1 Across
NYT Mini • September 10, 2025
In alphabetical order, the five letters each worth at least five points in Scrabble
Answer:
JKQXZ
Hint:
["Think of the letters that rarely appear in English words and are clustered at the end of the alphabet—all worth double digits if placed on a triple-letter score."]
Explanation:
This clue asks for the five Scrabble letters worth at least five points each, then specifies they must be listed in alphabetical order. In Scrabble, J, K, Q, X, and Z are the only tiles valued at 8 or 10 points, and when sorted from A to Z, they become "JKQXZ." The trick is recognizing both the point values and the alphabetical requirement.