© David Pitt 2000-2007
First it is Fun . Second it is Fun. Third…well, you get the idea. We have tried hard to take some of the classical elements of some very good games and make a great one. A balance of skill and luck with a bit of strategy thrown in. Complexities abound in tandem with the simply sublime. Anticipation and competition plus an exquisite symmetry for the genders. Diversion, entertainment, information, pleasure: in a word, FUN.
To play, just remember the name – Common Denominator. Thematic word puzzles built around a shared motif. Your first priority should be to discover the Common Denominator. Every example immediately gives you three directions: 1) the clues; 2) some answers and letters; 3) a color. To divine the correct category the color is Key . All the puzzles belong to one of five families indicated by a colored bar in the upper right hand corner. Memorize the colors as the cue word doesn't appear.
Note the color, add some answers – guess the subdivision. See the back of the answer booklet for a more than complete list of categories arranged by family. They are all there – the difficulty is that so are many others. There are about 70 categories used.
We give you a clue to give you a clue . Keeping in mind the classification, your first reaction to a hint is often right. If it fits the letters, it is almost always correct. The majority of hints revolve around the Common Denominator but many are simply aimed at you blurting out a connection. Blurt for a bronze. Another thing, always remember to remember: within a grouping the clue and answers remain consistent. Most are used more than once, 2 or 3 times is the norm, and occasionally it may go up to 4 or 5.
After you have reviewed the family color, the given words and the clues, hopefully, you have made an educated guess as to the category (and won a bronze in the process.) Now it is time to focus on the letters that have been given as an aid to guess the horizontal words (and win more bronzes.) Here, it is good to remember that the consonant is King (or Queen) and thus more likely to help you deduce correctly. Concentrating on consonants and first letters will help you more than placing emphasis on the vowels or later letters.
Similarly, placing emphasis on the top words is a much more efficient way to discern the hidden vertical. Indeed if you think you can figure out the top two or three horizontal words you may wish to use more of your turn trying to go for the Gold. Be careful here as there is a penalty if you are wrong. Sometimes it is more productive to “run the table”: i.e. 3 Bronzes and a Silver may be better than gambling on a Gold.
At first the game might seem a trifle difficult but as you continue to play you will find yourself getting better and better at it. That is because there are repetitive patterns throughout the game and as you become familiar with them, more and more answers will leap from your subconscious. Go with the flow . She was right: intuition is it. He knew: patterns pay. Keep it together and you win.
Okay, lets review: 1) Fun, Fun, Fun ‚ 2) Color is Key 3) The Clue is a Clue
4) Consonants are King 5) Tip Top is Tops 6) Follow the flow - and don't forget to have 1) .