Becoming a Better Solver
I get a lot of requests for tips and tricks for improving as a crossword solver. It’s something I’ve talked about before, but since it’s something I’m so often asked, I figured there’s always more to say. One of the tips that’s helped me the most as a solver is the knowledge that editors will rarely clue an obscure word with an obscure piece of trivia. The more unfamiliar an entry is, the more straightforward and explanatory the clue typically will be. When a word is very familiar or appears a lot in crosswords, the editors might try to find a new piece of trivia to write a fresh clue. Just knowing this rule of thumb makes it easier to hazard a guess if you don’t know the answer. For instance, take the clue [___ Way, block in Lower Manhattan where a popular cookie originated]. We don’t really expect solvers to know the name of a street in Lower Manhattan that’s only one block long, but you can take a guess. What cookie shows up the most in crosswords? The answer here is OREO, which is a familiar word to any solver. We’ve also clued OREO as [Treat thought to be stamped with symbols of the Knights Templar]. Who knew? Probably not many. But, when you’re solving a crossword and see the word “treat” or “cookie” in a long and detailed clue, it’s reasonable to assume the answer will be a familiar cookie or treat. One other tip that’s helped me become a better solver is that, rather than solving the crossword from top to bottom with the Across entries followed by the Down ones, it’s a lot easier to solve section by section using the Across and Down clues together. When I open a puzzle, I’ll scan the first few clues to find an answer I feel confident in, and write that in. Then, I’ll move to an answer in the other direction. If you can fill in 1-Across right away, it’s a lot easier to fill in that first row of Downs now that you’ve got the first letter of each word. I also pay attention to letter patterns that seem unusual — if I notice that I have a word that starts with PW or FC, for instance, that would give me pause. There aren’t many entries that start with those letters, so I’ll take another look. Whenever I write in a letter, I generally check to see if those letters make sense with the crossing words. For more tips on solving the crossword, check out this video from the editorial team!
Solve Friday’s Crossword on Easy Mode!
For expert hints on today’s puzzle, read the Wordplay column. Were you able to solve the Friday puzzle with Easy Mode? We want your input! Share your experience with us by email. Easy vs. HardIn today’s daily Friday puzzle, 17-Across is clued as [Criminals in the oil industry?] You’ll want to think of what other industries use oil! For Easy Mode, I went with [Painters making counterfeit Cassatts or sham Chagalls], which felt both straightforward and colorful.
How are we doing? Thanks for playing! Subscribe to New York Times Games. If you were forwarded this newsletter, you can sign up to receive it regularly here. P.S. The answer to Easy vs. Hard is ART FORGERS.
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