114 Across
NYT Daily • August 24, 2025
Verdi opera that becomes the name of a board game when an "H" is inserted
Answer:
OTELLO
Hint:
Think of Shakespeare’s tragic Moor, then drop a letter to find this opera’s title.
Explanation:
The answer is "OTELLO," a famous Verdi opera. If you insert an "H" into "OTELLO," it becomes "OTHELLO," which is also the name of a classic board game (also known as Reversi). The clue plays on the shared name between the opera and the game, with the added twist of the letter insertion.