Mini #61 — the answers

The Mini crossword from November 1, 2026: a 5×5 grid, 5 across and 5 down, filled in the order the crossings give it away.

The clues

Across

1. 1. Soup vessel — POT
2. 4. Ski hill — SLOPE
3. 6. Not available — TAKEN
4. 7. Calendar entry — EVENT
5. 8. Armed conflict — WAR

Down

1. 1. Card game — POKER
2. 2. Public — OPEN
3. 3. Camper’s shelter — TENT
4. 4. Beef dish — STEW
5. 5. Volcano flow — LAVA

The walkthrough

One way through: start at 1-Across, then let each answer feed the words it crosses — the slot with the most letters already showing is the one to fill next.

1. 1-Across, “Soup vessel” — nothing given yet: POT.
2. 1-Down, “Card game” — P···· from the crossings: POKER.
3. 4-Across, “Ski hill” — ··O·· from the crossings: SLOPE.
4. 2-Down, “Public” — OP·· from the crossings: OPEN.
5. 6-Across, “Not available” — ··KE· from the crossings: TAKEN.
6. 3-Down, “Camper’s shelter” — TEN· from the crossings: TENT.
7. 7-Across, “Calendar entry” — ··ENT from the crossings: EVENT.
8. 4-Down, “Beef dish” — STE· from the crossings: STEW.
9. 5-Down, “Volcano flow” — LAV· from the crossings: LAVA.
10. 8-Across, “Armed conflict” — already spelled out by its crossings: WAR.

The answer

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About Mini

Mini is Noggin’s five-by-five crossword, on the second shelf: one grid a day against the clock, outside the daily line-up. How to play Mini, or play today’s.