SumHunt

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Spell words whose letter values add up to the day's target.

Play SumHunt

on sumhunt.com

The SumHunt card: letter tiles S, U, M with their values beside a target of 372

SumHunt is a daily puzzle that mixes words and arithmetic. Every letter is worth its place in the alphabet, so CAT is 3 + 1 + 20 = 24, and you spell words and join their values with plus, minus and times to land exactly on the day's target number.

About SumHunt

SumHunt turns spelling into sums. Each letter has a value, A=1, B=2 and so on up to Z=26, and a word is worth the total of its letters. The day's puzzle gives everyone the same target number, such as 372, and your job is to reach it exactly.

You spell words from the tiles, and the game totals each one. Then you combine the words with plus, minus or times, worked left to right, so PANIC (43) plus OFFER (50) makes 93. Choosing the right words and the right operators to land on the target is the puzzle. Each day starts with a cryptic clue that hints at the way in.

A 30-second tutorial teaches the rules, and a fuller rules page with examples is on the site. It is free in the browser with no sign-up.

It suits players who enjoy both word games and mental arithmetic and like a puzzle where the two meet.

How to play SumHunt

Read the day's target number and the opening clue.
Spell a word; its value is the total of its letters, A=1 to Z=26.
Add more words and join them with plus, minus or times, worked left to right.
Adjust words and operators until the total equals the target exactly.
Share your result once you hit the target.

Screenshots

The SumHunt board for Sun, Oct 18: target 159, a cryptic clue, and CROWN spelled from the letter tiles for 73

Tips

Letters late in the alphabet are worth a lot: a single Z is 26.
Use times to get close to a big target, then fine-tune with a short word.
Keep a few small words in mind, like A (1) or BE (7), for last-step corrections.