CROSSWORDS: Practice

Description | Quotes | Process |
Puzzle Sources: Intro | Easier | More Diff. | Even More Diff. | Most Diff. | Shortz's Favorites


practicumCourse Description: Crosswords: Practicum

  • Skip this initial subsection if part of a longer Crossword course.
  • Improve your solving skills, have fun and possibly benefit memory, according to recent studies.
  • All levels of ability and previous students are welcome.
  • We'll select crosswords that vary by difficulty, size & type, theme and source.
  • While solving, we'll discuss unusual clues and interesting themes,
    with resources provided for further practice.
  • *Practicum: [prak-ti-kuhm] n."the part of a [university] course consisting of practical work in a particular field";
    related to "praxis": exercise or practice of an art, science, or skill; practical application of a theory

Quotes

crosswords hintsProcess

  • We will solve and discuss one or more puzzles
    together (on screen) during each session.
  • These puzzles will be appropriate in difficulty
    for class ability & interest -- Examples below
  • The instructor will use a crossword solving application like:
  • Crosswords for iPad, Android, macOS, Win; [slideshow] [above right: iPad]
  • Across Lite free; for macOS, Win, iPad; [slideshow] [below right: Mac]
  • -- and open downloaded .puz files
  • ALWeb-based puzzle solving apps are available in your browser
    -- if you don't mind viewing ads
    and using different user interfaces on different sites.
  • Another option is to share a printed puzzle,
    e.g., NYT Spiral puzzle, and annotate in a PDF-viewing app
    -- this works with any puzzle, but can be slower to fill in
  • Clues can be followed in any order.
    However, to minimize jumping around and group confusion,
    we'll generally work together on the same area of the puzzle,
    take advantage of filled-in crossing letters,
    focus on the same clues, and fill-in a consensus answer
    -- or skip to nearby clues if we seem stuck.
  • The solving emphasis will be on learning and fun -- rather than on perfection and speed.
  • The more experienced among us should refrain from answering
    for a few seconds to give others a chance to consider the clues.
  • I'll highlight interesting clues and themes.
    We might refer to blogs for further explanations, e.g., NYT WordPlay;
    in non-Practicum courses: we'll more systematically cover
    specific techniques and tips under Solving Strategies later.
  • If there's interest, I can distribute (.pdf, .puz) for any finished or in-progress puzzles via email.
  • I may provide blog links to annotated solutions with commentaries about theme/clues -- if available.
  • Redo/review previous crosswords for "homeplay" -- not homework!

fiendPuzzle Sources

  • Two sites that provide convenient direct links to many
    of the current puzzles listed in sections below
    -- grouped by my rough estimate of difficulty;
    all are free except newer/variety NYT
  • Crossword Fiend .puz (for app), .pdf, web browser [far right]
  • cvCruciverb: .puz;, .pdf, web [right]
  • Many other sites: CROSSWORDS: Sources: Web Sites
  • Steve's puzzles

"Easier"

"More Difficult"

"Even More Difficult"

  • BEQ: Mon (themeless)
  • NYT: Fri, Sat (themeless)
  • Newsday: Sat (Saturday Stumper)
  • NYT Variety (archives): Cryptic, Missing Links, Split Decisions, Vowelless
  • most cryptics...

"Most Difficult"

Shortz's Favorites

  • 11 Remarkable Crosswords for New Solvers ready to conquer The New York Times Crossword?
    Here's a sampling -- hand-picked by Will Shortz -- to get you started; 2/14/2017
  • 5 examples from Will Shortz's Favorite Crossword Puzzles from The New York Times
    St. Martin's Griffin, 2002
  • Jan. 28, 2002 (Mon) by Sarah Keller; [.puz]; Will Shortz says:
    "Here's proof that a crossword doesn't have to be hard to be exceptional. Besides the four basic theme
    answers in the longest spaces in the grid, look for four 'bonus' theme-related entries in shorter spots."
  • Oct. 31, 2000 (Tue) by Bill Zais; [.puz]; Will Shortz says:
    "This puzzle's clever theme is signaled by the highlighted letters in the middle of the grid.
    For the constructor to get all these multi-checked letters to work could not have been easy."
  • May 23, 2001 (Wed) by Alan Arbesfeld; [.puz]; Will Shortz says:
    "The secret of this puzzle's theme is revealed at 62- and 16-Across. The theme itself appears
    in the six longest Across answers. That's a lot of theme material, with a crackerjack construction besides."
  • May 8, 1997 (Thu) by David J. Kahn; [.puz]; Will Shortz says:
    "David Kahn never makes an ordinary puzzle, but this one is truly exceptional. Every theme answer
    (four horizontal and two vertical) interlocks with at least one other, and the answer at 7-Down
    gives a playful explanation of what these six have in common."
  • Sept. 29, 2000 (Fri) by Bob Klahn; [.puz]; Will Shortz says:
    "This themeless 68-word puzzle contains ten 15-letter answers spanning the grid, with 8-Down
    intersecting the nine going across. As typical with Bob Klahn, he spices up the puzzle with lively vocabulary,
    and the grid doesn't have a single unnecessary black square."