Hello!

What is it about cryptic clues that makes them so addictive? We humans are programmed to relish a challenge, whether physical or mental, stretching our muscles or our thinking powers.

And what better mind challenge than solving a cryptic crossword? Like a whodunnit detective novel, the details are there but they need to be unravelled. Lateral thinking must be employed, the evidence must be analysed and you, the puzzler, are sometimes led up the garden path with a red herring. When you finally solve the mystery, or finish the last clue, it often seems so obvious that you wonder how it took you so long. But the satisfaction you receive makes all the effort worthwhile.

A cryptic clue is like a riddle, where the real meaning is hidden. The tricky part is finding out what sort of clue it is, e.g. anagram, phonetic, double meaning, etc. It’s the compiler’s job to camouflage the join between the straightforward meaning and the circuitous part, so you need to keep your wits about you!

By the way, the word cryptic comes from the Greek kruptos meaning ‘concealed’, which also describes a crypt – a secret place such as an underground burial vault. And you may feel you’re in a vault, groping in the dark, until the light of a sudden brainwave makes your way clear.

Thanks to all of you who have written to tell us how much you love solving our cryptic crosswords. We really do appreciate your opinions, and your tales of wrestling with that last wretched clue! Remember you’re giving your brain cells a good workout, so good luck and…

Happy Puzzling!