# What's your New York Times puzzle routine? **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Tags:** board-card-word-game\ **Created:** [April 27, 2026, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-new-york-times-puzzle-routine/1029599 "2026-04-27T17:08:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2026, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-new-york-times-puzzle-routine/1029599/21 "2026-04-27T21:41:32Z")
> [@JKellyMap](#): > > You folks who get EVERY word (is that a Queen Bee?) astound me. That’s something else I forgot to mention. Spelling Bee has a hints page, but I refuse to look at it until I’ve gotten Genius. And even then, I only look at the hints for # of letters and first two letters of the word. (The interactive Spelling Bee Buddy hints page also has verbal clues to help you if you’re really stuck, but I try not to look at those.) Some days I can get Queen Bee after looking at the hints page. But I’ve never gotten Queen Bee without it. ---
**Author:** ![JohnGalt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johngalt/32/184_2.png) [@JohnGalt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnGalt)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2026, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-new-york-times-puzzle-routine/1029599/22 "2026-04-27T21:56:39Z")
I’ll get up, walk the dog, make a run to the grocery store if needed, and THEN when I get home open the Games app. If I did the games first I’m not sure I’d get those things done. Mini - Sudoku (all three levels, from Easy to Hard) Letter box Tiles. By then I’ll take a break, ready for the “real” games. Spelling Bee (to at least Amazing; if I don’t get Genius I’ll think and stew over possible words all day long, and always get to Genius) Wordle Connections Strands. Then the Midi, and finally the full Crossword. Can you tell that I’m retired? There’s been a few times that I have a good Wordle and Connections streak going, only to open the app and see that I didn’t complete the previous day’s puzzles. Those days, I usually had something else going on, and forgot to get to them, or else I’ll get past Spelling Bee and close the app to do errands. Just today I set an alarm on my phone for 9:30 PM as a reminder to finish Wordle at least. ---
**Author:** ![squidfood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a87d85/32.png) [@squidfood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squidfood)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2026, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-new-york-times-puzzle-routine/1029599/23 "2026-04-27T22:05:33Z")
On Saturday morning I’ll print out a week’s worth of crosswords and sit in my (hopefully sunny) garden view spot with a pen and big ol’ cup of coffee - usually get through Mon-Fri in a sitting, then do Sat & Sun on Sunday morning. I’ll do the daily Wordle & Connections - connections can be quite a family collaboration if stuck. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2026, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-new-york-times-puzzle-routine/1029599/24 "2026-04-27T22:11:12Z")
I do Connections and then Wordle with my first coffee, then I play some online chess and study som Spanish on Duolingo. Then I walk the dog and start work. ---
**Author:** ![Manduck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/manduck/32/256_2.png) [@Manduck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Manduck)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2026, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-new-york-times-puzzle-routine/1029599/25 "2026-04-28T00:22:29Z")
> [@Shoeless](#): > > Some days I can get Queen Bee after looking at the hints page. But I’ve never gotten Queen Bee without it. I got Queen Bee without hints exactly one time; that was how I found out that Queen Bee was a thing. It was one of those where there were only 22 words or so. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2026, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-new-york-times-puzzle-routine/1029599/26 "2026-04-28T00:25:12Z")
Today was one of the easier Spelling Bee puzzles in a while. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2026, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-new-york-times-puzzle-routine/1029599/27 "2026-04-28T00:38:44Z")
I get up, make coffee, do Connections to wake up, then Spelling Bee. If I finish that in time, I do Wordle and Strands. Otherwise, I go to work and finish them all there throughout the day as time allows. I do the crossword puzzles as soon as they’re available, 7pm. But not Monday’s crossword - too simplistic. Tuesday is _almost_ too easy, but I enjoy the 5 - 10 minutes of wordplay and distraction. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2026, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-new-york-times-puzzle-routine/1029599/28 "2026-04-28T00:50:12Z")
Every day I do the crossword at Seattle Times (same as NYT but delayed a few weeks, but it’s free and I like the interface), then I do Connections. On weekdays, this happens after I get home from school; on weekends, shortly after I get up. In either case, it’s after webcomics and before the SDMB in my routine. I’ll probably eventually get into Wordle, but there are some calculations I want to do first, that I haven’t yet gotten around to. Maybe this summer. ---
**Author:** ![Kimble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kimble/32/19185_2.png) [@Kimble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimble)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2026, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-new-york-times-puzzle-routine/1029599/29 "2026-04-28T02:30:22Z")
Morning before leaving for work, while walking to work, on breaks, etc.: Spelling Bee, trying to get the pangram first, going throughout the day until I reach Genius without the 4-letter words (unless it looks like Queen Bee is doable; today’s grid with an I-N-G and Z in the middle seems like a candidate, but I’m still like 30 points away). 9 pm (Central Time): Crossword Midnight: Wordle 2 am if I can’t sleep: Spelling Bee Those are the ones that interest me; I typically supplement with [Simon Tatham’s puzzles](https://www.chiark.greenend.org.uk/~sgtatham/puzzles/) as needed instead of doing Connections, Strands, smaller crosswords, etc. ---
**Author:** ![Thumper668](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thumper668/32/20803_2.png) [@Thumper668](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thumper668)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2026, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-new-york-times-puzzle-routine/1029599/30 "2026-04-28T13:06:39Z")
I start Connections first while I’m still groggy. Then I do Wordle. By then I’m on my second cup of coffee and I start Spelling Bee. Most days I get to Queen Bee before 7 am when I take my shower. If it’s not a Monday or Tuesday, I’ll do the Crossword on my lunch break. Saturdays I do it right after I get Queen Bee. Sundays my wife and I do the Crossword together. We used to do it on paper in ink, but lately we’ve been doing it on the iPad mirrored to the TV in the living room. She likes it better when she doesn’t have to write or type anything. ---
**Author:** ![Southern\_Yankee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/southern_yankee/32/2800_2.png) [@Southern\_Yankee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Southern_Yankee)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2026, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-new-york-times-puzzle-routine/1029599/31 "2026-04-28T15:03:46Z")
I make coffee first and then Go Connections / Mini / Midi / Main puzzle. I will often jump to Map Tap or Globle (not NYT games) in between puzzles for a break. ---
**Author:** ![suranyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@suranyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/suranyi)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2026, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-new-york-times-puzzle-routine/1029599/32 "2026-04-28T16:38:55Z")
I do Strands, then Wordle, then Connections. That’s the order in which I like the puzzles, from worst to best. I tried Spelling Bee a few times but I really dislike it. Mainly because I hate anagrams. Can never figure them out. In cryptic crosswords, whenever I suspect an anagram I go straight to an online anagram solver so I don’t waste my time. ---
**Author:** ![Apodder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/apodder/32/17727_2.png) [@Apodder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apodder)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2026, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-new-york-times-puzzle-routine/1029599/33 "2026-04-29T01:43:05Z")
Mini first so I can bounce my head to the success jingle and happy up a little. Then Wordle. Then Connections and lastly, Strands. No idea why that order for the last three but this is how it must be. I have spoken. 😄 ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2026, 12:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-new-york-times-puzzle-routine/1029599/34 "2026-04-29T12:22:54Z")
I do the NYT (regular) crossword daily, typically first thing in the morning. And that is all. Maybe I’m weird, but none of the other types of puzzles has ever grabbed me enough to keep my interest. mmm ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2026, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-new-york-times-puzzle-routine/1029599/35 "2026-04-29T14:30:53Z")
I go to bed just after midnight, so as I’m laying in bed, I’ll do the new Wordle, then Strands, then Connections. If I get stuck on Connections, I’ll put the phone down and revisit in the morning. ---
**Author:** ![Briny\_Deep](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/briny_deep/32/17188_2.png) [@Briny\_Deep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Briny_Deep)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2026, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-new-york-times-puzzle-routine/1029599/36 "2026-04-29T16:32:39Z")
Daily crossword. Make notes on provocations for simmering outrage due to poor cluing, ridiculous obscurity, questionable references, and ho-hum answers. Go visit Rex Parker to be validated afterwards. Grind teeth if it’s one of his college-aged subs, who tend towards unreasonable charity. ---
**Author:** ![suranyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@suranyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/suranyi)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2026, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-new-york-times-puzzle-routine/1029599/37 "2026-04-29T16:57:22Z")
Regarding Rex Parker’s blog about the NYT crossword: A lot of commentators hate the trivia, such as people’s names or obscure places. I disagree. For the more difficult Friday and Saturday puzzles, those items are often my only “in”. While most clues those days can have many possible answers, the name of a particular actress can have only one answer. You just have to know it. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2026, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-new-york-times-puzzle-routine/1029599/38 "2026-04-29T16:58:06Z")
And that one answer is Sela Ward. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2026, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-new-york-times-puzzle-routine/1029599/39 "2026-05-03T23:34:01Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > And that one answer is Sela Ward And that one answer is ~~Sela Ward~~ Teri Garr. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2026, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-new-york-times-puzzle-routine/1029599/40 "2026-05-03T23:39:58Z")
I’m pretty sure that Sela Ward is a more common answer than Teri Garr. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-new-york-times-puzzle-routine/1029599.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-new-york-times-puzzle-routine/1029599.md?page=3)