Puzzle.py

def  count_word_in_puzzle(word, puzzle):
    count = 0
    for i in (puzzle + zip(*puzzle)):
        w = ''.join(i)
        if word in w or word in w[::-1]:
            count += 1

    return count

puzzle = [
    ['h', 'e', 'l', 'l', 'o'],
    ['e', 'r', 'f', 'j', 'g'],
    ['l', 'g', 'h', 'j', 'j'],
    ['l', 'u', 'c', 'k', 'y'],
    ['o', 'l', 'l', 'e', 'h']
]

print count_word_in_puzzle('hello', puzzle)