I’ve discovered a new puzzle called Square Number puzzles, and I love them.

The example given here comes from a magazine called Logic Problems, from issue 20 on page 22. Given an empty three by three grid and some rules, fill in the unique digits 1..9. I will be making these problems over the near future.

1. No odd digits are in column A
2. Square C3 minus square C2 equals 4
3. The sum of the top row is 17
4. The sum of the right column is 14
5. The number seven is in the center column; its left neighbor is not 4
6. Two and eight are not in the same row
7. If there is a cell beneath 9, its contents are not 3

The solution to this particular one requires that you combine observations about the strictures the rules impose, including in one fairly inobvious location. I won’t say anything more than that you should write out all the data you can, so that I don’t spoil it for players, but in case you get frustrated you can find the solution here.