Crossword rules

The grid

A crossword grid is a rectangle of white and black squares. White squares hold letters. Black squares are walls — they separate entries and define the puzzle's structure. Some white squares have small numbers in the top-left corner. Each number marks the start of one or two entries: one reading Across (left to right) and/or one reading Down (top to bottom).

Grid sizes on this site range from 5×5 (mini) through 7×7 (easy), 9×9 (medium), 11×11 (hard and expert), up to 13×13 (einstein). Bigger grids have more entries, longer words, and more places where entries cross each other.

How clues work

Each numbered entry has a corresponding clue. Clues are listed in two groups: Across and Down. The clue tells you which word fits in the entry's cells. At easier difficulty levels, clues are direct definitions. At harder levels, they may use synonyms, misdirection, or require you to infer the answer from context.

The number of cells in the entry tells you the word length. If you are solving 5-Across and there are four white cells before the next black square, the answer is a four-letter word. This constraint, combined with crossing letters from intersecting entries, narrows the possibilities considerably.

Common clue types

• Direct definition — The clue is a simple synonym or description. Example: "Large body of water" → OCEAN.
• Fill-in-the-blank — The clue has a blank to complete a known phrase. Example: "___ and cheese" → MAC. These are often the easiest clues in the puzzle.
• Synonym — The clue uses a word that means the same thing. Example: "Joyful" → HAPPY.
• Category reference — The clue names a category and the answer is a member. Example: "Kitchen appliance" → OVEN.
• Abbreviation clue — If the clue contains an abbreviation or ends with "(abbr.)", the answer is usually abbreviated too. Example: "Doctor (abbr.)" → DR.

Common crossword abbreviations

Certain short words and abbreviations appear frequently in crosswords because they fit many grid patterns. Recognizing them speeds up solving.

How to play on this site

Click or tap a white cell to select it. The cell highlights and the corresponding clue appears in the clue panel. Type a letter — it fills the cell and the cursor advances to the next cell in the entry. When you reach the end of the entry, the cursor stops.

To switch direction (Across ↔ Down), press Space or tap the same cell again. The cursor direction flips and the clue panel updates to show the clue for the new direction. Arrow keys move one cell at a time and auto-switch direction if you press Up/Down while in Across mode, or Left/Right while in Down mode.

Tab jumps to the next unanswered clue. Shift+Tab goes to the previous one. Enter works the same as Tab. Backspace erases the current cell and moves backward.

Keyboard shortcuts

• A–Z — Type a letter into the selected cell
• Arrow keys — Move one cell; auto-switch direction
• Space — Toggle between Across and Down
• Tab / Enter — Jump to next unanswered clue
• Shift+Tab — Jump to previous unanswered clue
• Backspace — Erase current cell, move backward
• U or Ctrl+Z — Undo last action
• Ctrl+Y — Redo
• H — Use a hint

Play modes

• Classic — Timer runs for tracking, but there is no limit. Three hints available. Check Word and Undo enabled. This is the default.
• Timed Trial — A countdown clock. Easy gets 3 minutes, Einstein gets 20. Three hints still available. If time runs out, you can view the solution.
• Challenge — No hints, no checking, no undo. Every letter entry is permanent. Your time is recorded but hidden until you finish.

How hints work

You get three hints per puzzle in Classic and Timed Trial modes. Each press of the Hint button reveals progressively more information about an unanswered entry:

1. First hint: Tells you the answer length and which clue to focus on.
2. Second hint: Reveals the starting letter of the answer.
3. Third hint: Places a correct letter directly into the grid.

Hints target the longest unanswered entry first. Long entries give fewer letters per hint, which keeps the puzzle interesting. After all three hints are used, you can still use Check Word to verify individual entries.

Grid sizes by difficulty

Solving tips

• Fill-in-the-blank clues first. They have exactly one answer and seed crossings across the grid.
• Short words next. Three- and four-letter entries have few possible answers, and each one provides letters for longer crossings.
• Match the clue's grammar. If the clue is plural, the answer is plural. Past tense in the clue means past tense in the answer. Abbreviations in the clue signal an abbreviated answer.
• Use crossing letters aggressively. Every confirmed letter constrains the intersecting entry. Two or three crossings often make a hard clue trivial.
• Skip after 15 seconds. If a clue is not clicking, move on. Come back after you have more crossings filled in.
• Use Check Word to verify before building on an answer. A wrong entry in a dense area contaminates multiple crossings.

For a more detailed breakdown, see the full strategy guide on the crossword hub page.