START
TARGET
Share 3+ letters. Not at both starts or both ends.
Use a dictionary word sharing 3+ letters in a row with the previous word, except at the start of both words or the end of both words.
Connect the start to the target. Each word must share 3+ letters in a row with the previous word, except at the start of both words or the end of both words.
CLOVER → OVERLAP → LAPTOP
OVERLAP → OVERLAND is invalid: OVERLA starts both words. SOMEWHERE → NOWHERE is invalid: WHERE ends both words.
Start with 100 points. Each middle word costs 12. In each link’s longest legal shared match, every letter after the first 3 earns 3 points.
Above: 1 middle word costs 12. OVER earns 3; LAP earns 0. 100 − 12 + 3 = 91 points.
No time limit. Minimum score: 0. Progress stays in this browser. New puzzle at midnight Eastern.
Inspired by Lewis Carroll’s Syzygies.
PRACTICE
OVERLAP shares OVER with CLOVER. Match 3+ letters in a row, but not at the start of both words or the end of both words.
CLOVER → ? → LAPTOP
OVERLAP → OVERLAND cannot link: OVERLA starts both words. SOMEWHERE → NOWHERE cannot link: WHERE ends both words.
Start with 100 points. Your 1 middle word costs 12. The target connects automatically. Each shared letter after the first 3 earns 3 points: OVER earns 3; LAP earns 0.
100 − 12 + 3 = 91 points.
Use 1–8 middle words. Undo freely before submitting.
Practice only. Replay from Rules.
Each middle word costs 12 points. The start and target are free.
Scores cannot fall below 0.
Each letter after the first 3 earns 3 points. Only each pair’s longest continuous match counts.
Select the text, then copy it.
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