Small saying in tavern when it's knocked back (7,2) I set today's Independent #cryptic #crossword. I hope it brightens your day! puzzles.independent.co.uk/games/crypti...

Forward thinker locks down dinner service (5) Blacken bagel and fix festive topping (8) Pig? Not primarily Passover fare (4) Stewed lamb plat? Ouzo's what we'll drink (5,4,4) Roast quick and eat along edges (7) Ceaseless making of a whipped dessert (8) #cryptic #crossword #Passover

Forward thinker locks down dinner service (5) Blacken bagel and fix festive topping (8) Pig? Not primarily Passover fare (4) Stewed lamb plat? Ouzo's what we'll drink (5,4,4) Roast quick and eat along edges (7) Ceaseless making of a whipped dessert (8) #cryptic #crossword #Passover

April’s #2 fool sooo done with holiday (8) #cryptic #crossword

Regularly considered fit? Find out otherwise (2,3) I set today's Independent #cryptic #crossword. I hope it brightens your day! puzzles.independent.co.uk/games/crypti...

What could be better than helping to assemble another TPFA pack with my wonderful crossword friends? I hope you'll join us in our cause and give it a go.

Visionary Cook quickly out of AirPods? (4) I‘m back with “Musical Theft,“ another WSJ variety #cryptic #crossword, free to solve here. I hope it brightens your day! www.wsj.com/articles/mus...

Visionary Cook quickly out of AirPods? (4) I‘m back with “Musical Theft,“ another WSJ variety #cryptic #crossword, free to solve here. I hope it brightens your day! www.wsj.com/articles/mus...

Show off your love of crosswords AND your love of abortion access! We have tees, tanks, and sweatshirts in our Bonfire store! www.bonfire.com/store/these-... A portion of the proceeds from each sale will go towards our fundraising. #tpfa6 #ootd #styleinspo

We have added two sample puzzles to our website! The first is this tiny lil’ cryptic from the one and only @naytnaytnayt.bsky.social So cute, so small! Solve at abortionpuzzles.com

It's my honor to have once again have edited the cryptic/variety puzzle section of this project, which means working with kind and talented crossword folks from all over. Please consider donating for this important cause and solving some fun puzzles!

And a very nice mini cryptic it is! 👏

So excited to be part of this cryptic stream! Come join us if you want to talk puzzles.

Congrats to the mighty @mossdef.bsky.social — it's simple mathematics to see that he's hit his 100th puzzle in his Square Chase variety series. We're honored to have contributed a clue to this celebration. True mogmaxxing is subscribing at www.patreon.com/squarechase

100 is a lot of puzzles, David. 🐙

Breakfast in America? Thanks for getting it all the way over to me, @unchcrosswords.com!

Fat starts to appear newly ubiquitous between gym and work (6,3) I set today's Independent #cryptic #crossword. I hope it brightens your day! puzzles.independent.co.uk/games/crypti...

I'm going to be hanging with Will, Hayley and other cool crossword guests on twitch.tv/bewilderingly tonight at 9PM ET while they solve a #cryptic #crossword I made for them. It's available free at www.patreon.com/squarechase if you want to play along!

Getting people access to healthcare has always been important, but it’s going to be REALLY important in 2026. We’ve been hard at work and can’t wait to share all the fun puzzles we’ve been working on. Coming this spring: TPFA6!

I second all the advice in this very nice piece. I've found the most important, and perhaps even the most joyous thing, is to keep solving, learning, and refining my practice with the aim to make each puzzle more beautiful than the last. The journey only gets more rewarding.

Crossword x Lego

Person hitting some spiced rum merrily (7) Unbelievable remixed ode to holly (4,6) A Mossberg Christmas joint? Who knew? Honored to close out the AVCX Cryptics year under @naytnaytnayt.bsky.social's editorial eye. I hope it brightens your holiday! #cryptic #crossword crosswordr.com/a/puzzle/ByT...

Person hitting some spiced rum merrily (7) Unbelievable remixed ode to holly (4,6) A Mossberg Christmas joint? Who knew? Honored to close out the AVCX Cryptics year under @naytnaytnayt.bsky.social's editorial eye. I hope it brightens your holiday! #cryptic #crossword crosswordr.com/a/puzzle/ByT...

A rare but fun appearance by the gaffer Eimi in the Independent today, featuring this absolute corker: Pinter play involving three people: a woman and two men (8) puzzles.independent.co.uk/games/crypti...

Wow, I’m really in my element on this one! These Cryptic Crossweird folks are good people doing good puzzle work. Do check them out if you haven’t yet!

This is usually where I'd put some spiel about my cryptic crossword Patreon, but I'm just feeling lucky and proud to light the lights tonight. I think this Square Chase holiday puzzle is apt and, as always, free to all. I hope it brightens your evening. www.patreon.com/posts/square...

Happy Chanukah to all who celebrate 🕎 play.usatoday.com/crossword PSA: Sufganiyot is a plural word. The singular is sufganiya

This is usually where I'd put some spiel about my cryptic crossword Patreon, but I'm just feeling lucky and proud to light the lights tonight. I think this Square Chase holiday puzzle is apt and, as always, free to all. I hope it brightens your evening. www.patreon.com/posts/square...

Breakfast links bloat me a lot (7) I'm sure you'll all be shocked to hear I put food into the title of my free-to-solve holiday #cryptic #crossword in the WSJ. I hope it brightens your day! www.wsj.com/articles/sea...

Breakfast links bloat me a lot (7) I'm sure you'll all be shocked to hear I put food into the title of my free-to-solve holiday #cryptic #crossword in the WSJ. I hope it brightens your day! www.wsj.com/articles/sea...

Maybe 8 out of 10 Cats ended prematurely, in for broadcast (8) It's a pleasure, as always, to set The Independent #cryptic #crossword, especially one with such a lovely palindromic number. I hope it brightens your day! puzzles.independent.co.uk/games/crypti...

What a treat to get to set #250 in The Browser with my friend Matthew Stock! I hope it brightens your day.

Looking forward to getting my copy!

Solving, constructing for, and editing for @avcx.bsky.social has been one of the greatest joys of my puzzling life. If you’re looking for a great gift that supports independent media, check out this fantastic subscription - minis, full-size crosswords, cryptics, and trivia to your inbox weekly.

Always love @francisheaney.bsky.social's difficulty ratings! I've got this week's AVCX cryptic -- free to subscribers, or buy for $1! Big thanks for the expert editing, @naytnaytnayt.bsky.social, such a pleasure to work with you. avxwords.com/buy-individu...

Sega's hedgehog holds variable speed for many players (9) It's always a pleasure to be back in The Independent #cryptic #crossword. I hope it brightens your day! puzzles.independent.co.uk/games/crypti...

Sara's Halloween cryptic is an annual highlight in The Browser. No time like the present to check out all five of them if you haven't!

Crossword's conclusion leaves spirit low (3) @danfeyer.bsky.social at The Browser Crossword was the first editor to take a chance on me as a beginning cryptic setter, so I thought I'd make a little tribute puzzle on the blog. I hope it brightens your day! squarepursuit.com/2025/10/22/s...

I've had a go at a puzzle for the American market in @avcx.bsky.social . avxwords.com. Thanks to @francisheaney.bsky.social for getting it in shape. I was advised against too much depressing reality, but was allowed one: Perhaps Trump and Musk supporting introduction of fascism (5)

Too American to lead English orchestra (4) Dwelling as The Beatles were in Hamburg? (6) I set today's Independent #cryptic #crossword. I hope it brightens your day! puzzles.independent.co.uk/games/crypti...

Quick thing I gotta go do (4)

Mel Taub, the former Puns and Anagrams constructor and prince of puns, has died at 97. Obit written by the incomparable Penelope Green. www.nytimes.com/2025/09/24/c...

Me today: Wishes for a sweet new year, and has at nova spread (5,4)

Dictator's hurt nation's capital (4) Delay evident in reactions to new allegations (9) I set today's Independent #cryptic #crossword. I hope it brightens your day!

90 is a lot of puzzles, David. 🐙

I used to make these Quiptics to help my fellow North Americans grasp the more deceptive UK cluing style by limiting the wordplay devices to one per clue. Every once in a while I get the urge to set a few more for my old blog. Here's a new batch. squarepursuit.com/2025/08/19/q... #cryptic #crossword

In life things are rarely black and white. Except peppermint patties. People either love them or hate them.

I have a beginner-level mini #cryptic #crossword out on AVCX (@avcx.bsky.social). It's been fun working with @mossdef.bsky.social as editor. Do subscribe/buy if you can! avxwords.com/puzzles/1857/

Mog day in the Indy! Always good fun // @mossdef.bsky.social puzzles.independent.co.uk/games/crypti...

It was a real pleasure editing this one, and not a cryptic to sleep on if you're up for the challenge!