New York Times, Friday, September 13, 2013

Unsurprisingly, I started this grid in the center. I've come to like making themelesses with wide-open centers, because if you can complete the center you'll probably make it across the finish line. Making a wide-open corner is chancier, because you still have to fill in the equally-wide-open opposite corner—and for corner #2 you can't move the black squares (I have a lot of unmatched corners in my files).

My original plan was to have a central stack of lengths 10/11/9/11/10 with RUMOR HAS IT at the top, but that proved a bit too ambitious, so I added the cheaters on the sides to make the stack easier to fill. When choosing between adding dodgy entries and adding cheaters, always go for the cheaters.

Having decided that the U from RUMOR HAS IT would be a starting letter, I filled in UNDER as the start of that entry, knowing that would give me plenty of options for the remainder. Then it was just a long slow slog to find four more interesting Across entries that would create workable crossings. I ended up needing another pair of cheaters because of the –ORITE entry (METEORITE was the only familiar option), but again, it's a small price to pay for clean fill.

I'm so impressed with every crossword Patrick constructs — fresh, interesting vocabulary, with no junk. He makes constructing seem effortless, which it definitely isn't. His clues are excellent, too. My favorite one here is 35A.

I e-mailed with Patrick this week and wanted to share words from the master: "I find it easier to comment on the construction of themed puzzles, since those tend to stick in my mind a little better. Themeless construction is almost like meditation — you go into a trance, then come out again when the grid's full."

I'll have what he's having.

A 66-word themeless may not seem all that different from a 70-worder, but there's an inverse exponential relationship at work. Consider the gigantic open space in the middle of the puzzle. Typically a partial, pluralized name, or other bit of crosswordese is required to make such a section work, but Patrick laughs at that notion. Every one of the entries is lively, and there's not a stinker amongst them. What a feat to stack five long phrases without needing a single compromise in the downs.

As with every PB construction, I studied this puzzle for a few hours, trying to unravel the mystery of what makes his themeless skills so strong. One thing I've picked out is that Patrick tends to prioritize in-the-language phrases which incorporate fewer "Scrabbly" letters (JQXZ) and use more of the "Wheel of Fortune" free letters (RSTLNE). This is in no way a knock on him — it's an observation of his greatness. Figuring out a way to make construction smoother while still maintaining liveliness in longer entries is one of the factors that distinguishes PB as the cream of the crop.

Fifteen minutes of bliss. A close second for this week's POW!