Conundrum: Pic Tac Toe VI
Even though this puzzle is still active, I thought it might be fun to return to a simpler time.
In a “Pic Tac Toe” puzzle, there are nine pictures in a three-by-three grid, like Tic-Tac-Toe. In each row, column, and diagonal, there is a common theme that unites the three pictures. The challenge is to find the eight themes.
You can click on each image to see a larger version:
Please post whatever you come up with in the comments section.
Enjoy!
UPDATE: See comments for correct themes provided by Asher (5) and Neel Mehta (3). Alternate theme provided by Asher.
February 3rd, 2010 at 8:27 am
Columns – left to right – Fields, Penguin, Insects
Rows – top to bottom – Botany, Classics(?), Rock/Pop Music Album Cover Art
Diagonals have me stumped – Catch(?)/Fly(?) and Rye/Wry(?)
February 3rd, 2010 at 1:55 pm
Correct on the columns, and the top and bottom rows. That’s five themes solved by Asher.
The middle row and two diagonals remain.
February 4th, 2010 at 9:56 am
Another shot at the middle row: Classic Characters?
February 5th, 2010 at 1:03 am
It’s not Classic Characters. It has to do with names.
The diagonals are items that fit into categories, rather than a single commonality. So while the center row clearly has penguins visible in each picture, the diagonals have each picture represent a different item from the same category, e.g. Dopey, Doc, and Bashful.
February 5th, 2010 at 8:47 am
Middle row: three-part names
February 5th, 2010 at 8:53 am
Lower left>upper right: catching
February 5th, 2010 at 10:33 am
Three-part names: Not quite
Catching: That’s not what I was going for, but it holds up. The album cover has a glove on it, and the pitcher plant is catching its prey.
When someone gives a valid answer that wasn’t what I was looking for, I offer an alternate answer credit, so the original theme stays active.
So, an alternate answer theme credit goes to Asher!
February 13th, 2010 at 7:03 am
Sorry. Haven’t been around for a while.
Middle Row: INITIALS (W.C. Fields, J.D. Salinger, W.S. Gilbert?)
159 Diagonal: TYPES OF BREAD (wheat, rye, white)
357 Diagonal: BASEBALL POSITIONS (pitcher, catcher, centerfield)
Never heard of the pitcher plant until your hint above. I thought Catching was a good guess, but I’m always a sucker for the Rat Pack-style theme.
February 13th, 2010 at 11:20 am
Welcome back, Neel!
Answers
Top Row: PLANTS (Wheat stalks, Tree, Pitcher Plant)
Center Row: LEADING INITIALS (W.C. Fields, J.D. Salinger, M. Butterfly)
Bottom Row: AN ALBUM COVER (Always a fun theme)
Left Column: FIELDS (Wheat field, W.C. Fields, Centerfield)
Center Column: PENGUINS (Pictured)
Right Column: INSECTS (Fly, Butterfly, “Beatles”)
Slash: BASEBALL POSITIONS (Pitcher, Catcher, Centerfield)
Backslash: TYPES OF BREAD (Wheat, Rye, White)
Picture Credits
Picture 1
Picture 2
Picture 3
Picture 4
Picture 5
Picture 6
Picture 7
Picture 8
Picture 9