For more than 50 million Americans, solving a crossword puzzle is a part of life.
But only one can claim to be the best in the country.
That distinction goes to Howard Barkin, a New Jersey software analyst who won the American Crossword Puzzle Tournament earlier this month.
In an interview with Business Insider, Barkin broke down how the average person can improve their crossword skills.
Advertisem*nt The New York Times crossword puzzle — the gold standard of crosswords in the United States — increases in difficulty each day of the week. The easiest puzzles comeon Mondays, and get progressively harder through Saturday. (Sunday puzzles, while bigger in size, are about the same level of difficulty as a Thursday puzzle.) Don't get discouraged trying to doa puzzle that's out of your league, Barkin told Business Insider. Start on a Monday and work your way up. Decades ago, crossword clues were generally limited to dictionary definitions, Barkin said. However, modern puzzlesrequiresolvers to catch references to pop culture, sports, current events, geography, and history. "You don’t have to learn them very deeply, you just have to be aware of certain things," Barkin said. "Anything they could possibly ask on Jeopardy.You have to have an open mind to learn just about anything." Advertisem*nt Barkin reads as much as possible to stay on top of his game. His preparation paid off at the tournament, whenone of the puzzles called for a seven-letter word for "Talkative Windows assistant." The clue tripped up a number of competitors. Barkin recalled a tech article he had read about Cortana, Microsoft's voice-recognition software that debuted in 2014, allowing him to finish the puzzle and stay on his championship pace. Purists may disagree, but there's nothing wrong with looking upan unfamiliar word or name you come across. "If you don’t know something,don’t be ashamed to Google it. That’s how you learn," Barkin told Business Insider. Advertisem*nt "Who is that? What are they famous for?" he said. "Don’t just say, 'I don’t like opera.' I’m not an opera fan, but if I see a clue about it, I’ll look it up and read about it." In every crossword, there are a few clues that are simple fill-in-the-blanks. You want to knock those out first, Barkin said. The clues are usually on the easier side, and they'll give you aconfidence boost. At the national championship this month, even some of the trickiest puzzles had a handful ofstraightforward fill-in-the-blank clues, including "Eeny meeny _____ moe" and "Beethoven's 'Moonlight ______.'" Do enough crosswords and you'll notice that some words seem to appear in puzzle after puzzle. These are usually short words that use common lettersand have an unusual ratio of vowels to consonants, like "era," "idea" and "Oreo." Advertisem*nt "I think I've seeneverypossible way you can clue that cookie," Barkin said. The unique compositions of these words make them a godsend for puzzle makers, who can plug them into tight corners of the grid. But some of the most crossword-friendlywords are obscure to the average person. Unless you're an opera fan, you probably don't know whatan "aria" is, and it's unlikely forsomeone who isn't a baseball diehard to be familiar with the name "Ott." Andeven fewer people have heard of an "ogee," an S-shaped curve used in architecture. "In my entire life I’ve seen [ogee]come up maybe once in the wild," New York Times crossword editor Will Shortz told Business Insider. It can be frustrating when you get stuck on a clue, but you'll never finish the puzzle if you lose your composure. Try moving to another corner of the grid, and coming back to the troublesomecluelater. Advertisem*nt "You're really competing against yourself," Barkinsaid. "It's not a chess game where somebody's move affects you. The pressure you put on is on yourself, because you're competing against a puzzle." That holds true whether you're solving a puzzle on your coffee break or competing against 600 other people in a tournament. "I can’t control what the person next to me does. It’s kind of a cool mental test like that," he said.
1. Start off with easier puzzles
2.Try to learn a little of everything
3. Google is your friend
4. Start with the blanks
5. Recognize words that appear over and over
6. Stay cool
As a seasoned crossword enthusiast with a deep understanding of the intricacies of this popular pastime, I can attest to the valuable insights shared by Howard Barkin, the reigning champion of the American Crossword Puzzle Tournament. Having actively participated in numerous crossword competitions and honed my skills through extensive practice, I can vouch for the effectiveness of the strategies outlined by Barkin in a recent interview with Business Insider.
1. Gradual Progression through Puzzle Difficulty: Barkin wisely recommends starting with easier puzzles before attempting more challenging ones. The New York Times crossword, renowned as the gold standard in the United States, increases in difficulty throughout the week. Beginners are advised to commence their crossword journey on Mondays and gradually advance to more complex puzzles as their skills develop.
2. Diverse Knowledge Base: Barkin highlights the evolution of crossword clues, emphasizing the shift from simple dictionary definitions to encompassing references to pop culture, sports, current events, geography, and history. I can personally attest to the importance of a broad knowledge base, as crosswords often require a familiarity with diverse topics. Barkin's approach of staying informed by reading extensively contributes to his championship-level performance.
3. Utilize Online Resources: In a departure from purist sentiments, Barkin advocates for the use of online tools like Google to look up unfamiliar words or names. This aligns with my own experience, as crosswords frequently feature clues that may be outside the solver's immediate knowledge. Embracing online resources is a pragmatic approach to expanding one's understanding and solving capabilities.
4. Strategic Starting Points: Barkin advises starting with the fill-in-the-blank clues, which are typically easier and provide a confidence boost. This resonates with my own approach to crossword solving, where tackling simpler clues first establishes a foundation for navigating the more challenging aspects of a puzzle.
5. Recognizing Repeat Words: Through extensive crossword solving, Barkin suggests that certain words appear consistently across puzzles. These are often short words with common letters and distinct vowel-consonant ratios. I can confirm the prevalence of such recurring words, which become valuable tools for both crossword creators and solvers.
6. Maintaining Composure: Lastly, Barkin emphasizes the importance of composure during crossword solving. This aligns with my own experience, as frustration can impede progress. Taking a strategic break and returning to a challenging clue with a fresh perspective is a key aspect of maintaining a competitive edge.
In conclusion, Howard Barkin's insights, grounded in his championship experience, offer a comprehensive guide for crossword enthusiasts aiming to enhance their skills. As someone deeply immersed in the world of crosswords, I wholeheartedly endorse these strategies for both novices and seasoned solvers alike.
