Guide # Letter Swap: read across, read down, then swap > A spoiler-free guide to Letter Swap in Crux. Plan letter trades by checking the words across and down before committing to a move. [Letter Swap](https://crux.quest/games/letter-swap/) is a word puzzle in Crux. The aim is to rearrange letters until every row and column spells a word, trading two letters at a time. The crossing squares are what give the puzzle its shape: a letter can help one word while making another less likely. ## Make a reading pass first Read each line as it stands. Notice the parts that already suggest a word, and the parts with several possibilities. A familiar beginning or ending can help you form a candidate, but treat it as a candidate until the crossing words agree. Then read in the other direction. The word you were about to build may ask a crossing word to use a letter that does not fit. Finding that conflict before moving saves a wasted swap. ## Plan both ends of the swap Every swap has two destinations. It is tempting to look only at the square you want to fix, but the letter leaving that square has to go somewhere too. Ask what each square gains, and whether the trade breaks a word you had good reason to trust. ## Use repeated letters carefully If the board has two copies of the same letter, either may seem to complete a word. Think about the square each copy leaves behind: identical letters can lead to different boards because they start in different places. Get Crux Free on iPhone and iPad. No ads. Last checked 2026-11-06. Spot a mistake? [support@crux.quest](mailto:support@crux.quest)