Hello, Quipsters!
Thanks for stopping by. As usual, this quiptic contains only one wordplay device per clue and comes with a “helpers” version revealing the type of device ahead of time. I hope it’s fun for new and seasoned solvers alike.
Thanks to Will for the test solve!
Take care and enjoy the puzzle. See you in October with quiptics here and all sorts of other cryptic fun in other venues!
plain: solve online / puz / pdf
helpers: solve online / puz / pdf
Greetings, Quipsters!
Thanks for coming by. Here’s your first quiptic of the fourth quarter, and I do so hope you enjoy it. As usual, it’s a one-device-per-clue puzzle, with a helpers version which reveals said device up front. I’ve got an unusual one in there that should be fun if you spot it. Thanks to Will for test-solving.
I’ve got some fun cryptics popping up in a few different places over the next two months, and I’m looking forward to sharing those with you as well. Stay tuned!
Take care and enjoy the puzzle! Back in two weeks with another quiptic.
plain: solve online / puz / pdf
helpers: solve online / puz / pdf
Hello, Quipsters!
Thanks for stopping by. Today’s quiptic, as usual, contains only one device per clue, which can be revealed to you ahead of time should you choose the version with “helpers.” I hope it’s fun for solvers old and new alike.
Thanks to Will for test-solving!
Take care and enjoy the puzzle, people! I’ll seeeee yooooouuu, in Septemmmmmberrr…..
plain: solve online / puz / pdf
helpers: solve online / puz / pdf
Hello, Quipsters! I hope the dog days have treated you well. I’ve got a fun one for you with some longer stuff in it this time around. As usual, it’s one device per clue, revealed freely in the “helpers” version. Thanks, as always, to Will for test solving.
It’s my turn again at The Browser this weekend. If you haven’t gotten to check these cryptics out yet, I highly recommend a reasonably-priced subscription. I’m on a roster with some of North America’s most excellent setters, and there’s a really wide range of styles represented. I’ll be chasing it on Monday with a very silly Square Chase variety cryptic.
Speaking of awesome fellow Browser setters, I’ll be a guest on Will Nediger’s Twitch stream at 9PM on August 18th, joining him and ace solver/cryptic experts Hayley Gold and Al Sanders to learn about Stephen Sondheim’s cryptics and tackle one of his classic puzzles. I hope you can join me then!
That’s all from me! Take care and enjoy the puzzle.
plain: solve online / puz / pdf
helpers: solve online / puz / pdf
Hello Quipsters!
Happy midsummer! You know the drill — one device per clue, which the helpers version will let you know about up front. This should be on the harder end of my quiptics, so hopefully it’s more of a savor than a suffer for you! Thanks to Will for the test solving.
Take care, enjoy the puzzle, and I’ll see you next month with more quiptics, Square Chases, and a Browser cryptic to boot!
plain: solve online / puz / pdf
helpers: solve online / puz / pdf
Hello, Quipsters!
I hope you folks are enjoying the summer. I’ve been taking it easy on puzzle construction these past couple weeks but am happy to share this quiptic with you today. It has one device per clue, which is revealed early in parentheses in the “helpers” version. I hope newcomers and seasoned solvers enjoy it alike. Thanks to Will for the test solve.
I’ll be back in two weeks with another quiptic and a Square Chase in the meantime. Take care and enjoy the puzzle!
plain: solve online / puz / pdf
helpers: solve online / puz / pdf
Hello, Cryptids!
The last time I did one of these puzzles, it was the beginning of winter, and people really seemed to love it. Now it’s the beginning of summer and I think I’m going to make it a twice-yearly tradition.
For those who haven’t done an alphabetical jigsaw, it’s a cryptic crossword in which the clues are listed alphabetically and at least one answer begins with each letter, A-Z. The catch is that you don’t know where to put them, and need to do some inferring along the way using the clue order, length of entries, crossing letters, and trial and error.
Commonly this kind of grid has 26 entries, one for each letter, but I’m choosing to go with a 28 entry variety in which two pairs of entries share the same square in the grid (and first letter to go with it). I first encountered this sort of layout in the Financial Times, where alphabetical jigsaws are in the very capable hands of Julius (Knut). That extra little break-in point helped me out a lot, particularly as a new solver at the time. I’ve also followed his lead in making many of the first letters of entries checked, as opposed to unchecked, as you often see in jigsaws.
That said, this is still not an easy puzzle as mine go, and it’s definitely a stiffer challenge than last December’s offering. I’ve come to enjoy doing some harder clues than we typically see in the States when posting full-sized grids here. I hope it’s tricky in a fun way and that you enjoy solving it!
Thanks to Mental Playground and the fellas at The Rackenfracker for test solving.
Take care and enjoy! I’ll be back in July with quiptics and more.
pdf / ipuz (squares.io or Puzzazz on mobile) / solution & explanations
Hello Quipsters,
Happy summer! Thanks for stopping by. I’m kicking off a pretty dense 10 days of crosswords with the easiest of the bunch. It’s got one device per clue, and the helpers version tells you which device to look for each time. I hope it’s fun for both the beginners and the daredevils who time themselves and race each other alike! Thanks, as always, to Will for being a great quiptic test solve guy.
In seven days there will be the twice-yearly alphabetical jigsaw cryptic, which should be one of the hardest things to date this site but also one of the most rewarding. Then, on the first of July I’m dropping a really unusual Square Chase variety cryptic that I’m also pretty excited about. Add a Saturday Stumper somewhere in that mix and it’s going to be good times.
Take care and enjoy the puzzle! See you with that challenge next week.
plain: solve online / puz / pdf
helpers: solve online / puz / pdf
Hello, Quipsters!
Thanks for stopping by. I made you a one-device-per-clue quiptic with a helper version to tell you which device is being used. It may be a teensy bit harder than some others, but we’ll have to see what you think. I hope it’s fun! Thanks to Will for test solving.
I’ve still got that alphabetical jigsaw on its way this month as well as another little quiptic, but I think I’m going to push it to the 29th, as I don’t want to overshadow the Square Chase puzzle dropping next Wednesday. If you’re looking for something quite hard (though non-cryptic) in the meantime, my Saturday Stumper from the other day might occupy you for a while!
Square Chase vc next Wednesday, Quiptic in 14 days, Alphabetical Jigsaw in 21 days!
Take care and enjoy the puzzle!
plain: solve online / puz / pdf
helpers: solve online / puz / pdf
Hello, Quipsters!
Today’s puzzle is 95.54% one-device-per-clue, which is to say I mistakenly put something extra into 1-Across and liked it too much to get rid of it. This darling lives! The rest is as straightforward as usual, and the “helpers” version will give you a boost by telling you what to look for. Thanks to Will for test solving. We’ve got something cool appearing elsewhere soon!
I’ll see you in two weeks with another quiptic, followed by a special cryptic treat the following week. If you’re looking for a stiffer challenge in the meantime, my Browser puzzle from this past weekend was a bit of a workout, or if you want to get more playful and do a variety cryptic, I’ve got something fun coming at Square Chase in one week.
Take care and enjoy the puzzle!
plain: solve online / puz / pdf
helpers: solve online / puz / pdf
Square Pursuit 