How to Improve at Crosswords - 29 July 2021 New York Times Crossword

The video begins with Chris Remo introducing himself and the date, July 29th, 2021. He welcomes viewers to his New York Times Crossword Daily Solve for Thursday puzzles, noting the increasing difficulty as the week progresses. Chris addresses viewer comments from the previous day's Wednesday puzzle, discussing the challenges faced by those who typically stick to easier puzzles. He shares insights from Carson Roach Howell and John Rademan, who express their struggles with harder puzzles. Chris talks about his own journey with crosswords and how it took him time to become proficient, especially with Friday and Saturday puzzles. He emphasizes the importance of practice and learning from the puzzles, even if it means looking up answers, and how crosswords can help mitigate dementia effects due to their brain-stimulating nature.

Chris continues his discussion on crossword solving, mentioning the 'crosswordese' or words that only appear in puzzles. He acknowledges that these can be challenging but are necessary for constructing complex puzzles. He shares his approach to solving puzzles, which involves skipping around until he finds a section he can solve. Chris also talks about the different types of knowledge and skills used in crosswords, such as trivia, language facility, and making associations. He highlights the value of crosswords in enhancing language agility and exposing solvers to new knowledge. Despite the difficulty, Chris encourages viewers to enjoy the challenge and not be afraid to look up answers.

Chris describes his methodical approach to tackling the crossword, mentioning specific clues and his thought process as he attempts to fill in the blanks. He discusses various answers he's considering, such as 'ussr' for a UN Security Council founding member and 'Tesla' as a potential answer related to Nikola Tesla. Chris also reflects on the importance of thinking about words in different contexts and not just the most obvious ones. He expresses surprise at some of the answers he encounters and the satisfaction of solving tricky clues.

Chris focuses on specific clues and answers within the puzzle, such as the school Warren Buffett attended (Wharton) and a misanthrope from Victorian literature (Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde). He talks about the challenge of identifying themes in the puzzle and the satisfaction of solving them. Chris also discusses the importance of understanding the structure of crossword clues and how they can be misleading or require a deeper understanding of language and context.

Chris solves more of the puzzle, mentioning the Chinese artist and political activist Ai Weiwei. He also discusses the difficulty of certain clues and how they require a broader knowledge base. Chris talks about the importance of balance in crosswords, both in terms of difficulty and in the distribution of clues across different knowledge areas. He also reflects on the process of solving crosswords and how it can be both challenging and rewarding.

Chris continues to work through the crossword, focusing on clues related to Civil War ships and the term 'ironclads.' He discusses the importance of military history knowledge in solving crosswords and the potential for confusion with similar terms. Chris also talks about the NATO phonetic alphabet and how it relates to a specific clue in the puzzle. He reflects on the process of elimination and the use of cross-references to solve difficult clues.

Chris solves more clues, including ones related to playwrights and newscasters. He discusses the challenge of interpreting clues that require a deeper understanding of language and context. Chris also talks about the importance of being aware of cultural references and the potential for misdirection in crossword clues. He expresses admiration for the cleverness of the puzzle constructor and the satisfaction of solving complex clues.

Chris addresses clues related to nature, such as a pond dweller that can regenerate its eyes, which he identifies as a newt. He discusses the importance of being familiar with a wide range of topics, including wildlife, to successfully solve crossword puzzles. Chris also talks about the satisfaction of learning new facts and trivia through the process of solving crosswords.

Chris concludes the puzzle, reflecting on the difficulty and the clever theme involving the word 'fillmore.' He expresses admiration for the puzzle constructor, Trenton Charleston, and the challenging clues. Chris talks about the importance of practice and looking up answers to improve crossword-solving skills. He also encourages viewers to enjoy the series, subscribe to the channel, and consider donating to support the content.

Chris wraps up the video with a reminder of the date and a brief mention of his intention to continue the series despite a potentially busier schedule. He expresses hope that viewers will continue to enjoy the crossword puzzles and the insights they provide. Chris signs off, encouraging viewers to join him for the next day's puzzle and to have a great Thursday.