Pattern Matching

Definition

Pattern matching is the act of comparing your current clue pattern against your memory of word shapes and families to generate candidates that fit. It is the operational side of pattern recognition.

Why it matters

Fast pattern matching is what lets expert solvers produce a candidate shortlist in seconds from a partial pattern.

Examples

• Matching _ I G H T to LIGHT, NIGHT, SIGHT.
• Matching ST _ _ _ to STORE, STAMP, STING.

Best practices

• Drill matching against partial patterns.
• Maintain mental catalogues of common shapes.

Frequently asked