Nytimes crossword are drawn puzzles that are usually in the shape of a square or rectangle. The puzzle is filled with black and white squares. The goal of a crossword puzzle is to fill the white boxes with the answers to a series of questions. Most crosswords include numbers in the white squares so the player can match each question with a specific answer location. The shaded squares are used to separate the answers. The answers that go into the white boxes are written across and down, with separate clues for each direction. The answers will interlock with one another, so correctly answering one question will give you one or more letters that makeup part of a different answer. Once you have correctly completed all of the answers, you have "beaten" the puzzle.  Some crossword puzzles are quite difficult and completing them is an achievement you can be proud of! If you become a crossword master, you can even start working on The NYTimes Crossword Puzzle, which is fiendishly difficult.