Str8ts
Encyclopedia
Str8ts is a logic
-based number-placement puzzle
, invented by Jeff Widderich in 2008. It is distinct from, but shares some properties and rules with Sudoku
. The name is derived from the poker straight. The puzzle is published in a number of newspapers internationally, in 2 book collections, and in downloadable apps. It was featured on the Canadian television show Dragons' Den
on November 24, 2010.
in February 2008. A daily puzzle has been published at their website since 24 November 2008. The puzzle has appeared in Süddeutsche Zeitung
since March 2010, and in the Saturday edition of Die Rheinpfalz since August 2010. An iOS app was released in July 2009, containing hundreds of puzzles in four difficulty levels. In August 2010, a wooden board and piece version was designed by Intellego holzspiele. Widderich appeared with the game in the fifth season of the Canadian television show Dragons' Den
on November 24, 2010, where he made a deal for a $150,000 investment in return for 10% royalties, from three of the panelists.
Like sudoku, the solver must fill the remaining white cells with numbers 1 to 9 (or 1 to n in puzzles with N cells per side) such that each row and column contains unique digits. Whereas Sudoku has the additional constraint of 3x3 boxes, in Str8ts rows and columns are divided by additional clues are set in some of the black cells - these numbers remove that digit as an option in the row and column. Such digits do not form part of any straight.
There are a number of variants to the basic game, including Symmetric Str8ts, Asymmetric Str8ts, Mini-Str8ts, and Transformations.
the puzzle can demonstrate a wide spectrum of relative difficulty. The grade is determined by a combination of opportunities to solve at each stage and the difficulty of the strategy that grants each solution. An easier puzzle will have many places where a logical deduction can place a solution or eliminate a candidate number. When the whole puzzle is assessed in this way, plus some heuristics, a score can be determined. Over a large number of puzzles (>10,000) a bell curve of scores can be produced. This can be quartiled to group puzzles into specific grades.
Logic
In philosophy, Logic is the formal systematic study of the principles of valid inference and correct reasoning. Logic is used in most intellectual activities, but is studied primarily in the disciplines of philosophy, mathematics, semantics, and computer science...
-based number-placement puzzle
Puzzle
A puzzle is a problem or enigma that tests the ingenuity of the solver. In a basic puzzle, one is intended to put together pieces in a logical way in order to come up with the desired solution...
, invented by Jeff Widderich in 2008. It is distinct from, but shares some properties and rules with Sudoku
Sudoku
is a logic-based, combinatorial number-placement puzzle. The objective is to fill a 9×9 grid with digits so that each column, each row, and each of the nine 3×3 sub-grids that compose the grid contains all of the digits from 1 to 9...
. The name is derived from the poker straight. The puzzle is published in a number of newspapers internationally, in 2 book collections, and in downloadable apps. It was featured on the Canadian television show Dragons' Den
Dragons' Den (Canada)
Dragons' Den is a Canadian television reality show, based on the internationally franchised Dragons' Den format, in which aspiring entrepreneurs pitch business ideas to a panel of venture capitalists in the hopes of securing business financing. The show debuted on October 3, 2006 on CBC Television...
on November 24, 2010.
History
A hand made prototype of Str8ts which used black cells and the new rule of straights in compartments was invented by Canadian puzzle designer Jeff Widderich in 2007. He approached Andrew Stuart, a UK-based puzzle maker and programmer, to make the puzzle. Their collaboration settled how the clues would be determined and finalized the rules. The first puzzle was presented at the Nuremberg International Toy FairNuremberg International Toy Fair
Spielwarenmesse International Toy Fair Nürnberg is the largest international trade fair for toys and games. Only trade visitors associated with the toy business, journalists and invited guests are admitted...
in February 2008. A daily puzzle has been published at their website since 24 November 2008. The puzzle has appeared in Süddeutsche Zeitung
Süddeutsche Zeitung
The Süddeutsche Zeitung , published in Munich, is the largest German national subscription daily newspaper.-Profile:The title literally translates as "South German Newspaper". It is read throughout Germany by 1.1 million readers daily and boasts a relatively high circulation abroad...
since March 2010, and in the Saturday edition of Die Rheinpfalz since August 2010. An iOS app was released in July 2009, containing hundreds of puzzles in four difficulty levels. In August 2010, a wooden board and piece version was designed by Intellego holzspiele. Widderich appeared with the game in the fifth season of the Canadian television show Dragons' Den
Dragons' Den (Canada)
Dragons' Den is a Canadian television reality show, based on the internationally franchised Dragons' Den format, in which aspiring entrepreneurs pitch business ideas to a panel of venture capitalists in the hopes of securing business financing. The show debuted on October 3, 2006 on CBC Television...
on November 24, 2010, where he made a deal for a $150,000 investment in return for 10% royalties, from three of the panelists.
Gameplay
The solver is given a 9x9 grid, partially divided by black cells into compartments. Each compartment, vertically or horizontally, must contain a straight - a set of consecutive numbers, but in any order. For example: 7, 6, 4, 5 is valid, but 1, 3, 8, 7 is not.Like sudoku, the solver must fill the remaining white cells with numbers 1 to 9 (or 1 to n in puzzles with N cells per side) such that each row and column contains unique digits. Whereas Sudoku has the additional constraint of 3x3 boxes, in Str8ts rows and columns are divided by additional clues are set in some of the black cells - these numbers remove that digit as an option in the row and column. Such digits do not form part of any straight.
There are a number of variants to the basic game, including Symmetric Str8ts, Asymmetric Str8ts, Mini-Str8ts, and Transformations.
Grading
As Str8ts belongs to the same class of puzzles as SudokuSudoku
is a logic-based, combinatorial number-placement puzzle. The objective is to fill a 9×9 grid with digits so that each column, each row, and each of the nine 3×3 sub-grids that compose the grid contains all of the digits from 1 to 9...
the puzzle can demonstrate a wide spectrum of relative difficulty. The grade is determined by a combination of opportunities to solve at each stage and the difficulty of the strategy that grants each solution. An easier puzzle will have many places where a logical deduction can place a solution or eliminate a candidate number. When the whole puzzle is assessed in this way, plus some heuristics, a score can be determined. Over a large number of puzzles (>10,000) a bell curve of scores can be produced. This can be quartiled to group puzzles into specific grades.
Publications
- Jeff Widderich, Andrew Stuart: STR8TS - Das neue Zahlenrätsel mit Suchtpotential, jezza!Verlag, Geltendorf 2009, ISBN 978-3-9419-6990-1
- Jeff Widderich & Andrew Stuart: STR8TS, Süddeutsche Zeitung Verlag, München 2010, ISBN 978-3-86615-810-8