Each week, New York Times crossword puzzle editor and NPR's Puzzlemaster Will Shortz presents an on-air quiz to one contestant and gives a challenge for listeners at home.

NPR's Ayesha Rascoe plays with puzzle with Weekend Edition Puzzlemaster Will Shortz and WBUR listener John Byrne of Watertown, Massachusetts. On-air challenge: This is a phonetic puzzle.

NPR's Eric Westervelt plays the puzzle with Weekend Edition Puzzlemaster Will Shortz and Michigan Public listener Shailesh ...

NPR's Ayesha Rascoe plays with puzzle with Weekend Edition Puzzlemaster Will Shortz and WBUR listener John Byrne of Watertown ...

On-air challenge: Today's puzzle is called "The Pits." Every answer is a familiar two-word phrase or name in which the first word starts PI- and the second word starts with T-.

NPR's Puzzlemaster Will Shortz has appeared on Weekend Edition Sunday since the program's start ... and the founder and director of the American Crossword Puzzle Tournament (since 1978).