When my editor asked for a casino-themed crossword, I don’t think he knew what he signed up for. I think this because his message to me after I sent him the puzzle was “I don’t know what I signed up for.”
And yet, here we are, with a casino crossword puzzle ready for your solving pleasure. I’m going to drop the puzzle right here in case any veteran cruciverbalists want to jump right in. However, if you’re new to crossword puzzles, I recommend reading the rest of this post before attempting to solve the puzzle. I’ll share some helpful tips and important crossword conventions you should know.
Whether you’re a new crossword solver or a longtime grid-filler, I’ve got hundreds more puzzles for you. Subscribe to my newsletter, The New Dork Times, on Substack for fresh weekly puzzles.
Bonus.com Crossword Puzzle: Ace In The Hole
How To Solve A Crossword: A Quick Guide For Beginners
Crosswords have a lot of unspoken conventions and “rules.” While you may balk at the word “rules,” they’re more like guidelines to help you solve a puzzle faster. We crossword fanatics know them by heart, but a new solver may not understand them from the get-go. Let’s explore a few things you should know as a beginner before you dive into the joy of the solve!
Finding The Theme Is Part of the Solve
In other words, not every clue has a casino theme. That would be both quite a feat and quite a stretch at the same time. Instead, there are core answers of the puzzle that contain the theme, which, in this case, is something you might find in a casino (there’s a free hint for ya!).
The Clues Contain More Information Than You Think
Clues are, of course, hints to the answers that will fill the grid. But they have additional micro-hints that can help you solve. For example, the tense of the clue will always match the form of the answer.
The clue “Ran to the store” features a past-tense verb (ran), so the answer will also be past tense. It could be “shipped,” but it couldn’t be “shop.” Similarly, a clue containing an abbreviation means the answer is also an abbreviation. “Airport security org.” could be a clue for “TSA.” For more on crossword clue conventions, read the NYT guide on the topic. Some publications have different standards, but this is a helpful first stop.
Is It Cheating To Look Things Up?
Some crossword puzzlers will say the answer to this question is a definitive “yes.” That’s their prerogative. I say, “You do you.” I solve at least three major puzzles per week (in addition to creating many). If I’m truly stumped on a trivia-based clue after multiple tries, I’ll look it up. The real answer here is that as long as you’re having fun solving the puzzle, there’s no need to frustrate yourself with needless restrictions.
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