A Classic Problem for Today

We decided to post today not because we don't respect the #BlackLivesMatter issue but because so many of our viewers rely on us to reduce their stress/anxiety levels during lockdown.

On our YouTube community page, Simon has uploaded today the original puzzle and solution to a Listener crossword he compiled in 2006 about a hero of the civil rights movement.

Scott Strosahl's Junior Puzzle Hunt is available free here:

▶ CTC FAN DISCORD SERVER◀

▶ OUR BACK CATALOGUE – ALL CATOGORISED WITH LINKS!◀

▶ OUR NEW THERMO SUDOKU APP IS OUT!◀

▶ *NEW* CRACKING THE CRYPTIC MERCHANDISE◀

▶ THE FIRST SUDOKU PUZZLE HUNT BY BEN NEEDHAM◀

▶ OUR CHESS SUDOKU APP IS NOW OUT!◀

▶TRY OUR CLASSIC SUDOKU APP◀

▶TRY OUR SANDWICH SUDOKU APP◀

▶SUPPORT US + ACCESS EXCLUSIVE "CRACKING THE CRYPTIC" PUZZLES/VIDEOS◀

▶SEND US PUZZLES TO SOLVE/CONTACT US◀

▶FOLLOW US◀
Twitter: #crypticcracking
@crypticcracking

▶SOFTWARE◀
Play the puzzle in the video by clicking the link under the video (above). We are building a website which will allow you to enter your own sudoku puzzles into the software and this is coming soon!

▶Logo Design◀
Melvyn Mainini

▶ABOUT US◀
Hi! We're Simon Anthony and Mark Goodliffe, two of the UK's most enthusiastic puzzle solvers. We have both represented the UK at the World Sudoku Championships and the World Puzzle Championships. We're also "cryptic crossword" aficionados. Mark is the twelve-time winner of The Times championship and Simon is the former record holder for most consecutive correct solutions to The Listener crossword. We hope we can help your puzzle solving while also introducing you to some of the world's best puzzles.

Thank you for watching!
Simon and Mark

[Socialdogma]

I’m 53 and going through a tough divorce and look forward to your posts each and every day. Thank you for your contributions to my better mental health.

[asteiner]

This is right the way to bring up BLM as a content creator. You guys know your lane, and you're right that a lot of people need you right now. Just acknowledging that it was a conscious decision to make and having a good reason to post anyway means a lot.

[peterhackett]

Thank you for keeping posting. Positivity is what we all need at the moment and your videos provide that for many of us!

[TrunksWD]

Thank you for mentioning Blackout Tuesday and BLM, and thank you for posting videos today. Anxiety isn't normally something I deal with, but with everything going on my anxiety is quite high. So thank you for posting videos for a distraction.

[bhall]

Please don't stop posting puzzles. These puzzles are a good distraction from the outside world right now

[holyspork]

Thank you for your nice comments and great positive work.

[joshd]

Greetings from the United States,
For what little it's worth, I think you made the right call in posting today. It is indeed nice to take one's mind off the state of the nation for even a brief time and enjoy some puzzles. Thank you for your continued work.

[RedGyl]

I got as far as I could, and couldn't see the triple at 9:55. That was the only help I needed.

[ernestofante]

Twenty minutes or so for me. With all those new rulesets in my brain, classic sudokus
have become somewhat tricky again!

[zkhydro]

7:22 no fair first Simons snake comment and now your pair comment... your lucky im being respectful today. My troll is itching just so you know.

[NowUndefined]

I am 100% behind black out Tuesday and everything it stands for and I am willing to give of myself today but I use YouTube to help me with my anxiety and I am SO thankful for the few channels that gave me times of relaxation today.

[shplackalack]

I can see how the soothing music at the beginning and the soothing voices on this channel can help people fall asleep. But, put on a puzzle video and my brain will not allow me to even think about sleep until it's figured out, and I've been known to fall asleep in the movie theater with a loud Af action movie playing.

[brucecanny]

While I understand the black out, I am glad you posted today. Since starting to watch you I have abandoned my binge watching of the news and I have found my anxiety has nearly disappeared (except when you miss an obvious 5 the third time you have done a puzzle).

[stupot]

That's the first time I've solved a "difficult" sudoku in under 5 minutes. Keep up the good work guys.

[trombonedavid]

I got the triple after a very long time entering pencil markings around the grid... and then I made a mistake right near the end. I was 40 minutes in when I thought I had it solved, but it turned out I had 2 columns with digits repeating. Rookie mistake. Thanks as always for the great videos!

[davidgeorge]

Thanks again for the puzzles. Keep them coming. Especially Classic Sudoku! Thanks!

[Coyotek]

16:55 Was able to finish this one without any bifurcation. Satisfying solve.

[lespaul]

i know that i stated it before but i think it deserves to be said given the message at the beginning i suffer from daily seizures this has started to impact my brain function slightly and i have suffered an IQ drop through these puzzles im starting to flex my mind more and improving my mental health and having lots of fun doing so i have already noticed my ability to understand hard logic has improved and i sincerley love the puzzles you guys find and when i cant solve it myself i watch how you solve it and then i realize where i went wrong which also helps improve my understanding much love through these tough times and many thanks for the videos

[marysiamilach]

31:53. The 467 triple was a huge thing for this puzzle and I had no idea these existed. Thank you!

[dekstr-]

Thank you for posting the video today. You are providing such calming and clever content.