Okay, so today I decided to tackle a “backtracks crossword” puzzle. I’d heard of these before but never actually tried one. The idea is kinda cool – it’s like a regular crossword, but instead of just filling in the answers, you also have to figure out where the black squares go.
I started by just reading through all the clues, like I would with a normal crossword. Some of them seemed pretty easy, others… not so much. I picked a few of the shorter, easier-sounding clues and penciled in some potential answers, very lightly, just in case I was wrong.
Then came the tricky part – figuring out the black squares. I noticed that some words were crossing in ways that just wouldn’t work with a standard grid. That’s where the “backtracks” part comes in. I had to erase some of my initial guesses and try different arrangements of black squares to see if I could make things fit.
- It was a lot of trial and error, I’m not gonna lie.
- I spent a good chunk of time just staring at the grid, trying to visualize different possibilities.
- There were moments where I felt completely stuck, like I was going in circles.
But slowly, bit by bit, things started to click. I found a few key words that seemed to lock in place, and that helped me narrow down the possibilities for the black squares around them. It was like a domino effect – once I got a few right, the rest started to fall into place.
The Final Stretch
I kept erasing and redrawing, filling in more words as I went. Finally, I managed to get all the words to fit, and all the black squares in their proper places. It was such a satisfying feeling!
Honestly, it was a lot harder than a regular crossword, but also way more rewarding. It’s like you’re solving two puzzles at once. If you’re looking for a good mental workout, I definitely recommend giving backtracks crosswords a try. Just be prepared to use your eraser a lot!
