puzzle ratings computation (also based on comments in previous year's thread )

Details
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There are 3 components if a puzzle is solved correctly.
1) Fixed 50 points
2) Rank Bonus - The best player for the particular puzzle gets 25 points. Every other player who has solved the puzzle within 60 minutes, gets 25 * (n + 1 - player's rank) / n where n is total number of players who have solved the puzzle within 60 minutes.
3) Solving Time Bonus - The best player for the particular puzzle gets 25 points.
Lets say
best solving time is B.
Median solving time (of all players solving within 60 minutes) is M.
Z = 25
z = Z / 2

If a player's solving time is <= M, he will get z + z * ( player's solving time - M ) / (B - M) (A linear distribution between 25 and 12.5 between the best player and the player with median time)
If a player's solving time is > M, he will get z - z * ( player's solving time - M ) / (60 minutes - M) (A linear distribution between 12.5 and 0 between the player with median time and 60 minutes)

Answer Key Updates

Please note the following updates about answer keys

1) Mintonette now has same answer key as Masyu and Maxi Loop - "For each marked column, enter the lengths of the longest vertical path segment."

For the example below, the answer key is : 72121
Also note that there could be gaps in columns. The answer key should consider the full column.


(Not a valid puzzle. Just for answer key illustration.)

2) Gapped Kakuro

Some players mark circles on Gapped Kakuro and the given circles for answer keys may get hidden if you are not careful. So we have decided that we will provide another way of marking the answer-key cells.

The pdf will have the same puzzle twice, in 2 pages. Once with circle and another time with shaded cells. Please use the formats that is convenient to you.

3)Enter Unit digit only

If any row/cell has a double digit answer key, only the unit (right-most digit) digit should be entered. (This rule is applicable to Masyu, Maxi Loop, Graffiti Snake, Mintonette, Araf).

Puzzle Marathon has started

Puzzle Marathon has started, with 8 puzzles.
Remaining 4 puzzles will be uploaded soon.
Please note that once you start a puzzle X, you can't start another puzzle Y until you submit X or one hour is over, whichever is earlier. We had same `rule` last year too.