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Hints and tips for solving cryptic crossword clues.
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Clues by Amoeba and Grid by Mang & Komorník Enter the prize draw by 31 August. The background for this puzzle is an Ian Livesey photo of a cow in close-up among a herd of similar animals. This puzzle by Amoeba uses a conventional 7x7x5 grid by Mang & Komorník and incorporates elements of three themes which… Read more Hints & Tips August 2026
Clues by Vlad and Grid by Gin Enter the prize draw by 31 July. Please note that in the printed calendar, the clue for Day 9 belonged to an earlier version of the grid and was included in error, for which we apologise — please ignore it. The background for this puzzle is a SounderBruce photo of… Read more Hints & Tips July 2026
Clues by Paul and Grid by Absolution Enter the prize draw by 30 June. The background for this puzzle is a Steve Buissinne photo of honey being poured via a spoon into a dish. This puzzle by Paul uses a conventional 7x5x5 grid by Absolution and celebrates a hundredth (but not 2,000th) birthday and some of the… Read more Hints & Tips June 2026
Clues by Boatman and Grid by Calluna Enter the prize draw by 31 May. The background for this puzzle is a Bernhard Renner photo of a stone marker indicating the distance to a destination. This puzzle by Boatman uses a conventional 7x5x6 grid by Calluna and celebrates the centenary of the birth of the subject, whose name… Read more Hints & Tips May 2026
Clues and Grid by Soup Enter the prize draw by 30 April. The background for this puzzle is a Daniel Kirsch photo of the rusted pedal and chain guard of a bicycle. This puzzle by Soup uses a conventional 7x5x5 grid by Calluna and celebrates the 251st birthday of a person whose surname should be literally applied… Read more Hints & Tips April 2026
Clues by Enigmatist and Grid by Calluna Enter the prize draw by 31 March. The background for this puzzle is an Angeles Balaguer photo of a black cat. This puzzle by Enigmatist uses a conventional 9x7x5 grid by Calluna and does not celebrate an anniversary, but instead has a mysterious theme jumbled in the red cells (8).… Read more Hints & Tips March 2026
Clues by Raich and Grid by Calluna Enter the prize draw by 28 February. The background for this puzzle is a Matt Hecht photo of a female footballer performing an athletic kick. This puzzle by Raich uses a conventional 7x5x5 grid by Calluna and one entry is the centenarian theme, while another is the theme’s father. Two… Read more Hints & Tips February 2026
Clues by Carpathian and Grid by Rikki Enter the prize draw by 31 January. The background for this puzzle is a Paco Britto photo of a radio or TV mast and a triangular structure against an orange sunset. This puzzle by Carpathian uses a conventional 7x5x6 grid by Rikki and marks fifty years since the death of… Read more Hints & Tips January 2026
Clues and Grid by Komorník Enter the prize draw by 31 December. The background for this puzzle is a Benjamin Balázs photo of the edge of a bird bath. This puzzle by Komorník uses an unconventional 13x5x5 grid which is essentially an 11x5x5 grid, but with the nearest and furthest 11-letter entries extended by one cell at… Read more Hints & Tips December 2025
Clues by Enigmatist and Grid by Gin Enter the prize draw by 30 November. The background for this puzzle is a Michael Reichelt photo of the moss-covered roots of a tree. This puzzle by Enigmatist uses a conventional 9x5x5 grid by Gin and concerns ten dates of varying historical significance. A document, a dynasty, a heroine, an… Read more Hints & Tips November 2025