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April 12, 2026 
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In their constructor notes for this puzzle, Lance Enfinger and John Kugelman wrote: “Our originally submitted theme set contained several of the entries included in the final puzzle, as well as several entry/clue pairs that created some inconsistencies in the execution because of placement of the initials or ambiguity in the cluing. Thankfully, the editors saw enough potential to let John and me workshop the theme set it if we had some alternatives. So we sent along our set of alternate choices and allowed the team to select from them.” To see those alternatives, as well as to get tips and insights into this puzzle, check out the Wordplay column.
Puzzles You May Have Missed
Crossplay Tip
Look for “hooks” on existing words: If the word FIN is on the board, it’s easy to notice that you can play a word containing an S to “hook” the end of FIN and turn it into FINS. Your score for this play is the total of your main word plus the value of FINS. It’s less obvious that you can also make a word that includes D, E, or K to make FINE or FINK or FIND. Some hooks are very sneaky, like adding an S to CARES to make CARESS.
Connections Quandary
Here’s the hardest category from Monday, April 6. What connects these four things? See the answer in the P.S.
Strands
Last week’s hardest Strands puzzle was TAKING THE HELM, from Tuesday, April 7 — 82.48 percent of solvers were able to complete it.
Last week’s easiest Strands puzzle was WE’RE GOING UNDER COVER, from Wednesday, April 8 — 92.62 percent of solvers were able to complete it.
Strands puzzles last week — from April 3 to 9 — were roughly equal in difficulty compared with those from the week before.
Wordle Weekly Recap
Hardest word: ENVOY, from Sunday, April 5.
Average guesses: 4.51, with 13.77 percent of players solving in three or fewer.
Easiest word: SANDY, from Saturday, April 4.
Average guesses: 3.88, with 37.63 percent of players solving in three or fewer.
The Wordle answers last week — from April 3 to 9 — were a little bit easier than those from the week before.
Spelling Bee Hive
Overall, the Spelling Bee hives last week — from April 3 to 9 — were significantly easier than those from the week before. Of our subscribers who played last week, 48.66 percent hit Genius at least once.
Last week’s hardest puzzle: Thursday, April 9, had the hardest pangram, with only 27.48 percent of users finding it.
Thursday’s pangram: EFFACEMENT
Letter set: C A E F M N T
Relax With Us
This past Thursday was my birthday — hold your applause though, I’m not one for fanfare. This weekend I’ll be going to a classical music concert across the river in New Jersey, and then eating Brazilian barbecue with my family. I’d say that all of this is at their insistence, but it’s tough to decline two of my favorite things. I often say that the best gift for someone else is really a gift for yourself, and taking someone out for a good meal fits that category well.
How are we doing?
We’d love your feedback on this newsletter. Please email thoughts and suggestions to crosswordeditors@nytimes.com.
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P.S. The answer to the Connections Quandary is that they are all musicals with the last letter changed.
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