So grateful to have one of my puzzles featured in the May 2026 issue of @gamesmagazine.bsky.social 🙌🤯

Live now.

We're not deliberately picking alliterative setters, but today turns out to be Gennaro and Gumboot on #CrypticSunday - join us at 12 noon for collaborative crossword chat! twitch.tv/crypticsunday

Today's lunchtime cryptic crossword stream starts at 1pm! A crossword stream? On a Friday?!?! Imagine! twitch.tv/brainmage

Interested in learning to solve cryptic crossword clues but not sure where to start? Minute Cryptic features *courses*--interactive lessons that are fun & gradual. They're available on the main page of the website or app (for both Android and iPhone). And it's free! www.youtube.com/watch?v=_OpP...

The results are in... 🥇 @andrewt.net 🥈 @adamlp.bsky.social 🥉 Meles

Personally I think "friction-maxxing" sounds a bit filthy but if you want to attempt a puzzle you're not good at*, feel free to pre-order Issue 3 of Unch at unchcrosswords.com *or that you are good at, if you are good a cryptic crosswords.

Very pretty!

That’s a lot of good puzzles. // @petermoorefuller.bsky.social

I absolutely loved this! It looked intriguing, so I tried it, using MyCrossword for the first time, and the 'highlight definitions' feature was essential for me to start it. The annotated solutions also revealed more of the cleverness than I had seen while solving. #CrypticCrossword

When a clue setter is touched by genius. This was in yesterday's Times cryptic puzzle, with thanks to @jonathancoe.bsky.social for the heads-up. Unbeatable chorizo served up by Puck? (11) Not that easy, but when you get it...just chapeau! (I'll post answer in replies, not as part of a thread)

What I want to know about cryptic crosswords is how do British people learn them? I mean, do they have crosswords with their mom and dad at the dinner table and discuss various substitutions?… because there’s such a large amount of substitution and various odd knowledge needed. Thoughts?

I set this week's @avcx.bsky.social cryptic. avxwords.com/puzzles/2030/

Recommended

Hi #crossword folks, it's been a little while so I'm gracing your feeds with another weekend Cryptick update! ✅ HEADLINE: Cryptick has changed from a plain text interface to a "card-based" interface. A consistent design language means I can be more efficient, and do more, with the space 🎉 (1/4)

Happy Easter Saturday! This time (ish, it was Easter!) last year, a new setter, arrived in the Guardian, the first to debut in the Quick Cryptic series! Today her 10th (including one paper-only) puzzle appears and she’s still pinching herself and feeling very honoured 🥰 #cryptic #crossword

Yeah, I know some people won't approach crossword puzzles because they're too stressed out about "cheating" by looking up answers, so they don't know what to do when they get stuck and I'm like, you can ABSOLUTELY use a reference, that's how you learn!

“Stop the brain rot! 12 ways to stay sharp in a mind-frazzling world” www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...

Oh dear, oh dear! Here's today's "Masterclass" on @thetimes.com crossword (by our friend John Grimshaw). It was all going ok until... youtu.be/PSEIdeCnx-8 The video also takes a look at Josh Wardle (inventor of #wordle)'s new game: Parseword. @josh.powerlanguage.co.uk

New #cryptic #crossword puzzle dropping shortly to HenriWords email subscribers, check your inbox 📥 It features one of those wacky grids in two halves with two sets of clues and you have to work out where they fit ☺️ Happy solving!

❤️❤️❤️

Bonus video on the excellent E-grade puzzle in the Magpie that was as close as it gets to the Puzzle Made Specifically for Me. (and a follow-up to their previous Magpie) Another half a dozen of these and we could publish "Best Cryptic Walks by Styphalides (with maps)" www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iqaz...

A two-puzzle day, in collaboration with @gnomoncryptics.bsky.social: He edited our new Rackenfracker, and we co-wrote a monster for his latest issue. Hope your pencil sharpener is working.

So excited for this debut! Congratulations to Penelope, hope it’s the first of many! #cryptic #crossword

Hopefully getting Issue 3 finals off to the printer this evening, so if you were thinking of doing a pre-order now would be a VERY GOOD TIME to do that! unchcrosswords.com

Not to be too self-trumpet-blowing, but I solve cryptic crosswords around 1pm UK time every work day at www.twitch.tv/brainmage! There's a lot of nonsense and some bad language, but a lot of viewers have learned how to solve by watching!

It seems like a good day for a debut (see my previous post)! Apropos of nothing, of course 😉, I hope anyone solving the Times 15x15 enjoys it today, do let me know… #cryptic #crossword

Oh wow congrats! 🎉🎉🎉

If I may plug my own YouTube channel, I post my solves of the Guardian's daily and Quiptic crosswords and the Observer's Everyman. I'm not at the level of Simon and Mark at Cracking the Cryptic, but I hope my videos are somewhat enlightening. youtu.be/WuSSc2uGWl0?...

Thanks to everyone that's bought a copy so far!

Some of you might remember my 2025 mission to learn how to do cryptic crosswords. Delighted to say I was the General’s “chief researcher” on the latest episode of #OffGridPod, a podcast for cruciverbalists and the curious… Intrigued? Listen here podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/o...

I hate when I do the guardian cryptic crossword and there are 100 cricket references

The eagle-eyed among you might have spotted; Cryptick now has dedicated links to Clue of the Day entries! 🔗 Current and historical (but not future, of course!) COTD are available at: https:// cryptick. wildvale. co. uk/cotd/YYYY-MM-DD.html

**King’s Cousin’s Cooking – Ep. 71** In which the King’s Cousin’s Cooking, we appreciate a joke from a terrible source, get a grip on some names, and try not to say too much. === If that doesn’t sound like the worst possible form of podcast, then please […] [Original post on offgrid.tlmb.net]

I have been trying to learn how to solve cryptic crosswords. The level of satisfaction I just got from solving the Guardian's quick cryptic in 15 minutes is off the charts. Their regular cryptics, though? Oof. I've got a long ways to go... Recommendations welcome. I do have Minute Cryptic!

Unch magazine is an absolute treasure for solvers, plus it's printed on some of the most aesthetically and ergonomically pleasing paper I've ever wrapped my greasy little fingers around. I implore you: treat yo' self.

Streaming from 12 noon UK time - current time is here in case you're confused about BST: www.mubd.net.au/tv-history/t...

OK everyone - we have a cover sorted out and pre-sales are open! Roll up and buy one now at unchcrosswords.com Please do repost and share where you can, I'm really keen to get these excellent puzzles in front of as many people as possible...

Just published a new puzzle on MyCrossword which might have special interest for some of you. Always hoping to do better next time, so can I entice anyone with time and interest into doing an occasional test solve for me - happily return favour if wanted. Cryptic crossword No 3,249 · MyCrossword

Next #offgridpod features this #crossword. Not required solving at all, but do if you wish to avoid spoilers. https://www.theguardian.com/crosswords/quiptic/1370

Today's Clue of the Day comes to you from a new guest setter; @lowdowncryptic.bsky.social! Assume the writer of this clue's a new form of Gen AI (7) #cryptic #crossword

Coming next week - The Gnomon closes out its first year with our first three-big-puzzles issue. Contributions from Bob Weisz, Bob Stigger, JonMichael Rasmus, Sean Weitner, and Andy Yingst.

Huge thanks to @wildvale.co.uk for adding a lovely Unch advert to the Cryptick page ❤️

Today's Clue of the Day, and what a beautiful sunny day it is! 🌞 A spot with grub for ordering! (9) #cryptic #crossword

🎉🎉🎉

📣 New bonus episode of the @grammargirl.bsky.social - with @natanlast.bsky.social talking about the crossword puzzle's role in World War II and the fight against Nazism. shows.acast.com/69c1476c007c...

*Commercial Break* Before I finish this thread please take a moment to go to unchcrosswords.com to order Issue 3 which is coming out soon 😁 (I will solve the puzzles in Issue 3 in October…)

I've started a draft post of suggestions for people that have been doing Parseword or Minute Cryptic and want to 'graduate' to doing whole puzzles. Ideas for additions/changes etc very welcome! www.wyrd.systems/posts/next-s...