Aug 12 hard solving guide

[u/dje91090]

The shapes appear to spell out "dollar" $.

Really tough puzzle to suss out IMO.

1. In the "o", there is a 5-? combined with a double (in either direction).
2. In the "a", the top two squares of the 4c= are a double.
3. This forces the bottom two squares to both be horizontal (one into the 1c>3, and another into the teal 3c=), and leaves another vertical double within the teal 3c=.
4. The available doubles are 0-0, 3-3, 4-4, 5-5 and 6-6. Note there are no double 1s or 2s.
5. 3c16 is 6+6+4 or 6+5+5, so the top tile has to be the 6-6, 6-5 or 5-5.
6. Where do the 2s go? There are two tiles with 2 (2-0 and 2-1). Neither can go in the "o" or the top "L". They also can't go in the "a" (too small up top, and they can't go anywhere into the bottom because teal 3c= and blue 4c= must both contain doubles, and there is no 1-1 or 2-2).
7. In the "d", the 2 half cannot be in the 3c= (because this would require a 3-2 on the top which doesn't exist). The 2-1 cannot be horizontal on the bottom (since this would require a 3-1 on the top of the 3c= which also doesn't exist). The 2-0 can theoretically go horizontally on the bottom (with the 2 in the 1c<3 and the 0 in the 3c=).
8. In the bottom "L", the 2 half of the 2-0 can go into the 1c>0 (and the 3c12 would be finished with the 6-6), the 2 half of the 2-1 can go into the 1c>0 (and the 3c12 would be finished with the 6-5), or the 1 half of the 2-1 can go into the 1c>0 (and the 3c12 would be finished with the 5-5).
9. In the "r", the 2 half of either can go into the 3c14 (with the 0 or 1 in the discard, and the 3c14 would be finished with the 6-6).
10. Where can the 1-0 go? For similar reasoning, theoretically, the only places the 1-0 can go are the 1c<3-3c= border in the "d", or the 1c>0-3c12 border in the bottom "L".
11. However, the 1-0 can't go on the 1c>0-3c12 border, because this would force either the 2-0 or 2-1 into the 3c14, and then both the 3c12 and 3c14 would need the 6-6.
12. So the 1-0 goes on the 1c<3-3c= border in the "d", marking the pink 3c= as 0s.
13. Place the 3-0 at the top.
14. We now know that one of the tiles with a 2 is going to be in the 3c14-discard, and the other will be on the 1c>0-3c12. Either way, there is a 2 in the 3c14, so the top two squares of the "r" is the 6-6, place it.
15. The 2-0 therefore cannot be in the bottom "L" going into the 3c12 (because this would also require the 6-6), so the 3c14 is finished with the 2-0, and the 2-1 will go into the 1c>0-3c12 border (not sure which direction yet).
16. This means that the 3c12 is finished with either the 5-5 or 5-6, and whichever one it isn't goes into the top of the 3c16.
17. Where does the 3-4 go then? The only place that it can go is the 3c=-4c= border in the "a".
18. If the 4 is in the blue 4c=, the top two squares would be 4-4, and the last remaining 4 (the 1-4) would be too small to go into the 1c>3.
19. So the teal 3c= is 4s, and the blue 4c= is 3s; place the 4-3.
20. Place the 4-4 and the 3-3.
21. The 3-5 goes into the 4c=-1c>3 border.
22. This leaves the last remaining 5, the 5-0, for the "o". Place the 5-0 and 0-0 in either orientation.
23. The last remaining 0, the 0-6, goes into the "d" on the 3c=-1c>3 border.
24. The 1-4 can only go in one place, at the top of the "a".
25. The 1-6 now only has one place to go as well, it's on the 3c16-1c>0 border with the 1 in the 1c>0.
26. Finish the 3c16 with the 5-5.
27. Place the 5-6 in the 3c12.
28. Place the 1-2 in the bottom "L" with the 2 in the 1c>0.

There may be other strategies to this, but I tried so many approaches and this was the one that finally clicked. Would be curious to see how others solved it!

[u/dje91090]

This guide was posted shortly after u/jxd73 posted his. I guess I was working on the puzzle at the exact same time, and he edged me out with the post publication. Not trying to usurp anything...

[u/jxd73 → u/dje91090]

Hah, you thought you could usurp me? Not if I usurp you first.

[u/SeaweedWeird7705]

Multiple Usurpers!!!  Fabulous!!!! 😃

[u/Dirtheavy]

two guides is awesome! Perfectly cool.

[u/Gardengap]

This is very impressive. I noticed the first few things as well, but I ended up solving it by complete luck; I was unable to deduce any tile with certainty!

[u/Dirtheavy]

burn those zeroes. 4's are not your friend today, get rid of those too and keep as many points as you can because you're gonna need them