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Hints and tips for solving cryptic crossword clues.
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Clues by Curmudgeon and Grid by Chalicea Enter the prize draw by 31 October. The background for this puzzle is a xiSerge photo of a swarm of honeybees hanging from a tree. In which we are introduced to Curmudgeon and Chalicea and the crossword and the explanation begins. Here is Curmudgeon, coming downstairs now, bump, bump, bump,… Read more Hints & Tips October 2026
Clues and Grid by Sirius Enter the prize draw by 30 September. The background for this puzzle is an Ian Preston photo, reflected both vertically and horizontally, of the stepping phones across the River Wharfe at Bolton Abbey. This puzzle by Sirius uses a vertical eight dials torus grid and notes a 50th anniversary of a revolutionary… Read more Hints & Tips September 2026
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