Games World of Puzzles January 2021

“I’ll take ‘Magazines’ for $1,200, Alex.” “Okay. The answer is: ‘The December 2020 issue of this publication features a diverse assortment of pencil puzzles, including original types found nowhere else. It also offers 16 pages of full-color articles, game reviews, a contest, and much more.’” “What is GAMES WORLD OF PUZZLES?” “Correct! You are now in the lead with $32,000.” Admit it: If you’re an avid puzzler, you’ve daydreamed about what it would be like to be a contestant on Jeopardy! Surely your wealth of knowledge accumulated over years of solving puzzles would make you a shoo-in to earn a spot on the show. Well, as it turns out, it’s a little more complicated than that. Our feature article this month, Andrew Parr’s “Now Entering the Studio…,” details the Jeopardy! experience from start…

Each answer word in this crossword variation has two clues leading to it, using different meanings of the word. The clues are separated into Across and Down, but are otherwise ordered randomly. When you find two Across clues or two Down clues that seem to have the same answer, add up their clue numbers to determine the place in the grid at which the answer should be entered. For example, if the clue for 1-Across were “Metallic element” and the clue for 17-Across read “Starring role,” the answer would be “lead,” which would go in 18-Across (1 + 17). Note: Tags such as “Hyph.” and “2 wds.” have been omitted. ACROSS 1 Labor group 2 Blackjack dealer’s containers 3 Slightly sticky 4 Not as weighty 5 Spelunkers’ hangouts 6 Hallway 7 Milky Way, e.g. 8 Song from Funny Girl 9 “Holy…

There is one place for each letter of the alphabet in the 26 empty squares of each blank column in the diagram below. Fill in each letter so that a word of at least five letters is formed reading across only. Not all of the letters to the left and right of the empty box are used; it’s up to you to determine which ones are needed to complete familiar words. Some letters may fit in more than one of the empty squares to complete words, but we only came up with one arrangement that would complete a word in each row. Maybe you’ll find a better solution. Proper names are not allowed. ANSWERS 4 I 52-SKIDDOO…

In this comic strip, all the dialogue has been converted into a cryptogram. That is, each letter of the alphabet has been consistently replaced by another letter throughout the cartoon. For example, if G represents V in one word, it will represent V in every word. Look for distinctive letter patterns and punctuation to help you get started. ANSWERS 6 I CRYPTO-FUNNIES Panel 1: Well, now, Mr. Jones. What is troubling you? Sometimes I feel like the whole world is in chaos, Doctor. Panel 2: Really? I often feel that we’re really just a toy in some giant cosmic game. Panel 3: At any moment forces we can’t imagine will set us wildly spinning off on some random and uncontrollable course! Panel 4: Goodness, Mr. Jones, you’ve certainly got a vivid imagination!…

ACROSS 1 Hibernation stations 6 Pertaining to birds 11 Make an attempt 14 Small bay 15 Milk: Prefix 16 Fish eggs 17 1980 World Series winning manager: 2 wds. 19 Town southeast of Oklahoma City 20 Bowlers’ hangouts 21 Food-chopping gadget 23 More yummy 26 “Grand” Arizona attraction 27 Have in mind 28 Law & Order’s Dennis 30 Ripened 31 Straightedge 32 Masked man on the baseball field 35 Gun the engine 36 Country music star Brad 38 Red or Yellow 39 Pub order 40 Margarita garnishes 41 “The Man” Musial 42 Approached 44 Making a final chess move 46 Groups of eight 48 Begrudges 49 In a cagey way 50 City that falls into this puzzle’s theme 52 Ashby or Linden 53 Nicole Richie’s costar on The Simple Life: 2 wds. 58 Poet’s “before” 59 Cry of defeat 60 Pebble 61 Swiss river 62 Like old bread 63 Hurled DOWN 1 Casserole cover 2 Santa ___, CA 3 Feeling lousy 4 Belonging to the same family 5 Lenin’s successor 6 Tattered Tom author…

Solving word puzzles is usually more of an art than a science. Accordingly, the answer to each clue below is a word or name containing the letters ART. For example, the answer to the clue “Fireplace” would be HEARTH, while “Disney’s Pumbaa, for one” leads to WARTHOG. You’ve done a state-of-the-art job if you guess all 14 answers! 1. Person who makes maps _________________________________________________________________________________ 2. “I think, therefore I am” philosopher ________________________________________________________________________ 3. Light yellowish-green ______________________________________________________________________________________ 4. Bird associated with pear trees ____________________________________________________________________________ 5. Cocktail mixer ____________________________________________________________________________________________ 6. Hannibal’s land ___________________________________________________________________________________________ 7. NFL signal caller __________________________________________________________________________________________ 8. Kilt fabric _________________________________________________________________________________________________ 9. Ivy League school in New Hampshire ______________________________________________________________________ 10. Star Wars villain ___________________________________________________________________________________________ 11. The fourth Musketeer _____________________________________________________________________________________ 12. Landmark of Athens ______________________________________________________________________________________ 13. Rival of Athens ____________________________________________________________________________________________ 14. Upscale jewelry company ______________________________________________________________________________________ ANSWERS 7 I THE ART OF WORDPLAY 1. Cartographer 2. Descartes 3. Chartreuse 4. Partridge 5. Bartender 6. Carthage 7.…