Another Sudoku With Just 3 Given Digits?!

*** IT'S LIVE: OUR KICKSTARTER CAMPAIGN LAUNCHES ***
Want to help with the creation of our new book: Cracking The Cryptic's Greatest Hit Volume 2. Here's the link:

*** TODAY'S PUZZLE ***
There are three certain things in life: Death, Taxes and the brilliance of Aad van de Wetering's sudoku puzzles. His latest, Thermodynamics, is easier that some puzzles we feature but no less elegant and will give solvers a ton of pleasure! And there are 3 given digits... (!)

Play the puzzle at the link below:

Rules:
Normal sudoku rules apply. Digits may not repeat along a main diagonal (marked in blue). Along thermometers, digits must increase from the bulb end.

*** OCTOBER MONTHLY REWARD - OUT NOW ***

The Duality Sudoku Hunt is just out. Massive thanks and kudos to the Sudoku Skunkworks for creating such a brilliant set of puzzles (14 in all!). You'll be able to enter the competition if you can solve the first 4 sudokus. If you solve all 14, you'll get a shoutout.

We've also just released Simon & Mark's solve of Vignettes by zetamath, which you can play at the link below:

Join us on Patreon to watch the video for as little as $2/month here:

*** GET OUR NEW FREE APP AND/OR WATCH US STREAM IT ***

To celebrate achieving 500k subscribers, we're trying to say thank you in a couple of ways.

We've released a FREE app full of handmade puzzles - simply download the Cracking The Cryptic app on Android, Steam or App Store and then select the 500k pack. We're streaming a playthrough of this app and you can watch the first six episodes here:

We're also able to offer our Cracking The Cryptic Greatest Hits book at a discount for a limited period. (Books are now in very short supply).

The coupon code is “500SUBS” and it can be redeemed at checkout here:

*** Our New App Is OUT ***

Our new app is OUT on App Store AND Android AND ON PC (via Steam)!!

We've completely revamped the interface. Now you download the basic app free and you can choose to download additional content. So there's a FREE pack of puzzles by Prasanna Seshadri and a paid pack: DOMINO SUDOKU!!!

▶ Contact Us ◀

Twitter: @Cracking The Cryptic

Our PO Box address:

Simon Anthony & Mark Goodliffe
Box 102
56 Gloucester Road
London
SW7 4UB

(Please note to use our real names rather than 'Cracking The Cryptic'.)

▶ SUDOKU PAD - Our New App ◀

You can input classic sudoku puzzles into our software and help support Sven, the programmer responsible for the wonderful user interface we all use to play these puzzles everyday. The app also comes with 12 handmade puzzles from us:

iOS:

Android:

ALSO on Amazon: Search for “SudokuPad”

**************************************************************

▶ CTC FAN DISCORD SERVER◀

▶ OUR BACK CATALOGUE – ALL CATEGORISED WITH LINKS!◀

▶ *NEW* CRACKING THE CRYPTIC MERCHANDISE◀

▶SEND US PUZZLES TO SOLVE/CONTACT US◀

▶FOLLOW US◀
Twitter: #crypticcracking
@crypticcracking

[Ptcar]

I think this is the first sudoku from a video I've solved, and it felt completely natural. Been watching CTC for over about 3 years now, and it's amazing how you guys helped me develop an instinct for this kind of logic. Thanks for everything you guys do and for the daily dose of a cheerful and wholesome, besides always very interesting, video!

[inspiringsand]

Rules: 04:44
Let's Get Cracking: 05:37
Simon's time: 19m45s
Puzzle Solved: 25:22

What about this video's Top Tier Simarkisms?!
Cooking with Gas: 2x (16:45)
Maverick: 2x (09:15, 09:22)
Bobbins: 1x (13:26)

And how about this video's Simarkisms?!
Ah: 7x (11:54, 12:39, 12:46, 16:04, 17:54, 17:54, 18:38)
The Answer is: 4x (05:54, 06:18, 12:54, 16:29)
Lovely: 3x (03:57, 19:12, 19:12)
Brilliant: 3x (02:28, 02:34, 03:47)
Incredible: 3x (01:08, 03:45, 03:45)
By Sudoku: 3x (19:54, 20:39, 22:16)
Extraordinary: 2x (01:49, 01:51)
Elegant: 2x (14:09, 25:32)
Hang On: 2x (09:25, 18:36)
In Fact: 2x (09:47, 16:04)
Obviously: 2x (03:51, 09:18)
Sorry: 1x (09:59)
Apologies: 1x (22:26)
Beautiful: 1x (25:23)
Magnificent: 1x (07:45)
Doesn't get a Song: 1x (06:33)
Progress: 1x (22:37)
Pencil Mark/mark: 1x (20:51)
Cake!: 1x (03:51)

Most popular number(>9) and digit this video:
Ten (4 mentions)
Seven (60 mentions)

Antithesis Battles:
High (2) - Low (2)
Higher (6) - Lower (2)
Row (9) - Column (1)

FAQ:
Q1: You missed something!
A1: That could very well be the case! Human speech can be hard to understand for computers like me! Point out the ones that I missed and maybe I'll learn!
Q2: Can you do this for another channel?
A2: I've been thinking about that and wrote some code to make that possible. Let me know which channel you think would be a good fit!

[ryansyverson]

16:02 Nice puzzle. Always nice to have a faster time than Simon. You know the once or twice a year that it happens.

[leojs]

there are few pleasures in life as enticing as an approachable aad puzzle

[MLWJ]

I love how these videos help improve my Sudoku skills (which I use for my breaks at work) & provide entertainment at the same time.

On top of that Aad usually provides fun, but approachable puzzles.

[chocolateboy]

I finished in 15:14 minutes. This was a very nice approachable puzzle from the brilliant Aad. The simplicity of the rules and grid was amazing to see contrasted against some sick geometry that existed between those rules. The way Aad can consistently create these elegant puzzles is extraordinary. As always, it feels good to beat Simon's time. Great Puzzle!

[TheJuicyTangerine]

You know, after doing the puzzles on the CTC apps, I'm surprised when puzzles even give us digits at all

[Youssef-kxcd]

Simon's "aaahh" when he realises he can get a digit hits me deep

Loved this puzzle, especially since it's simple enough for us mortals to have a chance :D

[dagoashax]

18:53 for me, thermo is one of my favs!

[dragonspight]

I know it wasn't aimed at me alone, but knowing you said the names were wonderful after saying my name filled me with joy for the entire week.

[richardmontgomery]

At 18:05 where Simon says "and that might matter because" and proceeds to hover over the 7 that cracks this whole puzzle open for a good 20 seconds had me on the edge of my seat 😆

[daveturner]

Finally managed to watch and solve this one just in time for today's offering. A very solvable one for a change from Aard, Thank you.

[HunterJE]

The box 3 logic in this puzzle is so gorgeous

[AdamGaffney]

22:41 I could have easily been a couple minutes faster but they made me do sudoku in the sudoku puzzle, outrageous! I honestly think you could shave about 3-5 minutes off any time of mine just from terrible sudoku scanning, the logic stuff I usually always fly through. A wonderful puzzle that makes good use of how thermos interact and I definitely benefited from my thermo pencilmarking I always do! Loved this one, very approachable.

[michaelmurray]

Simon around 18:15 was stuck "What should we do now, I don't know where to look."
Simon also at 18:15 his curser over the 7 which was what where he needed to look lol. Love the irony.

Simon: I think we are getting there.
Simon literally 4 seconds later puts the final digit into the puzzle.

[tzeneth]

00:24:49 I always love thermo sudokus. This one took me a while until I finally noticed how limited that top right box was. The first few numbers were easy and then it's chipping away at the possibilities in the different spots and finally realizing, "Wait, I have a 4-5-6 triple in the top right which only leaves 1 spot for 3 which forces my central box"

[BlakeMcCringleberry]

What a fun puzzle! There wasn't anything too diabolical, but it was hard enough to keep me thinking the whole 20 minutes I took.

[BerkeHitay]

😂 21:31 “why do I never see the black digits? Because I hardly ever get given them.” 😂

[randyhughes]

First time I actually spotted a y-wing to finish off the puzzle. Very pleased!

[oldguydoesstuff]

Definitely had to wrestle with those thermos a bit, but got it done is 32:06 without having to lean on the video for help, which is a rarity (except for the GAS series). I know others like a higher level of difficulty, but this was a good level for me.