NYT Crossword Answers for Dec. 13, 2024

FRIDAY PUZZLE — Welcome to First Pass Friday, an occasional Wordplay column in which I show you my first few passes through the clue list. This serves two purposes: It provides encouragement for those who are just starting to solve the harder, end-of-the-week puzzles, and it proves to those who have finished the crossword that they are much smarter than I am.

I kid, of course — you’re all smarter than I am — but I really did struggle with Ryan Patrick Smith’s clever puzzle. It could have been for any number of reasons: Maybe I wasn’t fully caffeinated when I solved, or perhaps the clues and entries were outside my wheelhouse. But writing in that first correct entry when you’ve been staring woefully at the opaque clues and the blank grid goes a long way toward inspiring solvers to hang in there. It’s a rush, and that rush pushes me to build on that success.

And that, in a nutshell, is how you solve a tough puzzle. I once attended a yoga workshop where the instructor said that there were only two steps to a fruitful practice: 1) Start, and 2) continue. It’s good advice for just about any aspect of life.

But if you’re still interested, I’ll walk you through my first couple of attempts at Mr. Smith’s puzzle. Please note that there will be multiple spoilers after the jump. If you don’t wish to see them, avert your eyes and scroll down to Mr. Smith’s notes on his puzzle.