Crossclimb #692 Answer – March 23, 2026
CARDGAME
Answer
CARDGAME
CARD
HARD
“Rating for a difficult puzzle (like a Sunday Crossclimb)”
HARE
“Animal that thought it could beat the tortoise”
HATE
“Opposite of love”
DATE
“Today’s is either March 23 or March 24 depending on when you play”
DAME
“Notre ___ (famous cathedral in Paris)”
GAME
Combo Clue
“A two-word phrase for an activity like poker or bridge”
📖 How I Solved It
I tackled puzzle #692 on a chilly March evening, and boy, was it a ride! The combo clue 'A two-word phrase for an activity like poker or bridge' threw me off for a bit. I kept thinking about games, but couldn't quite land on 'CARDGAME.' I ended up guessing 'BOARD GAME' at one point, which just wasn't it! The word ladder was tricky too; I got stuck bouncing between 'HARE' and 'HATE.' I thought I'd cracked it when I figured out 'HARD' for the difficult puzzle rating, but then I floundered with 'DAME'. Once I finally got the flow going, filling in 'GAME' felt like a victory lap! I really enjoyed this one, even with a few wrong turns along the way.
💡 Tips for This Puzzle
- •Don't rush through the word ladder; take a moment to visualize the connections.
- •Keep the combo clue in mind as you work through the ladder—it'll guide your thinking.
- •If you're stuck, try thinking of synonyms or related terms for the combo clue.
❓ FAQ
The Crossclimb answer for March 23, 2026 (#692) is CARDGAME. The complete word ladder is: CARD → HARD → HARE → HATE → DATE → DAME → GAME.