Today's NYT Midi Crossword is live, and Tuesday's grid brings a 9x11 setup that leans into short fill and one standout chess-themed answer. Whether you're looking for a mid-length challenge or warming up for the full-size puzzle, we've got hints and answers to keep you moving.
How The Midi Works
The Midi is the middle ground between the Mini and the classic NYT Crossword, typically featuring an 8x10 or 9x11 grid with 15-20 Across and 15-20 Down clues. It takes about 5-15 minutes to solve, making it perfect for a coffee break or commute. Solve the intersecting words, and when the grid is complete, you'll hear a satisfying chime.
New puzzles drop daily. The Midi offers more complexity than the Mini while remaining accessible for solvers who want a quick but substantial challenge.
Quick Scan
In a rush? Here's the at-a-glance breakdown for today's puzzle:
Grid Size: 9x11
Total Clues: 36 (18 Across, 18 Down)
Trickiest Clue: "Imminent victory, to a chess player"
Gimme Clue: "Place for an aromatherapy massage, maybe"
Theme Spotted: “Friendly Game of Chess”
Clue Decoder (Hints Only)
Need a nudge without the full answer? Here's a hint for each clue.
Across Hints
1A. Place for an aromatherapy massage, maybe
Hint: Three letters. Think relaxation, candles, and essential oils.
4A. Commercials
Hint: Three-letter abbreviation. What interrupts your streaming show.
7A. Muscle spasm
Hint: Three letters. Involuntary twitch, often in the eyelid.
8A. What you might do if you can't remember the lyrics
Hint: Three letters. You know the tune, but the words escape you.
9A. Penny
Hint: Four letters. One hundredth of a dollar. Starts with C.
10A. Tel ___, Israel
Hint: Four letters. Israel's cultural and economic hub.
12A. Chest muscle, informally
Hint: Three letters. Gym-goers love working these out.
13A. "And other stuff like that": Abbr.
Hint: Three-letter abbreviation. Latin roots, used in lists.
14A. Add a furniture cover to, say
Hint: Nine letters. What you do to a sofa that needs new fabric.
18A. Prefix with -lithic
Hint: Three letters. Means "new" in Greek. Think Stone Age periods.
19A. Imminent victory, to a chess player
Hint: Nine letters. Two words. The king can't escape in two moves.
25A. ___ Lilly
Hint: Three letters. Pharmaceutical company. Starts with E.
26A. Competed in a race
Hint: Three letters. Past tense. Usain Bolt did this a lot.
27A. Attend, as a party
Hint: Four letters. Two words, no spaces. Show up and socialize.
29A. "Piece of cake!"
Hint: Four letters. Simple, effortless, no trouble at all.
30A. Really, really particular about things
Hint: Four letters. Obsessive about order and cleanliness. Starts with A.
31A. Wildcat with "snowshoe" paws
Hint: Four letters. Tufted ears, short tail. Lives in cold climates.
32A. Come to a close
Hint: Three letters. Finish, conclude, stop.
33A. Winter hours in Colorado: Abbr.
Hint: Three letters. Mountain time, but not year-round.
Down Hints
1D. Like a nearly vertical hill
Hint: Five letters. You'd need climbing gear, not walking shoes.
2D. Tiny recipe amount
Hint: Five letters. Between a dash and a teaspoon. Salt, maybe.
3D. Play a role on stage
Hint: Three letters. Shakespeare did this. Perform, perform.
4D. "I have the solution!"
Hint: Three letters. The sound of a eureka moment.
5D. Bedspread whose name is French for "down"
Hint: Five letters. A fluffy comforter. Pronunciation: doo-vay.
6D. Strike down, in the Bible
Hint: Five letters. Divine punishment. God did this to Sodom.
9D. Computer's "brain," for short
Hint: Three-letter abbreviation. The processor, the chip, the core.
11D. Outdated TV hookup
Hint: Three-letter abbreviation. What you used to tape shows on.
15D. First Across clue, typically
Hint: Three letters. The number 1A in crosswords.
16D. Hawaiian necklace
Hint: Three letters. Flowers, shells, and a warm "aloha."
17D. Prince, to a king
Hint: Three letters. The heir, the offspring, the royal child.
19D. ___ Millions (lottery)
Hint: Four letters. Big jackpot, multi-state, Tuesday night drawings.
20D. Unaccompanied
Hint: Five letters. Solo, by yourself, without company.
21D. Tennessee pro athlete
Hint: Five letters. NFL team from Nashville. Two-syllable name.
22D. They fold down for in-flight meals
Hint: Five letters. On an airplane, in front of your seat.
23D. "Hey, that ___ part of the plan!"
Hint: Five letters. Contraction meaning "was not."
24D. Deep black gemstone
Hint: Four letters. Black with white bands. Used in cameos.
28D. Outdated
Hint: Three letters. The opposite of new. Past its prime.
29D. Stately shade tree
Hint: Three letters. Tall, deciduous, often planted in rows.
Full Answers
Spoilers below. Scroll only when you're ready for the solutions.
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Across Answers
1A. Place for an aromatherapy massage, maybe
Answer: SPA
4A. Commercials
Answer: ADS
7A. Muscle spasm
Answer: TIC
8A. What you might do if you can't remember the lyrics
Answer: HUM
9A. Penny
Answer: CENT
10A. Tel ___, Israel
Answer: AVIV
12A. Chest muscle, informally
Answer: PEC
13A. "And other stuff like that": Abbr.
Answer: ETC
14A. Add a furniture cover to, say
Answer: UPHOLSTER
18A. Prefix with -lithic
Answer: NEO
19A. Imminent victory, to a chess player
Answer: MATEINTWO
25A. ___ Lilly
Answer: ELI
26A. Competed in a race
Answer: RAN
27A. Attend, as a party
Answer: GOTO
29A. "Piece of cake!"
Answer: EASY
30A. Really, really particular about things
Answer: ANAL
31A. Wildcat with "snowshoe" paws
Answer: LYNX
32A. Come to a close
Answer: END
33A. Winter hours in Colorado: Abbr.
Answer: MST
Down Answers
1D. Like a nearly vertical hill
Answer: STEEP
2D. Tiny recipe amount
Answer: PINCH
3D. Play a role on stage
Answer: ACT
4D. "I have the solution!"
Answer: AHA
5D. Bedspread whose name is French for "down"
Answer: DUVET
6D. Strike down, in the Bible
Answer: SMITE
9D. Computer's "brain," for short
Answer: CPU
11D. Outdated TV hookup
Answer: VCR
15D. First Across clue, typically
Answer: ONE
16D. Hawaiian necklace
Answer: LEI
17D. Prince, to a king
Answer: SON
19D. ___ Millions (lottery)
Answer: MEGA
20D. Unaccompanied
Answer: ALONE
21D. Tennessee pro athlete
Answer: TITAN
22D. They fold down for in-flight meals
Answer: TRAYS
23D. "Hey, that ___ part of the plan!"
Answer: WASNT
24D. Deep black gemstone
Answer: ONYX
28D. Outdated
Answer: OLD
29D. Stately shade tree
Answer: ELM
Grid Breakdown
Here's what made today's puzzle tick:
Standout Clue: 19A "Imminent victory, to a chess player" for MATEINTWO. This nine-letter compound answer is the grid's centerpiece. Chess players know the feeling: two more moves and the opponent's king has no escape. For non-players, it's a satisfying reveal that makes the crossing fills worth the work.
Wordplay Winner: 5D "Bedspread whose name is French for 'down'" for DUVET. The clue gives solvers a mini language lesson. Knowing that "duvet" literally means "down" in French turns a straightforward furniture clue into a fun etymology moment.
Quick Fill: 9A "Penny" for CENT. Four letters, one thought. It's the kind of clue that barely slows you down, making it a reliable entry point into the top-left corner.
Speed Solver Tips
Today's grid rewards solvers who spot short, vowel-rich words early. TIC, HUM, PEC, and ACT all clock in at three letters and share common crossword vowels I, U, and A. Fill those in first to unlock crossings on longer answers like UPHOLSTER and MATEINTWO.
Watch for abbreviations. Today's puzzle leans on them heavily: ADS, ETC, CPU, VCR, MST, and NEO all require recognizing shorthand. If a clue ends in "Abbr." or uses all-caps logic, jump to it for quick points.
Tomorrow's Puzzle
The next Midi drops tomorrow. How did today's grid treat you? MATEINTWO might have been the headliner, but the real work came from untangling UPHOLSTER and spotting the abbreviation pattern running through the fill. Every puzzle sharpens your instincts for the next one.
See you at the next grid.
