Hello, Quipsters!

Thanks for coming by. I’ve got another gentle quiptic for you today. You know the drill: one device per clue, and the helpers version tells you what it is. I hope you enjoy! Thanks to Will Eisenberg for test solving.

I’ve launched my Patreon for Square Chase, in which subscribers will get a fresh variety cryptic on the 1st and 15th of every month in 2022. I’m really humbled by the amount of people who have already signed up. If you like what you see here, I hope you’ll join us on the adventure!

Take care and enjoy! I’ll be back next week with a special kind of cryptic puzzle that will likely be new to many of my fellow Americans!

plain: solve online / puz / pdf

helpers: solve online / puz / pdf

solution and explanations

Hello Quipsters!

Thanks for coming by for the first of two December quiptics. As usual, this one is aimed at solvers looking for more straightforward wordplay, and the one device used in each clue is revealed to anyone who likes in the “helpers” version. Thanks to Will Eisenberg for the test solve.

There’s no one right way to make a cryptic — even a relatively gentle one. One totally valid way to make a puzzle easier, very common in North America, is to hide things less on the surface. My strategy here is to simplify the wordplay instead while still hiding the definition a good deal. This might make my quiptics a touch harder at first than other gentle American cryptics. It’s the way I prefer to experience puzzles when solving, and I hope the beguiling experience is fun for you too!

Take care and enjoy the puzzle! I’ll see you next week with a variety cryptic and more news about my new Square Chase subscription series.

plain: solve online / puz / pdf

helpers: solve online / puz / pdf

solution and explanations

Welcome, Quipsters!

It’s time for another gentle quiptic. Newer solvers, did you know that cross-referenced clues in cryptics are usually written more compactly than in their non-cryptic cousins? For example, this puzzle has a cross-reference referring to “8.” In a non-cryptic, that would be “8-Down,” but since there’s no across entry in the grid for that number, I get to be more succinct. Remember to check the “helpers” version if you want to see which device (only one per clue) is being used. I hope this is a fun one for everybody — remember to ignore that punctuation!

Thanks to Will for the test solve!

Take care and enjoy the puzzle. I’ll see you in 48 hours with a Variety Cryptic which is, in my opinion, very much on the gentle side as well.

plain: solve online / puz / pdf

helpers: solve online / puz / pdf

solution and explanations

Welcome, Quipsters!

Thanks for stopping by. This is a cryptic week, so I’d thought I’d open things up with a gentle puzzle. As usual, it has one device per clue, which is revealed to anybody who wants in the “helpers” version. I hope it’s fun for everybody who’s curious! My gratitude to Will Eisenberg for test solving.

In site news, I’ve finally organized all the puzzles and made them easier to access in a drop-down menu on the left. I’ll admit I hadn’t been to Square Pursuit since the month I launched it, and yikes! You should be able to get your hands on what you’re looking for more easily now. My standard disclaimer is that I wasn’t as strong a constructor back on those early puzzles, and while they’re still fun, I can’t promise they’re as fair!

The survey for the betterment/expansion of Square Pursuit is up for one more week if you’re interested in making your voice heard and haven’t done so yet. Thanks so much to the many who have already responded.

Take care and enjoy the puzzle. I’ll be back on Wednesday with a challenging blocked cryptic.

plain: solve online / puz / pdf

helpers: solve online / puz / pdf

solution & explanations

Hello Quiptickers!

Nice to see you. I’m putting up a little appetizer here before the spooooky variety cryptic. As usual, it’s one device per clue, and the helpers version tells you which one to look for. Here’s hoping it’s fun for newcomers and oldcomers alike.

Thanks to Will for the test solve!

Take care and enjoy the quiptic. Back with the variety in 48 hours.

plain: solve online / puz / pdf

helpers: solve online / puz / pdf

solution and explanations

I’ve got a tricky one coming on Wednesday so why not start the week of with a quiptic? As usual, it’s one device per clue, and that device is freely given in the version with “helpers.” This one has two less common devices in it (especially from me). I hope it’s fun for newcomers and grizzled veterans alike!

Thanks, as always, to Will for test-solving!

Take care and enjoy the puzzle! Back with a tougher blocked cryptic the day after tomorrow.

plain: solve online / puz / pdf

helpers: solve online / puz / pdf

solution & explanations

Hello, cryptic friends!

It’s the fifth Wednesday of September so I’m here with a quiptic for you. As usual, the helpers version tells you which device is being used in each clue (there’s only one per). Here’s hoping it’s fun for newcomers and seasoned solvers alike. Thanks, as always, to Will Eisenberg for the test solve.

October should be fun around here! I’ve got a timely themed crossword next week and a cryptic challenger the following Wednesday. There should be more quiptics peppered in throughout the fall as well.

Take care and enjoy the quiptic!

plain: solve online / puz / pdf

helpers: solve online / puz / pdf

solution and explanations

Welcome, Cryptic Solvers!

Thanks for stopping by. Today’s quiptic, as usual, features one device per clue, and the version with helpers tells you which device is being used. I hope it’s fun for new solvers and veterans alike! Thanks to Will Eisenberg for the test solve.

Take care and enjoy the puzzle! I’ve got a themeless challenger coming in 6 days, a gentler variety cryptic in 13, and a quiptic in 20!

plain: solve online / puz / pdf

helpers: solve online / puz / pdf

solution and explanations

Hey, cryptic fans!

Thanks for stopping by! I’m dropping a quiptic here for your enjoyment. You know the drill: one cryptic device per clue, and the helper version tells you which one to use. I hope it’s a fun challenge for newcomers and a good speed solve for seasoned folks. Thanks to Will Eisenberg for testing all these puzzles!

If you liked today’s puzzle, and are still easing into solving full-size, harder puzzles, I recommend the variety cryptic that’s coming on Wednesday. It’s a noticeable spike in difficulty, but I’ve taken pains to make this one pretty approachable for the format.

Take care, enjoy the quiptic, and see you in 48 hours with the August variety cryptic!

plain: solve online / puz / pdf

helpers: solve online / puz / pdf

solution and explanations

Hello, cryptic folks!

It’s quiptic time again! As usual, it’s one device per clue, and the helper version tells you which device it is! I hope this one’s fun for new solvers and speed demons alike. Thanks to folks who have been dipping their toes in, racing each other, or streaming these to spread the cryptic love to new people. It means a ton to me!

A note on helper annotations: sometimes I use the phrase “letter sequence” after a clue. That’s my way of saying to look for an acrostic or alternating letter device without telling you exactly what to do and ruining the fun!

Thanks to Will Eisenberg for the test solve!

Take care and enjoy! I’ll see you on Wednesday with a blocked cryptic which should give a stiffer challenge.

plain: solve online / puz / pdf

helpers: solve online / puz / pdf

solution & explanations