Poker pair nicknamed "Wayne Gretzky"

Latest answer — August 12, 2026

2 Down

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Clue decoded

NINES means a pair of nines in poker. Two 9s suggest 99, the jersey number of hockey star Wayne Gretzky, hence the nickname.

Clue type:
Pun or wordplay
A hockey jersey displaying Wayne Gretzky’s famous number 99.

WaPo Mini Crossword

This clue's Wednesday, August 12, 2026 appearance

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Across

  1. 1"Number 3 ___ Number 7" (2025 song by Morgan Wallen with Eric Church)
  2. 4Composition of some wheels
  3. 5She tells Donkey "I'm ugly, okay?"
  4. 6Eric Christian ___ (longtime "NCIS: Los Angeles" actor)
  5. 7"Cheers" actor Roger

Down

  1. 1Didn't hit the snooze button, say
  2. 2Poker pair nicknamed "Wayne Gretzky"
  3. 3Temple leader, e.g.
  4. 4It goes from the liver to the gallbladder
  5. 5"Sorry I'm Here ___ Someone Else" (2025 Benson Boone hit)

Crossword clues, hints, and answers

Across

  1. 1. "Number 3 ___ Number 7" (2025 song by Morgan Wallen with Eric Church) — Answer: AND. Hint: It’s the tiny linking word that joins the two numbered names in the song title. 🔗
  2. 4. Composition of some wheels — Answer: BRIE. Hint: Think of a soft, creamy cheese often sold in a wheel. 🧀
  3. 5. She tells Donkey "I'm ugly, okay?" — Answer: FIONA. Hint: Think of the Shrek princess who discovers that true love changes her appearance. 👸
  4. 6. Eric Christian ___ (longtime "NCIS: Los Angeles" actor) — Answer: OLSEN. Hint: Think of the actor who played Marty Deeks on NCIS: Los Angeles. 📺
  5. 7. "Cheers" actor Roger — Answer: REES. Hint: Think of the Welsh actor who played Robin Colcord on the sitcom 🍻

Down

  1. 1. Didn't hit the snooze button, say — Answer: AROSE. Hint: Got out of bed on time, perhaps, without lingering under the covers ⏰
  2. 2. Poker pair nicknamed "Wayne Gretzky" — Answer: NINES. Hint: Think of the hockey legend’s famous jersey number, doubled in a poker hand. 🏒
  3. 3. Temple leader, e.g. — Answer: DEAN. Hint: This university official might lead a school or faculty at Temple. 🎓
  4. 4. It goes from the liver to the gallbladder — Answer: BILE. Hint: This digestive fluid takes a short trip from the liver to the gallbladder. 🧪
  5. 5. "Sorry I'm Here ___ Someone Else" (2025 Benson Boone hit) — Answer: FOR. Hint: A short preposition meaning “in place of” completes this song title. 🎵

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The answer to “Poker pair nicknamed "Wayne Gretzky"” in the The Washington Post Mini crossword is NINES — a 5-letter word. It most recently appeared in the The Washington Post Mini crossword on August 12, 2026 at 2-Down. Below you'll find why that fill fits, every other answer we've recorded for this clue, and links into the puzzle it came from.

“Poker pair nicknamed "Wayne Gretzky"” answer

NINES (5 letters)

Use the reveal tiles above to uncover the solution one letter at a time if you'd rather nudge yourself toward it than see the whole word at once. Prefer the full answer straight away? It's NINES.

When else has “Poker pair nicknamed "Wayne Gretzky"” appeared?

The Washington Post Mini reuses clues across dates, sometimes with a different answer depending on the grid. Here's where this exact clue has shown up, and what the answer was each time — handy when you're checking whether today's fill is the only one.

August 12, 2026 (most recent) → NINES. We haven't indexed another appearance of this exact clue yet.

More WaPo Mini answers for August 12, 2026

Stuck on more than one square? Here's every other clue from the WaPo Mini on August 12, 2026 — tap any clue for its answer and explanation.

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About the WaPo Mini Crossword

The Washington Post Mini Crossword is a compact daily grid for a fast solve. Like other minis, every letter crosses something else, so one stuck clue can freeze the board — and one revealed answer usually unlocks the rest.

Frequently asked questions

What is the answer to “Poker pair nicknamed "Wayne Gretzky"”?

The answer is NINES, a 5-letter word. It most recently appeared in the The Washington Post Mini crossword on August 12, 2026.

How many letters is the answer to “Poker pair nicknamed "Wayne Gretzky"”?

5 letters: NINES.

When did this clue appear?

Most recently in the The Washington Post Mini crossword on August 12, 2026, at 2-Down.

Can “Poker pair nicknamed "Wayne Gretzky"” have a different answer?

Yes — The Washington Post Mini sometimes reuses a clue with a different solution to fit the grid. The answers we've recorded for each date it appeared are listed above when available.

Where can I find the rest of today's WaPo Mini answers?

Every clue and answer from that day's puzzle is linked above, and the full grid is on the WaPo Mini answers page.

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