14 Wednesday January 19 2022 | the times
MindGames
Fill the grid
using the
numbers 1 to 9
only. The
numbers in each
horizontal or
vertical run of
white squares
add up to the
total in the
triangle to its left
or above it. The
same number
may occur more
than once in a
row or column,
but not within
the same run of
white squares.© PUZZLER MEDIAKakuro No 3092
© 2010 KENKEN PUZZLE & TM NEXTOY. DIST. BY UFS, INC. WWW.KENKEN.COMFill the blank squares so that every row and column contains
each of the numbers 1 to 5 once only. The symbols between
the squares indicate whether a number is larger (>) or smaller
(<) than the number next to it.All the digits 1 to 6 must appear in every row and column. In
each thick-line “block”, the target number in the top left-hand
corner is calculated from the digits in all the cells in the block,
using the operation indicated by the symbol.
KenKen Medium No 5481 Futoshiki No 4133
19 38 7 7 14 16 14 30 29
34 16 12
14
26 35
35
6
164
1923
5
6 17
2414
6
32 4
23 23
16 23
144
93016
2925
27 21
12 35
1616
23
24 11
15 1623
6
35 1916 17 24(^)
Dry or wet
A key moment in a poker hand is
the arrival of the flop. This is
when players who are still in the
pot hold their breath, hoping the
board cards will match up with
their holdings. “Hit” the flop hard
and you could be set to win a big
pot. “Miss” the flop and you have
to negotiate the post-flop play
with a mediocre hand.
The flop cards often determine
future play. There will eventually
be five board cards (after the turn
and river) but suddenly three of
them come down at once. Obvi-
ously it will be clear to a player
how well their own cards co-
ordinate with the flop. What some
players fail to consider at this
point, though, is how helpful the
board cards are likely to be for
their opponents. In a sense this is
actually more important. After all
if Villain is unlikely to have any-
thing, it doesn’t much matter what
you have. Simple aggression is
likely to win the pot. However, if
there is a possibility Villain is
strong, you have to be wary, even
if your own holding is good.
A very important feature of
any flop is whether it is “dry” or
“wet” as this has a huge impact on
subsequent play. A dry flop is one
where hand values are not likely
to change when the turn and river
are dealt. Examples are flops such
as A♣-9♦-3♠, K♥-K♦-5♣ and
7 ♣-4♠-3♥. These are “rainbow”
flops, meaning the three cards are
of different suits so eventual
flushes are unlikely. They are also
uncoordinated, meaning it is hard
to build straights with them. This
isn’t strictly true of 7♣-4♠-3♥ but
players usually play high value
cards pre-flop, so sixes and fives
rarely feature in their holdings.
Wet flops are the opposite. Wet
flops are co-ordinated and feature
two or perhaps even three cards
of the same suit. Examples are
A♣-Q♣-10♥, 10♠-8♥-7♠ and K♣-
6 ♣-2♣. The first two are highly
co-ordinated and two-suited. The
third flop isn’t co-ordinated but is
“monotone” (all cards the same
suit). If someone doesn’t already
have a flush they very likely will if
a further club arrives.
If you have the likely best hand
on a dry flop (eg A♠-K♠ on the
A♣-9♦-3♠ flop) you are in control
as you are will rarely be outdrawn.
The main issue then is how to
extract value from a second-best
hand, and simply betting to build
the pot is usually fine.
A wet flop is a different propo-
sition altogether and they are
much harder to judge. Let’s say
you have the same A♠-K♠ but on
the A♣-Q♣-10♥ flop. Now it’s
difficult to know what to do as
your hand is highly vulnerable to
bad turn and river cards. Bet big
and you will build a pot when the
value of your hand could quickly
plummet. Bet small or check and
you are potentially allowing a
weaker hand to outdraw you. Wet
flops are treacherous and playing
them well requires experience and
excellent judgment.
© PUZZLER MEDIA
Slide the letters either horizontally or vertically back into the grid to produce a
completed crossword. Letters are allowed to slide over other letters
Every letter in this crossword-style grid has been substituted for a number from 1
to 26. Each letter of the alphabet appears in the grid at least once. Use the letters
already provided to work out the identity of further letters. Enter letters in the main
grid and the smaller reference grid until all 26 letters of the alphabet have been
accounted for. Proper nouns are excluded. Yesterday’s solution, right
Cluelines Stuck on Codeword? To receive 4 random clues call 0901 293 6262 or
text TIMECODE to 64343. Calls cost £1 plus your telephone company’s network
access charge. Texts cost £1 plus your standard network charge. For the full solution
call 0905 757 0142. Calls cost £1 per minute plus your telephone company’s network
access charge. SP: Spoke, 0333 202 3390 (Mon-Fri, 9am-5.30pm).
Winners will receive a Collins English Dictionary & Thesaurus
Solve the puzzle and text in the numbers in the three
shaded boxes. Text TIMES followed by a space, then
your three numbers, eg, TIMES 123, plus your name,
address and postcode to 84901 (UK only), by midnight.
Or enter by phone. Call 09012 925274 (ROI 1516 303 501)
by midnight. Leave your three answer numbers (in any
order) and your contact details.
Calls cost £1 (ROI €1.50) plus your telephone company’s
network access charge. Texts cost £1 plus your standard
network charge. Winners will be picked at random from
all correct answers received. One draw per week. Lines
close at midnight tonight. If you call or text after this
time you will not be entered but will still be charged.
SP: Spoke, 0333 202 3390 (Mon-Fri, 9am-5.30pm).
Fill the grid so
that every
column, every
row and every
3x2 box contains
the digits 1 to 6
What are your favourite puzzles in MindGames?
Email: [email protected]
Lay tracks to enable the train to travel from village A to village
B. The numbers indicate how many sections of rail go in each
row and column. There are only straight rails and curved rails.
The track cannot cross itself.
Win a Dictionary & Thesaurus
Train Tracks No 1533
Lexica No 6185 No 6186
F
T
U
X
N
W
G
E
U
U
T
O T
U H
O R
I P
S F
T
E
N
D
R
B
O
S
N
S
E
U
R U
A D
O G
O E
K
Codeword No 4489
Winning Move
Poker Byron Jacobs
W____W^
áWDWiWDWD]
à!pDPgpDW]
ßpDWDW0W0]
ÞDrDW0PDW]
ÝWDqDWDWD]
ÜDW)WDW)W]
Ûr)WDWDW)]
ÚDWIR$WDW]
WÁÂÃÄÅÆÇÈW
Black to play.
This position is from Korobov-
Riazantsev, World Blitz
Championship, Warsaw 2021.
In chess games it is not unusual
to witness attacks on opposite
wings. What is less common is to
see (as here) both players
attacking on the same wing.
White has given up a piece but
has a massive passed pawn on d7
and the powerful threat of 1 Qb8+.
Black must therefore act very
quickly. How did he do this?
For more puzzles, including an extra
Codeword, Train Tracks and Futoshiki
go to page 10