While there is no visual similarity between Rummy and crossword puzzles, they are both games that are mentally stimulating. Now, one might think that a card game cannot match the cognitive benefits of an educational puzzle-solving game like crosswords.
However, in this blog, we will burst the myth and prove how beneficial Rummy is for your cognitive abilities.
Objective of Rummy and Crosswords
The objective of playing Rummy and solving crosswords is totally different.
In Rummy, the players aim to combine the available cards by drawing-discarding and forming a combination of winning hands. This game is played with opponents and usually consists of 2 to 6 players in one game.
It is played with a 52-card deck, and all the players compete against each other to outsmart each other and navigate the game successfully.
A crossword puzzle, on the other hand, is a puzzle that is usually solved by one person. The puzzle is a set of empty boxes combined and shuffled in a way to fit words. There are lettered boxes along with empty ones to help you get the right answers.
In order to find the accurate words, the crossword maker provides players with hints. With these hints, the players solve these puzzles and fill in those empty boxes to form coherent words. Crosswords also have an overall theme, which also serves as a hint.
They both play out differently, but the principle is the same. Both games require some level of mental strategy and pattern recognition to win.
The Cognitive Benefit Rummy and Crossword Puzzles Offer
● Enhanced Memory
Rummy and crossword puzzles work as great memory exercises. It requires the players to remember the cards, track them, assess and analyse the opponents’ discarded cards and recall those cards whenever needed.
On the other hand, solving a crossword puzzle requires you to tap into your memory and recall vocabulary, synonyms, and other information that relates to the given hints.
● Strategic Mindset
Rummy is a game that requires strategic thinking and skill building. You need to have a strategy and skilful tactics to outsmart your opponents. Learning how to play Rummy and getting into the habit of making strategies helps your brain gain that power.
Similarly, continuing to practice solving crosswords will help you keep your brain active and improve your memory.
● Pattern Recognition
When a player plays Rummy, they have to continuously assess and analyse the opponents’ cards. The assessment is done to recognise any pattern or habit the opponents might have.
It helps in recognising their strategies and finding a way to win the game, i.e., it helps with pattern recognition.
Similarly, crossword puzzles also require the players to recognise patterns. These patterns include common board structures or prefixes and suffixes. When the player notices such patterns, it becomes easy for them to understand the wordplay and its theme.
Conclusion
Rummy and crossword puzzles come from different families of mind-engaging activities. One is a linguistic exercise, while the other is a card game. That being said, these two mental exercises usually offer substantial and similar benefits.
After all, both Rummy and crossword puzzles are considered to be excellent mental exercises. You can indulge in both these mental activities if you want to boost your strategic thinking, decision-making ability and memory.
