thanks :) i figured that was probably the case but wanted to make sure

also thanks for hosting this contest, i'm having a blast solving those devilish puzzles

Oh, that's so disappointing. It would have been more elegant to have to create a puzzle whose solution is unique when one takes into account the requirement that there should exist a loop (but which may have multiple solutions as a pure minesweeper puzzle) -- so much so that I assumed that it was actually the task. Oh well, I shall redo it to make something that is also unique as a minesweeper puzzle. I was so happy with my submission, but it's definitely not unique at all as a minesweeper.

In Puzzle 6, I'm a bit confused by the "vice versa" in the instructions for Turns. Is it saying that if the loop doesn't turn and enters a cell without a circle, then it must turn in the next cell (so you can't have more than one straight in a row)?

Denis, I will check the uniqueness of the Minesweeper puzzle, and then watch a loop.

In this part of the grid, the line behaves like in the puzzle "Every second turn". If there was a turn in a circle, then the next turn will be in a cell without a circle, then again in a circle, etc.

Puzzle 6
"It is also possible for the line to make a turn and leave the grid, in this case it can turn in the next grid before meeting a circle."

Is there a vice versa too ? When the last turn before leaving the grid is a circle ?

Isn't it more accurate to say :
"It is also possible for the line to make a turn and leave the grid, in this case :
- if the last turn in the grid isn't a circle, it can turn in the next grid before meeting a circle.
- if the last turn in the grid is a circle, it can turn in the next grid at a circle"
?

A new puzzle booklet has been uploaded with changes to the text in Puzzle 10's rules, to reflect the discussions here.

Yes, this is what is intended to be conveyed.

Puzzle 12

Must all words be connected?

Yes, of course.

Well, that's not what the PB says. "Each name should intersect with at least one other" is not the same thing, and would be redundant if all words were connected.Another 12 hours of time wasted on solving one of these with the wrong set of instructions, and this time I don't think it was entirely my fault...(Sorry for being negative. But it is extremely frustrating.)

PB says make a crossword. One, not several crosswords. If the words are not related to each other, then you will get several crosswords.

Congratulations Riyadh. Hours of fun await me at your expense.

Can+someone+clarify+the+cut+off+time+for+this+contest+please%3F+It+would+be+easier+if+it+was+23%3A59+or+00%3A01+because+then+we%E2%80%99d+know+which+day+we+were+talking+about%2E

Consider it as 23:59 on 24th.

Puzzle 11
"Create a Minesweeper puzzle with a unique solution in the 9x9grid"
Do we agree that the instructions to solve a Minesweeper include a given number of mines to find ? As in Puzzle 6 for exemple
A grid could have multiple solutions without that number of mines, but when it is given as an instruction, the solution can become unique
The grid I submitted needs that number to have a unique solution

Create a classic Minesweeper puzzle in which the number of mines is not given.

Created a Minesweeper puzzle with a unique solution in the 9x9grid

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puzzle 12. is it acceptable if two words partially overlap? eg 0L6ARANCE if so how many times will the 6 count?
stefano

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Hi Stefano,
This is unacceptable. There must be at least one empty cell between two words.

Puzzle 12

Can two vertical words touch but not intersect each other?

Puzzle 2

Can we draw circle such that some its squares were outside the grid?