Saturday Workshops
By popular demand, we've extended Puzzle Day to two days so that people could attend the workshops AND compete in all of the tournaments. This year, the workshops will be held on Saturday, January 30th in the Program Room of the Morgan Hill Library from 10:30am-5:30pm.
We will be featuring new workshops on a variety of puzzle topics. The workshop schedule (still subject to some change) is as follows:
In the Main Workshop Room
10:30-11:10 - Cryptarithms
11:20-12:00 - Crosswordese
LUNCH BREAK (We can give recommendations of nearby places to grab some lunch)
1:00-1:50 - Solving in the Finals: Tales from the Championships
2:00-2:50 - Constructor Panel: From Ideas to Publication
3:00-3:50 - What Next?
4:00-4:50 - Nikoli puzzles
5:00-5:45 - Cryptic Crosswords
Specially for Kids
2:00-2:45 - Sudoku for Kids
3:00-3:45 - Fun Word Puzzles for Kids
Workshop Descriptions
Cryptarithms
Josh Bloch
Cryptarithms are a type of mathematical puzzle in which digits are replaced by symbols (typically letters of the alphabet). Come get a taste for these brain teasers from Google's Chief Java Architect, Joshua Bloch.
Crosswordese
Mark Diehl
You know those words that you see in puzzles all the time but you never hear in regular conversation? Join cruciverbalist and lexicographer Mark Diehl for a conversation about words that show up over and over again in crosswords and what goes into making a crossword puzzle dictionary.
Solving in the Finals: Tales from the Championships
Tyler Hinman and Thomas Snyder
How is solving up on the finals stage of a puzzle tournament different than solving the puzzles usually? How do people prepare for the finals? What really happened at the National Sudoku Championship in Philadelphia? Five-time American Crossword Puzzle Tournament champion Tyler Hinman and Thomas Snyder, two-time World Sudoku champion give you an inside look at the hottest puzzle tournaments and how they tackle the hardest puzzles.
Constructor Panel: From Ideas to Publication
Moderated by Andrea Carla Michaels
Including Tyler Hinman, Dan Schoenholz, Wei-Hwa Huang, Mark Diehl, Byron Walden
How do puzzle constructors get their ideas? What is their process for making the puzzle? How do they collaborate with other constructors? How do they submit their puzzles for publications? Get tips and advice from some of the best constructors around including one inspired by previous Silicon Valley Puzzle Day workshops.
What Next?
Thomas Snyder
Getting tired of the same old newspaper sudoku? Looking for a new challenge? World Sudoku champion and puzzle author Thomas Snyder will talk about sudoku variations and other logic problems that can become your new puzzling addiction!
Nikoli puzzles
Tyler Hinman
Have you explored the puzzles at www.nikoli.com? Everyone knows sudoku, but many fewer know nurikabe, heyawake, etc. Learn about the other kinds of puzzles crossword champion Tyler Hinman likes to try his hand at.
Cryptic Crosswords
Wei-Hwa Huang
This year, we are again featuring a bonus cryptic crossword round during Sunday's tournament. Learn more about these popular puzzles and the tricks to solving them.
Sudoku for Kids
Dave Holmstrom
Kids of all ages will enjoy this workshop, aimed at introducing Sudoku to novices and improving the skills of Sudoku beginners. The workshop will start with a pre-test, so that kids can be grouped together and taught at their level. Presented by Dave Holmstrom, an educator with the American Institute of Mathematics.
Word puzzles for Kids
Dave Holmstrom
This year's tournament will feature a variety of word puzzles for kids (in addition to one round of crosswords). Come learn about the different kinds of puzzles that will be used as well as other types that may tickle your brain.
