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Puzzles for July, 2019
with Jim Horne comments

Mon 7/1/2019
HDTVSUSOFANIL
AEIOULEASTORE
HARUMSCARUMSOD
ALECHEMFLING
HEARYEHEARYE
CALDQSLOEWE
ASADADSLFEEL
MAKEMINEADOUBLE
OPELOOFGLOMS
GUSTOCARBOT
ALEXVANHALEN
DONEEOVAAGAR
ONELOGGINGINTO
REVTREATAVAIL
ERAEBONYBETTE
Tue 7/2/2019
ATEAMOLDIELAM
TIARAFEEDSIWO
MARKRUFFALOZAP
SINTRYBAKE
TAJTWISTAIMED
ASALARKHOPKINS
TIMELINETEEN
ADESTORCHRNA
ESSTWINEBERG
STYENORMALCY
ANTHONYTWIRLER
IBEAMATEINIDO
SAWNSCISGT
LEAJOHNBELUSHI
ERRASTERETHIC
SSTBOSSASUEME
Wed 7/3/2019
HEROMURALAPE
UVEXPOSURELID
LETFREEDOMRING
ASDOIREDOTOE
RCAPUTTS
FOLDERSGAEL
EVAINACORNER
DUDNOVOTEBOO
MIDDLEMANILL
EYEDENTITLE
ATSIXAHA
SOONWEIOMEGA
FINGERSCROSSED
ALLLIQUIDATED
REYITSSOMASS

I don't recall that conversation, but I'm sure Jeff wouldn't lie.

Thu 7/4/2019
OCHOTAPASDESI
LOONAPOLOUNIT
AIRAIDRILLSETA
FLOWNSPECTRAL
SHORTERMEMORY
EXCITESONTO
PROMZAGUPLIT
EAPMARACASITO
EYETOPACAFEW
AGESPRICERS
PAYOURESPECTS
AGUILERABRAVO
SAKSBESTIMEVER
SPOTUNHIPSERB
EENSSEATOSRAS
POW Fri 7/5/2019
GUARRINDFRAT
ONSALENOWGRECO
ASIFICARERETRY
THATSALIEAEROS
SYNPSABADCOP
LETTSPSYCHO
ASFARHIDECOOP
SCAMRELAXLOBE
ERTEARTYDELED
SAFESTSTARS
PIXIESREYBRA
TINCTPHARMAREP
ARGUEAUDIOTAPE
LOESSSLEEPOVER
INREMARSPOLY
Sat 7/6/2019
IPASSTAPEPDA
MONAEIMAXBRUN
DIDJAMOTORBIKE
OSHATBSIBEAM
WOOKIEELPSSKI
NNWNARCOLEPTIC
PABLOCASALS
DECLARATORY
DARLENELOVE
DONEANDDONELAS
RTEIDSFIREAXE
OCCURAFCSTIX
POOPEMOJIATILT
IMONGUACMENLO
TSKMIRETEXAN
Sun 7/7/2019 HIDDEN TACTICS
TIDEPODTHERANGESPRAT
ICONCUROOZESOUTEROSE
KERATINKNIGHTTOBEIGHT
IBMSOREKNEESANNUAL
BLACKANSELSMEDICINE
AUNTIEEMVEXTESTY
RETOTALCHIPSAHOYHIS
DISHONOURANA
BRAVOSPERKUPMAKESIT
OATERMORNRESINPANIC
ADOREAKUTERESAHUMPH
RINDSTABLEDPTSENOTE
DUCATINSETSPYSWINOS
SENESCECHOPUPESTOPS
TSACHEROKEES
BTWNOSFERATUCOWBIRD
IRISHBICGOSSAMER
FANTASIACMAJORWHITE
OCTANEPROMINENTTIS
CHECKMATEINONECOLLARS
AERIEFREETOGOAMPUTEE
LASERLANDEDONABSCESS

I liked this more than Jeff did for a few reasons:

  • I'm a sucker for novelty, and this puzzle is undoubtedly innovative.
  • The layout is a plausible end-game situation.
  • The mate-in-one problem is non-trivial but simple enough for casual players to see.
  • I care less about inelegancies than Jeff does.

Fun fact: this is the first 22x22 NYT crossword.

Update: One of the great things about the Internet (truly) is that when you say something stupid online, you get a flood of responses pointing out your, let's not say abject stupidity, but rather, uh, well, stupid is close. I previously somehow claimed that squares without circles or triangles were not legitimate chess symbols. Not even close. There are extra Rs, an extra N, and even an extra K (We Three Kings!) Even my first comment about innovation is incorrect. Patrick Blindauer created a similar puzzle in 2007 for the New York Sun, edited by Peter Gordon.

Thanks to all our loyal readers who called me out.

Mon 7/8/2019
CAPPIMINGSCAM
LULUNOLIETOGA
ARABPOINTGUARD
PAYGRADEGOALIE
SEAAIRBOOR
MDTPAINTGUN
HOSESBENNYRNA
ARTSPANDGPAIN
SEEPRIUSSANTA
POPGROUPFUN
HILLENGELS
SAFECOPEAGREEN
PARTYGIRLSANNA
ABETUBOLTVIDI
MAYOEMMYSYELL
Tue 7/9/2019
ASYETBEBOPEST
SEEMEOTOESNTH
PASTHISTORYDEI
ECOENSUEIWIN
CORDEDRATFINK
TONIYINMASSES
SKOSHNOYESEMO
CASHMONEY
BOTVEDAYSEGAR
INAFOGDOGARIE
TAXICABESHARP
ELSEYUBANBTU
SICBUNNYRABBIT
ANAISOUTFRAME
TEMNEWMEURGED
Wed 7/10/2019
BIGDAYJABHUM
ORIOLELOSEFACE
DALLASOILWELLS
YEATSBUNALLAH
KIEVSILO
ROCKANDROLLFIB
INHANDEWEAFOR
FAILIMPEILANE
LINECAYGROMIT
ERASTARCHITECT
TOWSAUTO
ISOLEAMPTOSCA
NEWDELHIBANKOF
TREETOADOCCULT
OARSUBSTEADS
Thu 7/11/2019
OFFSSWABBCCS
DRAWAISLEBOHO
DEZIMOTSUCCRAP
SEEMEHERODNTH
CABSTNEDUTS
WHATIFSOLACE
WHUPKOITHORN
HEMDEGNEVAPBA
ONAIRCSILION
INTOTOPOLEAX
GNITSIXELOT
ARTSETATOSAKA
DOITRETEPTNIAS
OMENSAUTEOMNI
TESTMPEGTEES
POW Fri 7/12/2019
STARSHIPSSONIA
CHICKASAWAXONS
RELAYRACEMESSI
UTEDWEEBNETS
BADPRTAMSEA
RIMFETATRI
TOBECONTINUED
WHATSHOULDIDO
CHEMICALPEELS
REMPANSSNL
ERASLCSALEM
SETHSEVENOVA
TAROTDATAMINER
EMILEINAMOMENT
DIXIETELEPORTS
Sat 7/13/2019
NESTCEPASAMPAS
ALPHAMALELARCH
MAUIWOWIEAGITA
AIRSJAGANIMAL
TNTHITHERCELL
HESSETACOROW
CALITANLINE
CLOROXENROBE
CHITOWNNEAR
HUMFRATMERCH
IGOREYECUPAHA
CARATSJONETAL
ALIVECANDYGIRL
NUDESINDIEGOGO
AGENTGOODASNEW
Sun 7/14/2019 ARE WE FINISHED?
RAPEAGERSCAMCACAO
APESAGAVEKALEATOLL
ISTHISABADTIMERLEMME
DEPOSITSDUMPSLIMBS
RENEETERAHIPPO
ABORTSWORKSFROMHOMER
DEJATHAIKRONOSENO
ELECTISLAMEWESHANG
PICKUPTHEPACERVALUE
TETLAMAPULPTHATSIT
CITADELORPHEUS
RIPOPENNEATORALODE
ETHOSWATCHYOURTONER
APOPEDAMLEERSSHIER
CRTSTEREOSETSGORE
TOOKTHEPLUNGERWARNED
BERETTOESSAVOR
SORERHELENCODEWORD
GIMMEFIVESECONDRULER
ORBITEDITVOCALPLAN
TESTSEELSADORESRO
Mon 7/15/2019
CALFROSYRAIDS
ARIEOPIEEPCOT
BUZZWORDSPREGO
GAZAYENTAABU
PURESTBOBSAGET
OLDSAWSSTBEDE
WASBILGEUSSR
PIXIEDUST
OATHTOASTFUM
REHEATMERGING
CREWNECKREESES
HAMGLOATELSA
ATALLSHORTCUTS
ROGUEELIEAREA
DRIVECOLAPEND
Tue 7/16/2019
ABRAAABLE
LAOSAVAMAID
TTOPACELAATOI
ATFAMERICATNT
REGALEDADSALES
DANESACAMEL
JARTSALAPADME
ANDIARENATRES
NEEANTENNAEST
DYNASTYENMASSE
JESSIEEENSIE
FACEPLANT
AFRAMEBUILDINGS
BROSDANCECOOK
SOOTENTERSWAY

The notches in the top of the grid here qualify this crossword for our Odd Shaped Grids page. Even with those six square carved out, we still don't have correct grid art. You'll see on the PDF (NYT subscription required) that there should be an additional black square sitting above the middle of the top row to make it look more like a complete A-frame roof.

Wed 7/17/2019
FOURMATSPHASE
CONEEMITHOLLA
CHOCOLATEDRIER
PITSLRSABEL
REPRESENTATIVE
NINEAMARISE
ACESEATINTO
BEDERRANDSEEK
TEAMUSASYNE
YOULLRATEDG
PENNYDREADFULS
ELSESUVSAPE
ALISTLANDROVER
RADIOEDENREPO
STENOSERASLAW
Thu 7/18/2019
COATJIBAPTNO
ARCHABELTAROT
SPCAZEESMCATS
THEWIZARDOFID
RADTCMAENEAS
ONENILLIFEOFPI
ANUBISOPT
IMABELIEVER
MARATTLEE
THISISUSENLIST
VISHNUEMTTOI
SOMELIKEITHOT
CACAOEDENWANT
URALSDEBTICEE
ERNSTSYSGARR
POW Fri 7/19/2019
DRYLOOFAASANA
JUMBOTRONCABOT
ESCAPEKEYERNIE
DEANSLISTTOES
KILNAVENGED
MADEDOSKINGAME
EVADEBLEDSTAT
NETDELIRIAIKE
ARIAGUMSLAVER
CANTLOSEWADERS
EGGHASHPENS
EPICPORTHOLES
BJORKIMONAROLL
MOOSENAVALBASE
WELTYKNOPEFEW
Sat 7/20/2019
SPAMBOTSPACMAN
HOMECUREUSHAPE
OHIGETITRAIDED
PLEASGTPEPPER
DRELAMSAIL
FEETERASSTU
PITTTRITETIX
AHTHISISTHELIFE
JOSELROYSONS
ANTDEAFJANK
REOSDNCAWE
CATTREATSWEAN
HATARITOPFORTY
USERIDATEALIVE
BEERMENERDFEST
Sun 7/21/2019 FIFTY YEARS ON
TSASCANTRANATMAT
RIPSAUDIOALERTMAUI
OTOHTRANQUILITYANTE
OSLOSAGUMSGILNOOB
PALEOTELEPATHSOUNCE
ETONOOSEASTINTRA
ROEEARAPARTEVEHAM
SPLASHARAMAICEGRETS
EDMUNDRBGYESIAM
NIVEACOOKIEJARADORE
PRELLARMSTRONGNIOBE
RENALANARIOTONIC
ISPENACTEDELS
IHADTODISABLEBEERME
MUDEELSPBSNBATEAM
ARMPOOLSGRASPIII
CLICFOODCHAINGNAT
THEEAGLEHASLANDED
ITSAGOIDLESSEAENEAS
NOTIONNOTATEDSTEELE
SMOMSNAPESSTRAP

Congratulations Jeff Chen on hitting the Century mark. One hundred NYT crosswords is no small feat. I hope he plans a wild celebration. Careful, though. Jason Mueller is only 94 behind.

You can see where Jeff ranks in our list of most prolific constructors.

Mon 7/22/2019
CAPDEERDODGED
RIOIDLEORIOLE
ESPRUMMAGESALE
ELUDEURNCLAP
PELICANSTATE
AETNAPERILS
RATSADOSENDOW
ALISTILTONIRA
STOVEREUPPOEM
PONIEDDEBIT
SKINNYDIPPER
AUDISAOSERTA
WHATSMYNAMEOUT
EUROPAOPECODE
SHERYLSENTFED
Tue 7/23/2019
ABSENTSWALLOW
DOODAHKARAOKE
EXCUSESEXCUSES
NYCMEDRED
ESTERDYE
MARCUSAURELIUS
ATBATNAPCHE
CRAMGROWHEHE
AILBAASEDUM
WALRUSMUSTACHE
AMPNEURO
SAPPIGFDA
JUSTTHETWOOFUS
UPTONOWASLEEP
GEORGESYODELS
Wed 7/24/2019
ADOATPARLEGAL
BENDIANEABODE
INEALGALMONDO
TONAMEACOUPLE
OTISNEAPAGED
FELLINIDREIMO
ORANGALARMS
TOPUTITMILDLY
LEVELAOASIS
AREESTSEEALSO
WIRYHAUTLOOT
TOSAYTHELEAST
ERIKALEELATOE
GAMESORALBHOR
OPELSRIDESENS

I like this one more than Jeff does because the theme is delightful.

Tell me if this analogy works for you. If Jeff and I were hired to be Olympic judges, he'd handle figure skating pairs and I'd take care of ice dancing. The two categories seem similar, but one focuses more on technical merit, and the other on artistic impression. If a puzzle has a slight wobble when landing the triple axel, Jeff would mark down his score while I might not even notice, being caught up in the beauty of the flow between moves instead.

That makes Jeff more sophisticated than me. On the other hand, I'm a better hockey player so why listen to him?

Thu 7/25/2019
STRAWBASSCSI
ORISITABLEREN
MOBILEYEARAPP
ADSALESTVMOVIE
MINAJOCEAN
ADAASTUDENT
REALMAMISOBIE
ECHOONPOPPARK
SOSOPIERGIJOE
PETCRATEAND
INDEXSMART
TORRENTARMOIRE
SKITOWNPATROL
OILERIESNEAKS
KALRITZESQUE
POW Fri 7/26/2019
FOOLZEBRAFINCH
EDNAAQUAMARINE
LOISFUZZYNAVEL
TROTTAZOETD
ENTAILROMAN
SARONGTBILL
ATILTCHALKLINE
GENERICTWIX
ORGANBANKTHANE
VERBSPIANOS
MEARAMUSTNT
ELIPHILJACK
CASTASPELLASHE
ONEIDALAKEZEKE
NARCOLEPSYZEAL
Sat 7/27/2019
BOINGHEADER
ENCORECURSIVE
TEEBOXRELIEVES
TIDEWATERACCENT
ADULTMALESROO
SAPPHIRESBBGUN
RANATFILET
HIRESJANUS
RAZEDBARGE
MEDEACRIMEBOSS
AMFTEENPEOPLE
LOANTRANSLATION
AVIARISTOTTAWA
LETTUCEWELTER
ASHLEEREEDY
Sun 7/28/2019 ANAGRAMMAR
LAMPSBERGSTOPTHEFT
OZARKLMAOCHARHELIO
REKEYATMOSPHEREERROL
DREAMONIBERIANAMEONE
EARMARKSEGOSRUBAIYAT
BLASTFROMTHEPAST
CELLTAIOCTKISS
COTEMARSHISAIDSITH
ACHFORTHEMOSTPARTNAY
ROYALWEWOOLLEOPARD
BALROGSONDHEIMXPRIZE
MOLTEDAPIECE
CHRISTOPHERMARLOWE
TAHOEKARAOKEBARARRAY
SCALDSXMENSTANCE
ACMEPRIMROSEPATHPICA
RIPRODEOGUSTOERR
IDAMIXEDMETAPHORSPEZ
NEGRONISAXEDEPIPHYTE
ANNETTENATESNARLER
STENTSAMESGREEDO
Mon 7/29/2019
BIGIFSKINWEST
ARESOTACOEXPO
BALLPLAYERREIN
ANTEERATERRE
PARKVISITOR
GETBUSYEBAN
ATALLHEELEAK
TRIALCOURTJUDGE
EELSASHICARE
TONSMILKMAN
JAZZPIANIST
ADIOSUSEBAAS
PENNONTHEBENCH
ALEEROSABANTU
NESSSTOPQUEST
Tue 7/30/2019
SLOTAXISBASKS
TASEPITTDINAH
RUINRIGAMAROLE
IRENEISAYWED
PARISHPRIESTS
STOOLSAUTO
CABARMSFOXIER
STARTUPCAPITAL
IMBUESDENTSLY
SOYSPROTIP
BERNIESANDERS
FLUHOLAGINUP
ROMEOROMEODELA
AMPEDTOTODRED
TESLASNAPYORE
Wed 7/31/2019
TBSPBIBMOTO
EERIEENECARLA
STARTATTHESKULL
MRTSHEARNIP
EASTTWELVEPACES
IRASECASH
COMMANDOTYPEAB
IRAEAXEHOBO
ABROADINTRANET
QUAIDTEAL
SOUTHSEVENSTEPS
ANICLINTNRA
WESTFIVETHENDIG
NUEVAEWESEIZE
PSATSSSTOTE
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