2009 USPC test files posted
The official test page, with file downloads, is now up.
This year I decided to include the names of the puzzle contributors in the test, rather than wait until afterwards to give credit where credit is due. Cynical test solvers have already suggested that I'm doing this at the request of one of the publishers newly represented this year. Not true!
I've actually wanted to do this for a while. Historically, I did not include names for fear that solvers would use this information to gain some sort of advantage. Ten years ago, that might have been true. But the list of designers that I use is now pretty consistent. And in recent years there is much better world-wide sharing of puzzles, national and practice tests. The active solvers are likely to know the designers anyhow. So by pre-announcing, the playing field is again level for those curious to do further research on the designers.
There are some possible spoilers with this information. For example, knowing that a Masyu puzzle is from Nikoli, rather than Dave Tuller, might tell you something about your solving experience and how you might approach the puzzle--since one is assuredly hand-constructed while the other is likely computer-generated. That is an interesting theoretical discussion, and I look forward to hearing people's thoughts beforehand, and reaction afterwards.
I hope to be a little more chatty this year; I see that I'm picking up this blog after two years of inactivity. Last year I went on vacation the day after the test, and did most of the scoring from a wi-fi enabled cantina near Cozumel. The scoring might be disrupted again this year if I attempt to relive past WSOP glory in Vegas on Monday. Catching up on sleep would be a much better choice.
This year I decided to include the names of the puzzle contributors in the test, rather than wait until afterwards to give credit where credit is due. Cynical test solvers have already suggested that I'm doing this at the request of one of the publishers newly represented this year. Not true!
I've actually wanted to do this for a while. Historically, I did not include names for fear that solvers would use this information to gain some sort of advantage. Ten years ago, that might have been true. But the list of designers that I use is now pretty consistent. And in recent years there is much better world-wide sharing of puzzles, national and practice tests. The active solvers are likely to know the designers anyhow. So by pre-announcing, the playing field is again level for those curious to do further research on the designers.
There are some possible spoilers with this information. For example, knowing that a Masyu puzzle is from Nikoli, rather than Dave Tuller, might tell you something about your solving experience and how you might approach the puzzle--since one is assuredly hand-constructed while the other is likely computer-generated. That is an interesting theoretical discussion, and I look forward to hearing people's thoughts beforehand, and reaction afterwards.
I hope to be a little more chatty this year; I see that I'm picking up this blog after two years of inactivity. Last year I went on vacation the day after the test, and did most of the scoring from a wi-fi enabled cantina near Cozumel. The scoring might be disrupted again this year if I attempt to relive past WSOP glory in Vegas on Monday. Catching up on sleep would be a much better choice.