#boswords fall themeless league

[puzzlenation]

The Boswords Themeless League Returns Soon (Plus Some Puzzle Activism!)

In today's blog post, we spread the word about the upcoming Boswords Fall Themeless League AND a puzzle packet supporting an important cause!

The Boswords summer crossword tournament has been a highlight of the puzzly calendar for years now, but during the pandemic, they also made a splash with their Fall and Spring Themeless Leagues. And registration is now open for the Boswords 2021 Fall Themeless League! If you’re unfamiliar, the Fall Themeless League is a clever weekly spin on traditional crossword tournament-style solving. Instead…

[puzzlenation]

Looking Forward to the Year in Puzzles and Games!

In today's blog post, we spread the word about some exciting puzzly projects already announced for 2021!

We spent this week looking back on the year that was 2020, celebrating the resilience, innovation, creativity, and kindness that makes the puzzle community so unique and remarkable. But today, on the first day of 2021, it feels appropriate to turn our gazes forward instead of back, looking ahead for what’s to come. And for our fellow puzzlers and PuzzleNationers, there are already exciting…

[puzzlenation]

The 2021 Boswords Fall Themeless League: Looking Back

In today's blog post, we look back at the recent Boswords Fall Themeless League!

After two months of challenging, engaging, and thoroughly enjoyable weekly solving, the Boswords 2021 Fall Themeless League came to a close last week. If you’re unfamiliar, the Boswords 2021 Fall Themeless League spreads out a tournament-style solving experience over nine weeks, one themeless crossword per week. Each puzzle is scored based on your answer accuracy (incorrect letters, empty…

[puzzlenation]

How People Used Puzzles and Games to Endure the Pandemic

In today's blog post, we discuss how people used puzzles and games to endure the pandemic!

Puzzles and games have been there for many people during the pandemic. Many puzzle and game companies offered (and continue to offer) “COVID discounts” and giveaways to help people financially impacted by the crisis. Companies released free online or zoom-compatible versions of their products to help people get by. There are all sorts of articles out there about how Dungeons & Dragons and other…

[puzzlenation]

Delving into the 2021 Boswords Tournament Puzzles!

In today's blog post, we delve into the puzzles from the 2021 Boswords crossword tournament!

I finally had a chance to sit down and try my hand at the puzzles from the Boswords Crossword Tournament. Given the talent involved amongst the organizers and constructors — as well as the reliable puzzles featured in the previous three tournaments — I had high expectations, and I was not disappointed. So let’s put those puzzles under the microscope and see what’s what! Practice Puzzle #1: One…

[puzzlenation]

The 2021 Boswords Spring Themeless League: Looking Back

In today's blog post, we look back and share our thoughts on the 2021 Boswords Spring Themeless League!

After two months of challenging, engaging, and thoroughly enjoyable weekly solving, the Boswords 2021 Spring Themeless League came to a close a few weeks ago. If you’re unfamiliar, the Boswords 2021 Spring Themeless League spreads out a tournament-style solving experience over nine weeks, one themeless crossword per week. Each puzzle is scored based on your answer accuracy (incorrect letters,…

[puzzlenation]

Upcoming Puzzle Events! The Spring Themeless League, Plus ACPT Going Virtual!

In today's blog post, we spread the word about upcoming puzzle events like the Boswords Spring Themeless League and ACPT going virtual!

Most years, the puzzle event season starts with the American Crossword Puzzle Tournament in late March/early April, but 2021 is different. We already had the Boswords Winter Wondersolve event last month, and there are plenty of exciting puzzle events on the horizon! Did you know that there’s still time to sign up for the Boswords 2021 Spring Themeless League? It starts Monday night, and you…

[puzzlenation]

Delving into the 2021 Winter Wondersolve Puzzles!

In today's blog post, we delve into the crosswords from the recent Winter Wondersolve Boswords event!

I finally had a chance to sit down and try my hand at the puzzles from the Winter Wondersolve event a few weeks ago. Given the talent involved amongst the organizers and constructors — as well as the reliable puzzles featured in previous Boswords-hosted events — I had high expectations, and I was not disappointed. So let’s put those puzzles under the microscope and see what’s what! Practice…

[puzzlenation]

New to Crosswords? Solve Along With the Try Guys!

In today's blog post, we discuss the recent video where the Try Guys pitted their puzzly skills against @DavidKwong!

As someone who has attended the American Crossword Puzzle Tournament in the past, I can attest to how blisteringly fast some of the top solvers are. And there’s a lot that goes into a top-ranked solving technique. There’s the regular experience of actually solving on paper in pencil (which is very different from solving on a screen), and years of familiarity with crossword tropes, building a…

[puzzlenation]

The PN Blog 2020 Countdown!

In today's blog post, we close out the year with a countdown of our favorite and most memorable blog posts from 2020!

It’s the final blog post of the year, so what do you say we revisit all of 2020 with a countdown of my ten favorite blog posts from the past year! #10 Farewell, Keith I don’t mean to start off this countdown on a sad note by mentioning the loss of fellow puzzler and Penny Dell colleague Keith Yarbrough. Writing this post was incredibly difficult, but I am proud of how it turned out. It served as…

[puzzlenation]

The Boswords 2020 Fall Themeless League Has Come to a Close!

In today's blog post, we share our thoughts on the conclusion of the Boswords 2020 Fall Themeless League!

After two months of delightful weekly solving, the Boswords 2020 Fall Themeless League has come to a close.

If you’re unfamiliar, the Boswords 2020 Fall Themeless League was a clever weekly spin on traditional crossword tournament-style solving. Instead of cracking through a number of puzzles in a single day (or two), the Fall Themeless League consisted of one themeless crossword each week,…

[puzzlenation]

Halfway through the Boswords 2020 Fall Themeless League!

In today's blog post, we share our thoughts as we reach the halfway point of the Boswords 2020 Fall Themeless League!

Last night marked the fifth week of competitive puzzly fun in the Boswords 2020 Fall Themeless League.

If you’re unfamiliar, the Boswords 2020 Fall Themeless League is a clever weekly spin on traditional crossword tournament-style solving. Instead of cracking through a number of puzzles in a single day (or two), the Fall Themeless League consists of one themeless crossword each week, scored…

[puzzlenation]

A New Weekly Crossword League Coming Soon!

A New Weekly Crossword League Coming Soon!

The internet puzzle community has done an impressive job over the last six months of adapting to the social distancing restrictions of the current COVID-19 crisis, with tournaments like Crossword Tournament From Your Couch, Lollapuzzoola, and Boswords successfully going virtual in 2020.

And now John Lieb and Andrew Kingsley, the creative team behind Boswords, have announced a new…

[puzzlenation]

Escape Room-Style Solving From Home!

In today's blog post, we look at a few different ways to enjoy escape room-style solving from home!

[Image courtesy of Yelp.]

Unfortunately, the ongoing global crisis is preventing a lot of people from feeling safe while engaging in communal puzzly events. While crossword tournaments (and events like the upcoming Boswords 2020 Fall Themeless League) have adapted to the online and remote-play spheres, escape rooms haven’t been so lucky.

Sure, some have reopened during this difficult time — and…