Crossword puzzles as a constraint problem

Abstract

We present new results in crossword composition, showing that our program significantly outperforms previous successful techniques in the literature. We emphasize phase transition phenomena, and identify classes of hard problems. Phase transition is shown to occur when varying problem parameters, such as the dictionary size and the number of blocked cells on a grid, of large-size realistic problems. © 2008 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.