Today's NYT Mini Crossword is live, and Tuesday's grid brings a letter-frequency challenge that'll test your pattern recognition. The letter K makes an absurd number of appearances across the answers, and one clue even calls it out directly.
How The Mini Works
The Mini is a compact version of the classic NYT Crossword, typically featuring a 5x5 grid with five Across and five Down clues. Saturdays expand to a larger grid with more clues. Solve the intersecting words, and when the grid is complete, you'll hear a satisfying chime. No streak tracking here, but the built-in timer lets you compete against yourself or challenge friends.
New puzzles drop at 10 p.m. EST on weekdays and Saturdays. Sunday's Mini arrives earlier at 6 p.m. EST on Saturday.
Quick Scan
In a rush? Here's the at-a-glance breakdown for today's puzzle:
Grid Size: 5x5
Total Clues: 10 (5 Across, 5 Down)
Trickiest Clue: 8A. "Dramatic end to a World Cup game, for short", is a sports abbreviation that might not click immediately for casual fans.
Gimme Clue: 3D. "Poses a question to", is about as straightforward as a Mini clue gets.
Theme Spotted: The letter K is everywhere. Nine of ten answers contain at least one K, and 1D's clue explicitly hints at it.
Clue Decoder (Hints Only)
Need a nudge without the full answer? Here's a hint for each clue.
Across Hints
1. German for "Mrs."
Hint: Think formal German address. Four letters, starts with F.
5. Small stall at a mall
Hint: Not a full store, a temporary booth or cart. Five letters, starts with K.
6. Bring to mind
Hint: To summon or call up a memory. Five letters, starts with E.
7. Surprised exclamations upon seeing mice
Hint: The sound you'd make spotting a rodent. Four letters, starts with E.
8. Dramatic end to a World Cup game, for short
Hint: The tiebreaker that decides a knockout match. Three letters, starts with P.
Down Hints
1. Race that equates to 3.1 miles … or a hint to one letter's frequent appearance in this grid?
Hint: A common running distance. Five letters. The last letter is the one dominating this puzzle.
2. Chess "castles"
Hint: The pieces that move in straight lines. Five letters, starts with R.
3. Poses a question to
Hint: What a curious person does. Four letters, starts with A.
4. Hawaiian stringed instrument, informally
Hint: A small four-stringed instrument from the islands. Three letters, starts with U.
5. Not go bad
Hint: Opposite of "spoil" or "rot." Four letters, starts with K.
Full Answers
Spoilers below. Scroll only when you're ready for the solutions.
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Across Answers
1. German for "Mrs."
Answer: FRAU
5. Small stall at a mall
Answer: KIOSK
6. Bring to mind
Answer: EVOKE
7. Surprised exclamations upon seeing mice
Answer: EEKS
8. Dramatic end to a World Cup game, for short
Answer: PKS
Down Answers
1. Race that equates to 3.1 miles … or a hint to one letter's frequent appearance in this grid?
Answer: FIVEK
2. Chess "castles"
Answer: ROOKS
3. Poses a question to
Answer: ASKS
4. Hawaiian stringed instrument, informally
Answer: UKE
5. Not go bad
Answer: KEEP
Grid Breakdown
Here's what made today's puzzle tick:
Standout Clue: 1D "Race that equates to 3.1 miles … or a hint to one letter's frequent appearance in this grid?" for FIVEK. This is a double-layered clue, it works as a straightforward running distance (5K = 3.1 miles), but it also meta-commentates on the puzzle itself, flagging that the letter K appears in nearly every answer. That's clever construction.
Wordplay Winner: 8A "Dramatic end to a World Cup game, for short" for PKS. "PKs" (penalty kicks) is the standard abbreviation, but the puzzle uses "PKS" to fit the grid, and the K obsession continues. The clue leans on sports knowledge, which makes it the toughest gateway for non-fans.
Quick Fill: 3D "Poses a question to" for ASKS. Four letters, common verb, zero ambiguity. It's the kind of answer that lets you lock in a corner fast and build momentum.
Speed Solver Tips
Looking to shave seconds off your time? Here's what today's puzzle teaches:
When a puzzle has a heavy letter repeat (like K here), use it to your advantage. Once you confirm one K-heavy answer, intersecting words almost certainly contain the same letter, FRAU crossing FIVEK, KIOSK crossing ASKS and KEEP. That pattern recognition can cascade through the grid.
Watch for meta clues that comment on the puzzle itself. 1D's bonus hint is a gift: it tells you exactly what to look for. If a clue seems oddly specific or includes a second clause, read it twice, the puzzle maker is signaling something.
Tomorrow's Puzzle
The next Mini drops tonight at 10 p.m. EST. How did today's grid treat you? The K-heavy theme made this one a pattern-spotting exercise as much as a vocabulary test. Every puzzle sharpens your instincts for the next one.
See you at the next grid.
