Word Games Plaza: Crosswords

Crosswords is one of the more complex word games. Don't let that put you off, once you have played this the rules are no problem.

Number of Players:

2

Age:

Adult.

Materials:

Pencil & paper for both players. A book or something to keep your sheets separated.

Time:

About 20 minutes

Object of the Game:

To score the most points by making the most words.

To start:

Both players agree on the size of a square or rectangular grid. In the sample game below, it is 4 x 4. The grid is filled with about 15% of black squares. After this, the players hide their sheets from each other.

How to Play:

The end:

When the grid has been filled, the game ends.

Winning:

Points are awarded: 1 point for each existing word. None existing words do not give any points.

Variations:


Sample game:

X
X

Jennifer and John agree on playing in a 4 x 4 grid. 2 Squares, in the table above marked with an X, are made black.

Turn 1:

Jennifer calls out the letter T and fills it besides the top X. John  fills it in below the top X:

Jennifer
X T
X

John:
X
T
X

Turn 2:

John mentions the letter P and fills it below his T. Jennifer fills it below the top X.

Jennifer
X T
P
X

John:
X
T
X
P

Turn 3:

Jennifer mentions C and fills this at the top right corner. John puts out of the way, somewhere.

Jennifer
X T C
P
X

John:
X C
T
X
P

Turn 4:

John mentions A and fills it before the C, trying to make ACE. Jennifer puts it below her T.

Jennifer
X T C
P A
X

John:
X A C
T
X
P

Turn 5:

and so on. After a quarter of an hour they end up with:

Jennifer
X T I C
P A I N
E L X R
A E I E

John:
X A C E
T I E R
I E X I
P L A N

Jennifer scores:

Tic 3, Pain 4, tale 4, el 2, pea 3, for a total of 16 points.

John scores:

Tip 3, ace 3, tier 4, plan 4, making a total of 14 points. There is some discussion on erin. Jennifer claims that this is a boys name, and that names don't count. John claims this is another word for ireland. Jennifer notes that they had agreed beforehand that geographical names do not count either and wins the dispute and the game.

(This goes another time to show that

a) a dictionary is necessary and

b) rules hould be agreed beforehand on what words are acceptible)