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The weekly brain-teaser is back with a fresh on-air puzzle that asks listeners to spot the single item that falls alphabetically between two named entries. Play along and test your quick alphabetical instincts. Clever entries get a shot at appearing on air.
How the on-air alphabet game works
Two items from the same group are given. Your task is to name the one and only item in that group that comes alphabetically between them. Keep answers short and precise.
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Example: Blue, Indigo → Green (colors of the rainbow).
Today’s challenges — name the item that fits between
- August / February
- Five / Nine
- Bashful / Dopey
- Tau / Upsilon
- Kings / Lakers
- Nixon / Pierce
- Ventnor Avenue / Virginia Avenue
- Cuspid / Molar
Last week’s puzzle and method
The previous puzzle came from Greg VanMechelen of Berkeley, Calif. The clue read: name something you don’t want to have at night, formatted as a two-word answer with pattern (3,5). Then transform the second word by shifting each letter nine places forward in the alphabet. Wrap around from Z to A as needed.
That letter shift reveals the name of a well-known performer.
Solution to last week’s puzzle
The correct response was Bad sleep. Shifting the letters of “sleep” nine positions yields the stage name Bad Bunny.
Winner announced
The chosen solver for last week’s puzzle was Jonathan Black of Brockport, N.Y.
This week’s submitted puzzle and entry rules
Andrea Carla Michaels of San Francisco supplied the new cryptic puzzle. Name a famous 20th-century writer. Then remove the last two letters of the writer’s first name and the last letter of the surname. The leftover letters form the name of a fabric. Which fabric is it?
- Submit your answer by Thursday, March 5 at 3 p.m. ET.
- Selected respondents earn a chance to play the puzzle on air.
- Keep entries clear and include your name and city.
Send your answer
Use the official submission form to enter.
