Past WSJ Crossword Contests & Solutions

This is a place to learn about the Muggles community and some of the terminology we use. It also contains suggested strategies for solving meta crosswords, as well as a repository of all past WSJ crossword contests and solutions.
PastWSJCCsolutions
Posts: 98
Joined: Tue Jan 21, 2020 12:18 pm

#21

Post by PastWSJCCsolutions »

APRIL 2017

PDFs for the original, unsolved Crossword Contest puzzles can be found HERE.

TAKEN IN — LURE — MIKE SHENK AS MARIE KELLY
20170407 WSJCC Taken In.gif

COLLEGE SEARCH — WILLIAM & MARY — MATT GAFFNEY
20170414 WSJCC College Search.gif

QUARTETS — NAME THAT TUNE — MIKE SHENK AS MARIE KELLY
20170421 WSJCC Quartets.gif

WHAT'S THE RIGHT MOVE — WIGGLE — MATT GAFFNEY
20170428 WSJCC What's the Right Move.gif
PastWSJCCsolutions
Posts: 98
Joined: Tue Jan 21, 2020 12:18 pm

#22

Post by PastWSJCCsolutions »

MAY 2017

PDFs for the original, unsolved Crossword Contest puzzles can be found HERE.

THE SECRET WORD — PRIVATE — MIKE SHENK AS MARIE KELLY
20170505 WSJCC The Secret Word.gif

DRIVING YOU CRAZY — DOUBLE-PARKING — MATT GAFFNEY
20170512 WSJCC Driving You Crazy.gif

BON VOYAGE! — BEACH — MIKE SHENK AS MARIE KELLY
20170519 WSJCC Bon Voyage!.gif

SPARE PARTS — GUMMI BEARS — MATT GAFFNEY
20170526 WSJCC Spare Parts.gif
PastWSJCCsolutions
Posts: 98
Joined: Tue Jan 21, 2020 12:18 pm

#23

Post by PastWSJCCsolutions »

JUNE 2017

PDFs for the original, unsolved Crossword Contest puzzles can be found HERE.

CHECKS AND BALANCES — DEPOSIT — MIKE SHENK AS MARIE KELLY
20170602 WSJCC Checks and Balances.gif

THE SHOW-ME STATES — CALIFORNIA — MATT GAFFNEY
20170609 WSJCC The Show-Me States.gif

ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR — BEATLES — PATRICK BERRY
20170616 WSJCC One, Two, Three, Four.gif

CONSERVATION EFFORTS — ENERGY — MATT GAFFNEY
20170623 WSJCC Conservation Efforts.gif

BUYER BE WHERE — COMPANY STORE — MIKE SHENK AS MARIE KELLY
20170630 WSJCC Buyer Be Where.gif
PastWSJCCsolutions
Posts: 98
Joined: Tue Jan 21, 2020 12:18 pm

#24

Post by PastWSJCCsolutions »

JULY 2017

PDFs for the original, unsolved Crossword Contest puzzles can be found HERE.

BACKFLOW — NIGERIA — MATT GAFFNEY
20170707 WSJCC Backflow.gif

INITIAL REACTION — MIDAS — MIKE SHENK AS MARIE KELLY
20170714 WSJCC Initial Reaction.gif

U CAN FIND IT! — FOUR CORNERS (MONUMENT) — MATT GAFFNEY
20170721 WSJCC U Can Find It.gif

STAFF I. D. — BADGE — MIKE SHENK AS MARIE KELLY
20170728 WSJCC Staff ID.gif
PastWSJCCsolutions
Posts: 98
Joined: Tue Jan 21, 2020 12:18 pm

#25

Post by PastWSJCCsolutions »

AUGUST 2017

PDFs for the original, unsolved Crossword Contest puzzles can be found HERE.

MISMATCH — EAGLES — MATT GAFFNEY
20170804 WSJCC Mismatch.gif

EAGLE SCOUT — ARNOLD PALMER — MIKE SHENK AS MARIE KELLY
20170811 WSJCC Eagle Scout.gif

WHO'S MISSING? — JIMMY HOFFA — MATT GAFFNEY
20170818 WSJCC Who's Missing.gif

DOUBLE CROSSING — AGENT — PATRICK BERRY
20170825 WSJCC Double Crossing.gif
PastWSJCCsolutions
Posts: 98
Joined: Tue Jan 21, 2020 12:18 pm

#26

Post by PastWSJCCsolutions »

SEPTEMBER 2017

PDFs for the original, unsolved Crossword Contest puzzles can be found HERE.

NATIONAL TREASURES — SWEDEN — MATT GAFFNEY
20170901 WSJCC National Treasures.gif

A HIGHER POWER — ALGEBRA — MIKE SHENK AS MARIE KELLY
20170908 WSJCC A Higher Power.gif

HEAD COUNT — ST. BASIL'S CATHEDRAL in Moscow — MATT GAFFNEY
20170915 WSJCC Head Count.gif

UNDERDOGS OF FILM — THE LONGEST YARD — PATRICK BERRY
20170922 WSJCC Underdogs of Film.gif

WATERWORLD — ARGO — MATT GAFFNEY
20170929 WSJCC Waterworld.gif
PastWSJCCsolutions
Posts: 98
Joined: Tue Jan 21, 2020 12:18 pm

#27

Post by PastWSJCCsolutions »

OCTOBER 2017

PDFs for the original, unsolved Crossword Contest puzzles can be found HERE.

STATE YOUR NAME — "I AM AMERICA" — PETER GORDON
20171006 WSJCC State Your Name.gif

GETTING UP TO CODE — BOSTON — MATT GAFFNEY
20171013 WSJCC Getting Up to Code.gif

SWIM MEET — LOCH — MIKE SHENK AS MARIE KELLY
20171020 WSJCC Swim Meet.gif

ONE QUESTION, THREE ANSWERS — HUBERT H. HUMPHREY — MATT GAFFNEY
20171027 WSJCC One Question - Three Answers.gif
PastWSJCCsolutions
Posts: 98
Joined: Tue Jan 21, 2020 12:18 pm

#28

Post by PastWSJCCsolutions »

NOVEMBER 2017

PDFs for the original, unsolved Crossword Contest puzzles can be found HERE.

HEAD IN THE CLOUDS — TORNADO — MIKE SHENK AS MARIE KELLY
20171103 WSJCC Head in the Clouds.gif

RESOURCE MANAGEMENT — SETTLERS OF CATAN — MATT GAFFNEY
20171110 WSJCC Resource Management.gif

INEXACT SCIENCE — FARADAY — MIKE SHENK AS MARIE KELLY
20171117 WSJCC Inexact Science.gif

IT'S WHAT'S INSIDE THAT COUNTS — STUFFED CRUST — MATT GAFFNEY
20171124 WSJCC It's What's Inside that Counts.gif
PastWSJCCsolutions
Posts: 98
Joined: Tue Jan 21, 2020 12:18 pm

#29

Post by PastWSJCCsolutions »

DECEMBER 2017

PDFs for the original, unsolved Crossword Contest puzzles can be found HERE.

TOY BOX — CLUE — MIKE SHENK AS MARIE KELLY
20171201 WSJCC Toy Box.gif

CHANGES WERE MADE — OOPS! — MATT GAFFNEY
20171208 WSJCC Changes Were Made.gif

MYSTERY WOMAN — SUE GRAFTON, PERIL and WASTED — PETER GORDON
20171215 WSJCC Mystery Woman.gif

CONNECT THE DOTS — O CHRISTMAS TREE (or O TANNENBAUM) — MATT GAFFNEY
20171222 WSJCC Connect the Dots.gif

PLAY GROUNDS — PAGEANT — MIKE SHENK AS MARIE KELLY ORIGINAL COMMENTS ON 'PAGEANT'
20171229 WSJCC Play Grounds - PAGEANTED.gif
PastWSJCCsolutions
Posts: 98
Joined: Tue Jan 21, 2020 12:18 pm

#30

Post by PastWSJCCsolutions »

JANUARY 2018

PDFs for the original, unsolved Crossword Contest puzzles can be found HERE.

OPPOSITE DAY — IMPOSSIBLE — MATT GAFFNEY
20180105 WSJCC Opposite Day.gif

AS A RULE — TACK — MIKE SHENK AS MARIE KELLY
20180112 WSJCC As a Rule.gif

MARKING TIME — (Chevy) CHASE — MATT GAFFNEY
20180119 WSJCC Marking Time.gif

BREAKDOWNS — FAULT — MIKE SHENK AS MARIE KELLY
20180126 WSJCC Breakdowns.gif
PastWSJCCsolutions
Posts: 98
Joined: Tue Jan 21, 2020 12:18 pm

#31

Post by PastWSJCCsolutions »

FEBRUARY 2018

PDFs for the original, unsolved Crossword Contest puzzles can be found HERE.

MI SEŇORA — SCHEHERAZADE — MATT GAFFNEY
20180202 WSJCC Mi Senora.gif

STREET SMART — THINK — MIKE SHENK AS MARIE KELLY
20180209 WSJCC Street Smart.gif

ET CETERA — Steven SPIELBERG — MATT GAFFNEY
20180216 WSJCC Et Cetera.gif

WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE? — UNLIKE — MIKE SHENK AS MARIE KELLY
20180223 WSJCC What's the Difference.gif
PastWSJCCsolutions
Posts: 98
Joined: Tue Jan 21, 2020 12:18 pm

#32

Post by PastWSJCCsolutions »

MARCH 2018

PDFs for the original, unsolved Crossword Contest puzzles can be found HERE.

MESS KIT — SLOPPY JOE — MATT GAFFNEY
20180302 WSJCC Mess Kit.gif

NONSTARTERS — FIRST — MIKE SHENK AS MARIE KELLY
20180309 WSJCC Nonstarters.gif

HOLLYWOOD INSIDERS — ARGO — MATT GAFFNEY
20180316 WSJCC Hollywood Insiders.gif

UNDERSTATED — SUBLIMINAL — MIKE SHENK AS MARIE KELLY
20180323 WSJCC Understated.gif

MULTIPLE CHOICE TEST — CUBIC YARDS — MATT GAFFNEY
20180330 WSJCC Multiple Choice Test.gif
PastWSJCCsolutions
Posts: 98
Joined: Tue Jan 21, 2020 12:18 pm

#33

Post by PastWSJCCsolutions »

APRIL 2018

PDFs for the original, unsolved Crossword Contest puzzles can be found HERE.

THREE-PART HARMONY — BEN FOLDS FIVE — MIKE SHENK AS MARIE KELLY
20180406 WSJCC Three-Part Harmony.gif

COLORFUL CHARACTER — THE SCARLET LETTER — MATT GAFFNEY
20180413 WSJCC Colorful Characters.gif

CALL OF THE WILD — HEARD — MIKE SHENK AS MARIE KELLY
20180420 WSJCC Call of the Wild.gif

LET'S SPLIT THE LAST ONE — TWO AND A HALF MEN — MATT GAFFNEY
20180427 WSJCC Let's Split the Last One.gif
PastWSJCCsolutions
Posts: 98
Joined: Tue Jan 21, 2020 12:18 pm

#34

Post by PastWSJCCsolutions »

MAY 2018

PDFs for the original, unsolved Crossword Contest puzzles can be found HERE.

PERFECT POSITION — HONE — MIKE SHENK AS MARIE KELLY
20180504 WSJCC Perfect Position.gif

SO THAT'S YOUR GAME! — TENNIS — MATT GAFFNEY
20180511 WSJCC So That's Your Game.gif

CLUED IN — PHILIP MARLOWE — PATRICK BERRY
20180518 WSJCC Clued In.gif

GOING HEAD-TO-HEAD — AT BATS — MATT GAFFNEY
20180525 WSJCC Going Head-to-Head.gif
PastWSJCCsolutions
Posts: 98
Joined: Tue Jan 21, 2020 12:18 pm

#35

Post by PastWSJCCsolutions »

JUNE 2018

PDFs for the original, unsolved Crossword Contest puzzles can be found HERE.

YOU CAN'T BREAK ME — UNDIVIDED ATTENTION — MIKE SHENK AS MARIE KELLY
20180601 WSJCC You Can't Break Me.gif

BORDER CROSSINGS — MAINE or NEW MEXICO — MATT GAFFNEY ORIGINAL COMMENTS FOR June 8 BORDER CROSSINGS
20180608 WSJCC Border Crossings.gif

GO-BETWEENS — OPERATOR — PATRICK BERRY
20180615 WSJCC Go Between.gif

CREATURE FEATURE — 12 MONKEYS — MATT GAFFNEY
20180622 WSJCC Creature Feature.gif

RAINBOW CONNECTION — TEAL — MIKE SHENK AS MARIE KELLY
20180629 WSJCC Rainbow Connection.gif
PastWSJCCsolutions
Posts: 98
Joined: Tue Jan 21, 2020 12:18 pm

#36

Post by PastWSJCCsolutions »

JULY 2018

PDFs for the original, unsolved Crossword Contest puzzles can be found HERE.

FALL READING — "PARADISE LOST" — MATT GAFFNEY
20180706 WSJCC Fall Reading.gif

WOOD WINDS — TAPES — MIKE SHENK AS MARIE KELLY
20180713 WSJCC Wood Winds.gif

MARKING TIME — ZORRO — MATT GAFFNEY
20180720 WSJCC Marking Time.gif

SPLICED OUT — MAD DOCTOR — PATRICK BERRY
20180727 WSJCC Spliced Out.gif
PastWSJCCsolutions
Posts: 98
Joined: Tue Jan 21, 2020 12:18 pm

#37

Post by PastWSJCCsolutions »

AUGUST 2018

PDFs for the original, unsolved Crossword Contest puzzles can be found HERE.

SOLVE BY NUMBERS — TWOFERS — MATT GAFFNEY
20180803 WSJCC Solve by Numbers.gif

FOUND IN TRANSLATION — FARSI — PETER GORDON
20180810 WSJCC Found in Translation.gif

DIVIDE AND CONQUER — SPLIT SHIFT — MATT GAFFNEY
20180817 WSJCC Divide and Conquer.gif

MIND THE GAP — SCHISM — MIKE SHENK AS MARIE KELLY
20180824 WSJCC Mind the Gap.gif

OBLIQUE REFERENCE — CHESHIRE CAT — MATT GAFFNEY
20180831 WSJCC Oblique Reference.gif
PastWSJCCsolutions
Posts: 98
Joined: Tue Jan 21, 2020 12:18 pm

#38

Post by PastWSJCCsolutions »

SEPTEMBER 2018

PDFs for the original, unsolved Crossword Contest puzzles can be found HERE.

NOW SHOWING — ON AIR — MIKE SHENK AS MARIE KELLY
20180907 WSJCC Now Showing.gif

FOLLOW THE MONEY — TENDERLY — MATT GAFFNEY
20180914 WSJCC Follow the Money.gif

BOUND FOR SPACE — JUMPS — MIKE SHENK AS MARIE KELLY
20180921 WSJCC Reverse Engineering.gif

REVERSE ENGINEERING — REFER — MATT GAFFNEY
20180928 WSJCC Reverse Engineering.gif
PastWSJCCsolutions
Posts: 98
Joined: Tue Jan 21, 2020 12:18 pm

#39

Post by PastWSJCCsolutions »

OCTOBER 2018

PDFs for the original, unsolved Crossword Contest puzzles can be found HERE.

CENTRAL CASTING — ANIMATION — MIKE SHENK AS MARIE KELLY
20181005 WSJCC Central Casting.gif

NO PRESENTS, PLEASE — OUTDATED — MATT GAFFNEY
20181012 WSJCC Off Base.gif

OFF BASE — SLIDE — MIKE SHENK AS MARIE KELLY
20181019 WSJCC Off Base.gif

TL;DR — MSNBC — MATT GAFFNEY
20181026 WSJCC TL;DR.gif
PastWSJCCsolutions
Posts: 98
Joined: Tue Jan 21, 2020 12:18 pm

#40

Post by PastWSJCCsolutions »

NOVEMBER 2018

PDFs for the original, unsolved Crossword Contest puzzles can be found HERE.

MIRROR DISTORTION — FUNHOUSE — MIKE SHENK AS MARIE KELLY
20181102 WSJCC Mirror Distortion.gif

PERIOD PIECE — W — MATT GAFFNEY
20181109 WSJCC Period Piece.gif

LETTER WRITERS — DEAR READER — MIKE SHENK AS MARIE KELLY
20181116 WSJCC Letter Writers.gif

HALF A DOZEN TIMES — JOHN ADAMS — MATT GAFFNEY
20181123 WSJCC Half a Dozen Times.gif

DROPOUTS — SORORITY — MIKE SHENK AS MARIE KELLY
20181130 WSJCC Dropouts.gif
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