Puzzles on the Big Screen: Running a Group Session

Why put puzzles on the big screen?

Because one puzzle on a large screen turns solitary solving into a shared game: nobody needs their reading glasses, nobody is left out for lack of a sheet, and the group's chatter — 'top left! next to the R!' — is half the fun. For mixed-ability rooms it's the great leveller, since calling out a spotted word takes no dexterity at all.

Our website suits screens well: the grids are high-contrast, the text-size control makes letters enormous if you want them, and there are no adverts or pop-ups to interrupt the session.

How do I set up puzzles on a lounge TV?

Open puzzlepastime.com in the TV's browser — or plug a laptop in with an HDMI lead — press the largest text-size button, and choose the day's puzzle. Two minutes, no accounts, no apps.

• Open puzzlepastime.com in the browser on a smart TV, or on a laptop plugged into the TV with an HDMI lead
• Press the largest 'A' in the top corner to boost the text size
• Choose the day's puzzle — word searches and trivia work best for groups
• Appoint a 'driver' to tap or click what the room calls out

Which puzzles work best for group play?

Word searches and trivia are the reliable group games — everyone can contribute at once and the driver simply taps what the room calls out. Memory match works in turns; sudoku and the crossword suit small tables better than a full lounge.

• Word search: the whole room hunts at once; the driver taps the first and last letter of each find
• Daily trivia: read each question aloud, take a show of hands for A, B, C or D, then enjoy the little fact that follows each answer
• Memory match: turns are natural here — go round the room, two flips each
• Sudoku and the crossword suit smaller tables of two or three more than a full lounge