Games World of Puzzles September 2021

Welcome to the September issue of GAMES WORLD OF PUZZLES! This month is traditionally marked by students’ return to school. And while the pandemic has caused the last year and a half to be anything but traditional, as of press time, many schools were preparing for the return of in-person instruction. This is an important step in a positive direction as we move toward “the new normal.”
Even if your own school days are far behind you, it’s never too late to learn something new—like how to solve cryptic crosswords. Although cryptics may seem mysterious at first glance, Andrew Parr’s new column, “Cryptic Classroom,” will show you how to break down the clues and help you understand the various techniques that constructors use. In the first installment (page 33), Parr focuses on anagram clues, which are probably the easiest to solve for novices. He even provides a mini-puzzle to test your newfound skills. If you’ve always wanted to solve a cryptic crossword but didn’t know how to start, check out this series.
Next, read about the unlikely origins of the card game UNO. Although it’s ubiquitous and hugely popular today, it was once distributed out of the back room of a funeral parlor! That’s just one of the fun facts you’ll learn from Julie Harris’s feature article, “UNO: Taking the World by Storm” (page 34). We continue our look at traditional games with Joe Celko’s “Parcheesi and Variants” (page 38), which explores Parcheesi’s ancient roots. And did you know that classic kids’ games like Sorry! and Trouble are also descended from Parcheesi? Turn to the article to learn more.
Finally, you won’t want to miss any of the treats in the puzzle section. For those in the word puzzle camp, highlights include Patrick Berry’s “Rows Garden” (page 49) and two fiendishly clever variety cryptics: Bob Stigger’s “What’s Love Got to Do with It?” (page 62) and Todd Rew’s “Rows and Columns” (page 63). For those who prefer math and logic, we suggest Margery Albis’s “Domino Theory” (page 54) and Erich Friedman’s “Blackjack Balancing Act” (page 64).
Now, put on your thinking cap and start solving!