Crossword Puzzles

Jeanne Breen makes her New York Times debut with a puzzle in collaboration with Jeff Chen.Jump to: Today’s Theme | Tricky CluesWEDNESDAY PUZZLE — Having spent the last few days in bed recovering from a bug — but enjoying Wordplay, thanks to my colleagues — I can attest to the restorative effects of leisurely distractions. I convalesced with a cocktail of old movies, crosswords and frantic trips to the patio to stare at my soon-to-be-thriving vegetable garden (the red kale is doing well, thank you). How lovely to be reminded, once back at my desk, that one of these wonderful distractions is, in fact, my day job.Today’s crossword was constructed by Jeanne Breen and Jeff Chen. The elixirs in their theme may not be the kind that doctors recommend for getting over a cold, but the joke that connected them all made me laugh — which really is the best medicine of all.Today’s ThemeBartenders who solve crosswords are finally having their day. The entries at 17-, 26-, and 36-/38-Across feature ingredient combinations for various cocktails, and our first job is to name them. Safe to say, this was not my forte: I can barely say “I’ll take a dry gin martini” without making it sound like a question. This is an example of why using your crossings — a skill we cover in our (beginner-friendly!) guide to solving crosswords — can make all the difference for a successful solve.“Vodka + coffee liqueur + Irish cream + heavy cream” make up a MUDSLIDE (17A). Combine “Light rum + dark rum + orange juice + passion fruit syrup,” and you’ve got a HURRICANE (26A). And if you light “rum + brandy + pineapple juice + orange juice + orgeat syrup” on fire — only for cocktail-making purposes, please — you get a FLAMING VOLCANO (36/38A).The names of these drinks imply danger — and that, dear reader, is what makes each clue a RECIPE FOR DISASTER (46/56A).We are having trouble retrieving the article content.Please enable JavaScript in your browser settings.Thank you for your patience while we verify access. If you are in Reader mode please exit and log into your Times account, or subscribe for all of The Times.Thank you for your patience while we verify access.Already a subscriber? Log in.Want all of The Times? Subscribe. More

This Tuesday debut puzzle is full of fun facts.Jump to: Today’s Theme | Tricky CluesTUESDAYPUZZLE — One of the downsides of being the editorial director of games is that it’s now rare for me to solve one of our puzzles the way the our solver community does. I often see puzzles in their nascent stages, and I’m thinking about the details rather than enjoying the solving experience. I was happy to solve this Tuesday the way I used to: at my kitchen table with my little sister, coffees in hand. She likes to solve jigsaw puzzles on her iPad, and we chat idly as we work on our respective devices.Today’s puzzle, a debut by Chris Leatherberry, was a fun one to do with a family member. The theme is accessible, and I do love a long entry. But the rest of the puzzle is full of facts and figures that lend themselves to group solving. For example, I was briefly stumped on 7-Down.“Hey — Flying adversary for Godzilla,” I lobbed at my sister. In our defense, Godzilla has had many enemies.“Planes!” she shouted. We looked at each other and burst into laughter.The answer is below, for those who need help.7D. Flying adversary for GodzillaRODANWe are having trouble retrieving the article content.Please enable JavaScript in your browser settings.Thank you for your patience while we verify access. If you are in Reader mode please exit and log into your Times account, or subscribe for all of The Times.Thank you for your patience while we verify access.Already a subscriber? Log in.Want all of The Times? Subscribe. More

Christopher Youngs’s crossword is more than the sum of its parts.Jump to: Today’s Theme | Tricky CluesMONDAY PUZZLE — Hello, Monday solvers! Sam Corbin normally writes the early-week columns, but she is under the weather — as am I, only somewhat less so than Sam, so I am stepping in to fill her very punny shoes. I hope they fit.This is Christopher Youngs’s fourth crossword in The New York Times, and it’s a fun one. In fact, you may want to give it a round of applause when you’re done.Today’s ThemeHey, kids, let’s PUT ON A SHOW! I’ll write the SCRIPT, those of you who are handy with tools can build the SET, we can all be in the CAST and, if you’re too shy to perform, you can hunt for PROPS.Mr. Youngs offers four entries in which the second parts are elements of putting on a play. For example, the answer to the clue at 17A, “Programming language since 1995,” is JAVASCRIPT. At 24A, a GOLDEN SET is a “Rare tennis feat in which one player wins 24 straight points.” (I was not aware of the term.)The revealer clue at 62A is “Keep up appearances, say … or what to do with the ends of 17-, 24-, 39- and 50-Across?” The answer is PUT ON A SHOW.We are having trouble retrieving the article content.Please enable JavaScript in your browser settings.Thank you for your patience while we verify access. If you are in Reader mode please exit and log into your Times account, or subscribe for all of The Times.Thank you for your patience while we verify access.Already a subscriber? Log in.Want all of The Times? Subscribe. More

Wind your way through Adam Wagner’s puzzle.Jump to: Today’s Theme | Tricky CluesTHURSDAY PUZZLE — When does a crossword puzzle need a visual hint at the theme? We’ve seen circled squares, shaded squares, bolded lines and even black squares used as aids to help solvers organize their thoughts. These elements are usually added to the grids during the editing process.This devilishly clever puzzle from Adam Wagner includes shaded squares, and thank goodness they’re there. Not having some sort of visual element might have led to cross words (sorry).Adding a visual element is only one of many jobs of the puzzle editors.“We usually talk about visual elements like this during the meetings when we’re accepting the puzzle,” Christina Iverson, a puzzle editor, said. “In this case, we just thought the visual would be too hard to see without any shading, and if testers find something confusing, we’ll change the presentation,” she added.Joel Fagliano, the digital puzzle editor, agreed with Ms. Iverson and said that other ideas for clarifying the theme were discussed. But, he added: “Ultimately, we settled on what you see now. Even if it makes the puzzle a little easier for a Thursday, it seems worth it to make the theme clear to all solvers.”Today’s ThemeFirst, allow me to give kudos to Mr. Wagner for filling this grid. Making a puzzle where the true answers are basically hidden but what we write in the squares are unrelated words or phrases is next-level constructing as far as I’m concerned. You’ll see what I mean.We are having trouble retrieving the article content.Please enable JavaScript in your browser settings.Thank you for your patience while we verify access. If you are in Reader mode please exit and log into your Times account, or subscribe for all of The Times.Thank you for your patience while we verify access.Already a subscriber? Log in.Want all of The Times? Subscribe. More