Word searches are puzzles that do not require a special level of knowledge. The goal is for the solver to find the words hidden in the grid with the random letters listed and to delete them all one by one. There are four- and eight-way diagrams. Those of the four directions have words horizontally, vertically and vice versa in these two directions. Eight-way diagrams have words arranged in all directions, ie horizontally, vertically, diagonally (from top left to bottom right and from top right to bottom left) as well as vice versa in all these directions. When a diagram does not state somewhere the directions in which the words develop, then the diagram is four-way.
You should start with the simplest Scandinavian and small classic or Italian crossword puzzles and whenever you do not know something, look it up in the encyclopedia or dictionary so that the effort you make to find it helps to memorize it. You can write down the words and definitions you find in a notebook until you find that your level has improved. Then you can move on to more difficult or more complex crossword puzzles with a greater degree of difficulty and more encyclopedic knowledge. Ideal magazines to start with are the monthly magazine KRYMMENES LEXEIS, the bi-monthly GRIFOS SKANDINABIKA, and the weekly magazine SABBATO.
The daisy crossword or beehive is a special crossword puzzle. Its boxes are hexagonal and in a cell arrangement. Only six-letter words are used. Definitions are located inside a central hexagon and words are developed around it. It’s a pretty easy and enjoyable crossword puzzle
American crossword puzzles (as well as cryptographic ones) belong to the group of crossword puzzles without definitions. The words are given sorted by length and the solver tries to find where they enter by observing their length and their intersections on the crossword puzzle grid.
It is the choice of the magazine-style to publish the solutions in the same issue in the specific magazines. There are two reasons. On the one hand, these magazines are published more sparsely (monthly – bimonthly), on the other hand, they are addressed to a different audience than that of the weekly magazines.
A nuclear crossword puzzle is a type of crossword puzzle that consists of essentially two different crossword puzzles that share the same grid. It works like a classic or an Italian crossword puzzle (by definition) and can be a combination of both. The first is located in the center of the grid and is solved independently. The second is solved after the first is solved and develops around the first crossword puzzle. Parts or even whole words are common among crossword puzzles. It is usually one of the difficult crossword puzzles. There are also variants of the nucleus such as one called concentric which, in addition to the two different crossword puzzles, also includes words in concentric circles around the perimeter, defined by separate definitions.
American crossword puzzles (as well as cryptographic ones) belong to the group of crossword puzzles without definitions. The words are given sorted by length and the solver tries to find where they enter by observing their length and their intersections on the crossword puzzle grid.
Cryptographic crossword puzzles have no numbering of columns, lines, or words. They have neither definitions nor obvious words but only letter numbering and an obvious short word (usually 3 to 5 letters) as a keyword. Starting with the first letter of the keyword, we fill in the letter in any squares that have the same number. A good method not to miss a box is to check and fill in the boxes in sequence, one by one column or row. After filling in all the squares with all the letters that are visible, then we start to guess letters or words based on the letters that appear and their intersections. Some cryptographic puzzles have a table at the bottom with numbered positions for the letters, which help the solver use them as a reminder during solving. Some cryptographic crossword puzzles also have a featured person whose name appears on the crossword puzzle. Usually, in these crosswords, the position of the name of the depicted person is strong so that it can be distinguished from the solver and helps to solve the crossword even more easily.
Scandinavian crosswords have the definitions of words in squares located inside the crossword area and not outside it. They also do not have black squares, the role of which is defined. They have definitions that usually do not exceed five in size and are easily considered crossword puzzles.
It is the choice of the magazine to avoid publishing the solutions in the same issue and in fact of great importance. The solutions are published in the next issue to prevent the solvers from the “easy” solution to which they can be led either by choice or by temptation. Solving a crossword puzzle exclusively without aids transforms the mechanical process of completing – solving a crossword puzzle, into a practice experience. Crossword puzzles are mental exercises and have a greater value when they urge the mind to function beyond and more than it normally does, so as to contribute to the improvement of memory but also to the widening of the cognitive horizon of the solver.
