Games

Garrett Chalfin turns us every which way and teaches us an important lesson.Jump to: Today’s Theme | Tricky CluesTHURSDAY PUZZLE — People turn to crossword puzzles for all sorts of reasons, including the soothing effect they can have on us when life feels out of control. I understand that some themes may drive solvers up a wall, but that’s not what I’m talking about. I’m talking about the comforting feeling of methodically filling in blank squares, being distracted from your problems and the joy of conquering a puzzle that you thought might conquer you. When you’ve completed it, a sense of control is restored, even if it’s just for awhile.Constructors can feel that happiness and sense of satisfaction, too. After filling their grids in a way that is pleasing to them and submitting their crosswords, receiving an acceptance from the puzzle editors can bring a joy that is hard to describe. I vividly remember my first acceptance, and that was 20 years ago. No matter where or how many times I was published, it never got old. Maybe some of the Wordplayers who are published constructors can explain the feeling in the comments.Allowing yourself to feel joy and to recall them when life is hard can be healing. Garrett Chalfin’s constructor notes provide an excellent lesson on coping with trauma. He tells a story about how, after a harrowing experience, the habit of substituting a happy memory for intrusive thoughts under the guidance of a therapist helped him begin his healing process.I think his story will resonate with a lot of people. No matter where you are in life, everyone can use more coping tools.Today’s ThemeMr. Chalfin’s puzzle uses the Pixar film “INSIDE OUT” (62A) to give us a hint at how to read the five theme entries, all of which contain gray squares.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

Daniel Raymon’s puzzle earns top marks.Jump to: Today’s Theme | Tricky CluesWEDNESDAY PUZZLE — Have you ever panicked in a corn maze? That’s the best analogy I can think of for the experience I had while solving Daniel Raymon’s crossword: I got a little lost, then very lost, and for a minute there I worried I’d never find my way out.Mr. Raymon’s puzzle features some truly impish cluing, and his theme is, to use a pet phrase of Prue Leith’s from “Great British Baking Show,” a little triumph. But there’s a whole lot to do before figuring out what that theme is. The challenge begins at 1-Across, with [Cry in a pool game] — a pool clue that has nothing to do with billiards, for once — and it doesn’t let up until the very end, at 65-Down.Today’s ThemeFour of today’s clues are simply bits of punctuation: [”] at 20A, [.] at 26A, [–] at 48A and [/] at 56A. These marks can hold several meanings: The symbol at 48A, for instance, could be a minus sign or a hyphen. In this case, it means “dash” — in other words, to MAKE A RUN FOR IT.The quotation mark is sometimes simply called a “quote,” which is a PRICE ESTIMATE. The “period” indicates STRETCH OF TIME, and the forward slash is just Slash, the ROCK GUITARIST of Guns N’ Roses.These plays on punctuation left me speechless, so I have no further comments — or rather, commas.Tricky Clues1A. This clue refers not to the game of pool but to a game played in a swimming pool, so the [Cry in a pool game] is MARCO.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

Henry Lin-David makes his New York Times Crossword debut.Jump to: Today’s Theme | Tricky CluesTUESDAY PUZZLE — If Henry Lin-David’s Times debut is any indication of his puzzling prowess, I predict that he’ll enjoy a long career in crossword construction. I mean “career” in the figurative sense, of course — I have yet to meet a constructor whose puzzles pay the bills in toto.The grid is a treat to solve, but its theme is what I found utterly spectacular. I’m always delighted by the clever themes in early-week crosswords — it’s the rare one that makes me feel clever for having solved it, too. Did you experience a similar postpuzzle glow? Let me know your impressions in the comments.Today’s ThemeThe foods at 17-, 25-, 48- and 56-Across make for a strange smorgasbord, but there’s more than meets the eye (or stomach). MOOSE TRACKS ice cream, MAPO TOFU, MINI TWIX and something called a MEAT TORNADO — a [Fictional burrito on “Parks and Recreation” that “literally killed a guy last year”] — all share initials in common.Phonetically, these initials, M and T, represent [What many junk foods contain]: EMPTY (M.T.) CALORIES (34A).Tricky Clues20A. To have [Bathed, old-style] is to have LAVED. Now we just take showers.27A. Speaking of fancy words from the Middle Ages, this word for [Speaker’s platform] sounds like something from the Knights of the Round Table: DAIS (pronounced DAY-iss). Coincidentally, it may once have described a round table — DAIS is derived from the Latin word “discus.”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

Andrea Carla Michaels and Kevin Christian go for a run.Jump to: Today’s Theme | Tricky CluesMONDAY PUZZLE — What a treat to begin my December with a crossword by Andrea Carla Michaels and Kevin Christian. I’ve had the good fortune of writing about two of their puzzles: The first played on “color commentary,” and the second counted types of beans (as a “bean counter” might).Another grid from them, another grin from me: This puzzle was a delight to solve, as I expected it would be, and conceals an elegant theme that’s certain to elicit oohs and aahs — albeit not necessarily in that order.Today’s ThemeAll of today’s themed entries begin with P_SS, which would be a cute — if somewhat simple — gimmick on its own. But read between these letters, and you’ll discover what really makes the theme sing: The entries’ vowels run A-E-I-O-U.Here’s the full set, with vowels in bold: A [Trend that’s here today, gone tomorrow] is a PASSING FAD (16A). If you’re [Seeing the glass half-empty], you’re being PESSIMISTIC (23A). To be [Beyond irritated] is to be PISSED OFF (33A). You might call a [Potential option] a POSSIBILITY (47A). And finally, one who [Tiptoes, as around a touchy subject] PUSSYFOOTS (56A).Tricky Clues13A. We may tear up at emotional scenes in movies or TV shows, but this [Culinary tear-jerker] relies on a purely chemical reaction: ONION.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

Willa Angel Chen Miller makes her New York Times Crossword debut, in a collaboration with Matthew Stock.Jump to: Tricky CluesFRIDAY PUZZLE — What makes a crossword difficult? There are a few reasons solvers struggle with puzzles, and I believe everyone does so in different ways. Some people have a hard time with wordplay and misdirection; others are just not in the constructor’s wheelhouse.I’m not ashamed to admit that I had to fight to finish today’s puzzle, constructed by Willa Angel Chen Miller and Matthew Stock. The battle was serious, but I had a lot of fun along the way, especially when I reviewed the stacks in the northwest and southeast corners. Nicely done, Ms. Miller and Mr. Stock.Your thoughts?Tricky Clues15A. The answer to a [Question that can’t possibly be answered “No”] is ARE YOU AWAKE. I beg to differ: Any sleep-deprived parent will tell you that it actually is possible to continue to sleep and answer this question.16A. The clue [Solid :: glace : liquid :: ___] needs an answer in French. Glacé means ice, so the answer is EAU, or water, to complete the analogy.31A. I was stuck for a long time on this one: I understood that the mohawk in [Mohawk culture] referred to the hairstyle, but I just couldn’t make the mental leap away from Indigenous culture.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

Ricky J. Sirois piles on.Jump to: Today’s Theme | Tricky CluesTHURSDAY PUZZLE — First, happy Thanksgiving to all who celebrate. May you all have a peaceful and happy holiday or, if that’s not possible, may you all be armed with kazoos of civility.Imgur.comAnd now a cryptic note about Ricky J. Sirois’s puzzle: Even though there is no revealer, you will eventually get this. Let’s just say that I’ve discussed this topic before with regard to crosswords, and I will explain that further in the theme section.Today’s ThemeWe’re talking about stacks again today, but these are stacks of rebus entries. For those of you new to rebuses, they are answers that require you to enter more than one letter in a square. If you are solving online, here are instructions on how to enter a rebus on your device.I’m not sure I’ve encountered rebus stacks before, but that made them all the more fun to solve, in my opinion. Maybe it was my experience with rebus puzzles, but as soon as I had trouble with entries that refused to fit, I knew I had to use my rebus button. If you are not sure where that is, please read the instructions in the link above.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

Jill Singer’s triple words score.Jump to: Today’s Theme | Tricky CluesWEDNESDAY PUZZLE — At any traditional Thanksgiving table, you can rely on finding some combination of the beige trinity: turkey, potatoes and pie. New York Times Cooking offers a few colorful additions to the menu, but so does today’s crossword, constructed by Jill Singer. If you observe the U.S. holiday, consider incorporating the ingredients in this grid (in-grid-ients, you might say).The theme’s revealer, incidentally, is also the title of a certain Chekhov play about boredom and listlessness — but neither of those feelings apply to the experience of solving Ms. Singer’s puzzle. Shall we entertain it together?Today’s Theme[Corn, beans and squash, in Mesoamerican tradition] are known as THE THREE SISTERS. That’s a hint to six answers in this puzzle, where two groups of three famous sisters can be found. The clue [Member of an 1800s literary family] solves to ANNE at 5A, CHARLOTTE at 17A and EMILY at 18A — the Brontë sisters.Farther down, [Member of a 2000s showbiz family] solves to three Kardashians: KOURTNEY (45A), KIM (50A) and KHLOE (61A).And if this theme just left you hungry for some corn, beans and squash, you’re in luck: Sam Sifton has a recipe for a Thanksgiving-ready Three Sisters stew. No actual sisters were harmed in the making of the dish.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

Killian Olson makes his Crossword debut.Jump to: Today’s Theme | Tricky CluesTUESDAY PUZZLE — Many readers of this column know that I spent several years as a competitive punner. I would go onstage at various local or national tournaments and come up with wisecracks for spontaneously announced categories such as “finger foods” or “headwear” — beret-ve of me, I know.I now prefer to be in the peanut gallery, with a Statler and Waldorf-style vantage point of the action (and license to shout my opinions at it). I can say with confidence that the punchline of today’s crossword, constructed by Killian Olson, would have made him a strong contender for championships. Congratulations to Mr. Olson on his wonderfully witty debut; I look forward to enjoying more of his puns in puzzles to come.Today’s ThemeOnce you’ve solved 16-, 22-, 35- and 46-Across, the shaded squares in the grid should read FORD, TESLA, HONDA and GMC.The function of these car brands vis-à-vis their shaded backgrounds becomes apparent at 58-Across, where a word that means [Completed without manual, input as an online form] doubles as a description of the shaded squares — they’re AUTO-FILLED.As cute car puns go, that’s satisfying as anything. And if you didn’t like it, one might say you took the cynic route. Eh? I’ll show myself out.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