Futoshiki puzzles...

Hi there,

I really love futoshiki puzzles, but find it really hard to find them anywhere! They are in I think just one newspaper on a regular basis, and occasionally in puzzle supplements on other occasions. One puzzle each Satuday isn't enough for me - I really enjoy them.

I've seen a few other requests here and I appreciate that you've got your work cut out meeting everyone's favourite puzzle demands, but how about a futoshiki puzzle magazine? When futoshiki first came out I wondered if there'd be a physical magazine on the shelves like there are one or two killer sudoku ones but I've given up hope, so a futoshiki magazine from here that I could print off and play would be great... if at all possible

Mike

Re : Futoshiki puzzles

Hi Michael

Yes, futoshiki is a great little puzzle isn't it!

I find that 5x5 is the best size because it is small and quick to solve. The larger ones I find can be a little bit war of attrition as it were as you go through all the inequalities and reduce the options... particularly if you accidentally overlook a piece of information it can take ages to find.

There is also a version that is basically the same of sudoku that I have come across as sudoku inequality or inequality sudoku - that's a bit OTT for me though as you have inequalities in the 9x9 sudoku grid so they can take absolutely ages to solve. The 5x5 futoshiki suit me fine, so yes it would be nice to see a futoshiki puzzle magazine on here

Re : Futoshiki puzzles

Hi Michael

Thanks for the message with regard to futoshiki puzzles.

These are one of my favourite puzzles too, and as you say they are pretty hard to find in magazines in any decent quantity.

In fact when they first came out and were marketed as one of the puzzles that could gain as much popularity as sudoku I thought it was possible they might be the one (after kakuro was much trumpeted but now is less seen, and other puzzles like hitori appeared for a few months then almost totally disappeared), however futoshiki does not seem to have taken off either, yet lots of people really like it.

Anyhow, a futoshiki magazine is a great idea so hopefully it'll appear on the site soon!

Re : Futoshiki puzzles

I'm not so much a fan of number and logic puzzles as I am of word puzzles.

Partly perhaps this is due to my age and most of them not existing when I first started. But also I find that they can be more repetitive.

However, the exception is definitely futoshiki which I have to say I really do enjoy.

They have this puzzle once a week in the Guardian which I take on Saturday pretty much just for this puzzle. It is a nice size, at 5x5, and very enjoyable indeed. It doesn't take too long but really gets you thinking, particularly when it is a difficult puzzle.

I would like to see them release a book of this puzzle, but it will certainly be the next one I get on here once I have finished my word ladders.