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New York Times, Monday, March 2, 2026

Author:
Leslie Benson
Editor:
Will Shortz
Blog:
Obsessor over "the precious" in Tolkien lore
TotalDebut
13/2/2026
SunMonTueWedThuFriSat
0100000
ScrabDebutFlowFresh
1.62130.219%
Leslie Benson

This puzzle:

Rows: 15, Columns: 15 Words: 76, Blocks: 40 Missing: {JQXZ} This is the debut puzzle for Ms. Benson. Grid flow: 30.2 Monday freshness: 57%
Leslie Benson notes:
HEY EVERYONE, IT'S MY DEBUT PUZZLE! Ahem. Sorry to yell, I'm just so excited and, given the theme, I figure one sentence of all caps ... read more
Jim Horne notes:

Umpires do yell STRIKE (25-Across). Starting this year, Major League Baseball will be using robo-umps to help make those calls. Should be interesting.

1
D
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A
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N
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L
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A
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M
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I
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O
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L
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R
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P
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F
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H
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A
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A
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A
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P
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S
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I
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K
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R
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O
M
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S
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F
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R
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N
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E
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T
O
M
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B
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A
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B
A
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D
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G
I
V
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A
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S
H
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U
T
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U
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T
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A
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L
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C
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E
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S
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P
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A
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S
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G
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A
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S
T
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K
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A
C
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I
O
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P
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L
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A
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N
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O
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Y
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R
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R
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L
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A
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A
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A
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M
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T
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W
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O
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L
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F
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D
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N
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H
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B
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C
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A
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E
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G
O
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U
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S
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H
O
K
E
Y
© 2026, The New York Times3/2/26 ( No. 27,873 )
Across
1
Leave behind, informally : DITCH
6
Read, as a bar code : SCAN
10
Happy as a ___ : CLAM
14
The Potato State : IDAHO
15
Bit of dialogue : LINE
16
Seized vehicle, in brief : REPO
17
Hint at, as what's to come : FORESHADOW
19
Sitting on : ATOP
20
Parisian river : SEINE
21
Wedding walkway : AISLE
22
Figs. that include interest : APRS
25
Hit the jackpot, so to speak : STRIKEGOLD
28
Hotel units : ROOMS
30
Distant : FAR
31
Refusals : NOS
32
Place in a pyramid, as a mummified pharaoh : ENTOMB
34
"There's no such thing ___ publicity" : ASBAD
36
Acknowledge during a broadcast, say ... and a hint to the shaded squares : GIVEASHOUTOUT
40
Brings home the bacon : EARNS
41
Tres ___ cake : LECHES
43
Dads : PAS
46
Popular coastal destination in India : GOA
47
Bird featured on many baby shower decorations : STORK
48
Sequence of steps to accomplish a goal : ACTIONPLAN
53
"Good heavens!" : OHMY
54
In the countryside : RURAL
55
Toward the back : AREAR
57
Tiny unit of matter : ATOM
58
Wild canid of the Great Lakes region : TIMBERWOLF
63
Foxholes, e.g. : DENS
64
Drifter : HOBO
65
Committee head : CHAIR
66
Therefore : ERGO
67
The Beatles' "Back in the ___" : USSR
68
"The ___ Pokey" (children's dance song) : HOKEY
Down
1
"What's the ___?" ("Who cares?") : DIF
2
Wedding vow : IDO
3
Black goo : TAR
4
Knight captures bishop, e.g. : CHESSMOVE
5
Garden faucet attachment : HOSE
6
Bias : SLANT
7
Fermented apple juice : CIDER
8
Year on the Yucatán : ANO
9
Just purchased : NEW
10
Daniel ___, 007 portrayer : CRAIG
11
Divulges : LETSON
12
Moon-landing program : APOLLO
13
Bikes with small engines : MOPEDS
18
___ and hers : HIS
21
Infuses with bubbles : AERATES
22
"Things ___ looking up!" : ARE
23
Ping's partner : PONG
24
Indian flatbread : ROTI
26
"In that case ..." : IFSO
27
Afghan capital : KABUL
29
Obsessor over "the precious" in Tolkien lore : SMEAGOL
33
British nobleman : BARON
34
Sounds of satisfaction : AHS
35
Sci-fi series with a "Time Lord" traveling in a TARDIS : DOCTORWHO
37
"___, crackle, pop" : SNAP
38
"Yikes ...!" : UHOH
39
Glossary component : TERM
42
Where the stars are : SKY
43
Veterans Day event : PARADE
44
Sharper : ACUTER
45
Muscular : STRONG
49
"You are not!" retort : IAMSO
50
Baby sheep : LAMBS
51
___ Day (tree-planting celebration) : ARBOR
52
Maiden name preceder : NEE
56
Part of a foot : ARCH
58
Wed. follower : THU
59
Apple platform : IOS
60
Sturdy bookcase material : OAK
61
What one should let sleeping dogs do, proverbially : LIE
62
Word after deep, stir or small : FRY

Answer summary:
1 unique to this puzzle, 1 unique to Modern Era but used previously.

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