The Guardian is known as a welcoming haven for newcomers to cryptic crosswords. If you’re feeling unsure about where to begin, think of this as your warm welcome party!
According to Alan Connor, a leading figure at The Guardian, the essential first rule when it comes to cryptic crosswords is that there’s no such thing as cheating. “Using a dictionary, consulting a solver’s blog, or even calling a friend is perfectly fine,” Connor says. “After all, it’s your puzzle to solve.” He also points out that most online puzzles feature a “reveal this” option for added assistance.
For absolute beginners, Connor recommends starting with the “quick cryptic.” Here, the setters take a gentler approach, creating smaller grids and explicitly showing which tricks they are using. You can check out the archive for more.
What’s next in your crossword journey? The best advice is to tackle puzzles alongside a friend or family member, whether in person or through a messaging app. The ideal starting points for beginners include the following three user-friendly series:
– The Quiptic, which is designed “for beginners and those in a hurry,” is available exclusively online every Sunday.
– The Everyman, a staple in The Observer since 1945, continues to offer a friendly challenge. Connor is proud to be its sixth setter.
– And on Mondays, the puzzles from The Guardian are crafted to be quicker while still keeping you entertained.
As you progress and solve more puzzles, you’ll start to recognize the setters’ names much like you would the names of your favorite authors or friends. To deepen that connection, The Guardian has launched an interview series called “Meet the Setter.”
When it comes to cracking these crossword codes, Connor asserts that there are about ten basic tricks along with various abbreviations you might already know. The Guardian has made these tricks easy to understand, with what solvers have described as “perfect clarity.” You can explore these devices, which include hidden answers, double definitions, cryptic definitions, homophones, and more, at your own pace.
Additionally, there are a multitude of references and abbreviations connected to everyday life—everything from Roman numerals and foreign words to names of cities and brands.
Before you know it, you’ll be entering the weekend prize puzzles every Saturday and tackling the notoriously tricky monthly Genius puzzle. If you find yourself puzzled by an answer, you can always turn to the solvers’ blog, Fifteensquared, for clarity.
Ultimately, the goal of each setter is to provide a delightful challenge, aiming to lose gracefully to you after a brief struggle, while bringing you joy throughout the solving process.
