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Hints and tips for solving cryptic crossword clues.
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Clues by Nutmeg and Grid by Jolt The background for this puzzle is a Graham Fox photograph showing Ravi Bopara playing a summer sport for England against New Zealand. The coloured clothing indicates that this is not a Test Match. Jolt has constructed a grid celebrating the 50th anniversary of an impromptu first instance of… Read more Hints & Tips January 2021
Clues by Enigmatist and Grid by etc The background for this puzzle is a Graham Fox photograph showing a beautiful sunset with a crescent moon casting a little moonlight. As creators of this grid, celebrating a 250th anniversary, we were delighted to see the final form of this puzzle. Enigmatist has orchestrated a mellifluous composition… Read more Hints & Tips December 2020
Clues by Nutmeg and Grid by Mang The background for this puzzle is a deep blue Graham Fox photograph which appears to be a close-up of a flower. A Seven Dials grid is used and there are 49 clues. There is a theme that is literally out of this world: the 8 bold edged cells… Read more Hints & Tips November 2020
This is a general introduction. It covers briefly the most common types of cryptic clues and looks at how to recognise a clue type and solve them, as well as how you might design one yourself. Setting clues can be just as much fun as solving them and will illuminate the solving process. A useful… Read more How to solve cryptic clues
Clues by Qaos and Grid by Max Liversidge The background for this puzzle is a Graham Fox photograph of two empty glasses with blue and red straws. This has a general theme relating to Day 27 (10ac) and several of the other clues reference this. As a final task, solvers are invited to find a… Read more Hints & Tips October 2020