Cracking The Cryptic

Vlogging about how to solve cryptic crosswords, Sudoku and other logic puzzles

[Cracking The Cryptic @crypticcracking]

GCHQ's codebreakers voted this puzzle, designed by their Chief Puzzler "Colin", as the single best Puzzle Of The Year.

We finally got our hands on a copy and tried to crack it...

Our attempt took over 2 hours... Full video link in the reply below!

@GCHQ
#puzzleoftheyear

[Cracking The Cryptic @crypticcracking]

You can get in the top 100 on the leaderboard of today's @thetimes crossword if you "solve" the puzzle with 24 errors! That's how hard it is!! Watch us have a go at this masterpiece by John Guiver here:

https://t.co/YHMVvwIhuE

@Mickhodgkin
@serpent_xwords
#crossword

[Cracking The Cryptic @crypticcracking]

These are the halcyon days of sudoku. Tonight's puzzle features Phistomefel's NEW Ring!

https://t.co/sejumiDXtp

[Cracking The Cryptic @crypticcracking]

Another candidate for Puzzle Of The Year tonight... this time from Marty Sears in the form of "Loopy Tiles", an exceptionally interesting and clever 6x6 sudoku that AI would get smashed by :)

https://t.co/ezIC3kk31h

#puzzle
#ArtificialIntelligence

[Cracking The Cryptic @crypticcracking]

Two sudoku experts are back playing Lorelei and the Laser Eyes now... will they understand the story this week?!

https://t.co/l6UVs4OLFV

[Cracking The Cryptic @crypticcracking]

On Saturday James McGaughey created a crossword for the Grand Final of The Times Crossword Championship which stumped even the greatest solver of all-time! Today he returns in @thetimes with another Faberge Egg of a puzzle:

https://t.co/GUtcm6A2f8

@Mickhodgkin
@serpent_xwords

[Cracking The Cryptic @crypticcracking]

Two sudoku experts are playing Lorelei and the Laser Eyes now at the link below... it's quite funny...

https://t.co/vyVcYsQZui

[Cracking The Cryptic @crypticcracking]

A magnificent puzzle from @thetimes today by Ed Hall! Here's our masterclass live-solving it:
https://t.co/Qs8JvYLNdV

There's also news about tomorrow's Times Crossword Championship...!

@Mickhodgkin
@serpent_xwords

[Cracking The Cryptic @crypticcracking]

Simply one of the CLEVEREST things we've seen since the channel launched 9 years ago.... and we've seen a LOT of clever things.

https://t.co/g7DCkc1GBS

[Cracking The Cryptic @crypticcracking]

We're streaming Lorelei and the Laser Eyes now. Want to watch two "sudoku experts" attempting these puzzles?!

https://t.co/FK48ZtBiy5

[Cracking The Cryptic @crypticcracking]

We're streaming later but, in the meantime, check out this astonishing sudoku, Fireworks by SamuPiano. Look at how short the thermometers are... how can this solve?!

https://t.co/y9MkVorNpk

[Cracking The Cryptic @crypticcracking]

Here's our Friday masterclass solving today's @thetimes crossword.

https://t.co/MIRn8kuX1p

Sad news about @Independent ceasing their daily puzzle. Let's hope this gets reversed when they realise how popular cryptics are becoming. #minutecryptic

@serpent_xwords
@Mickhodgkin

[Cracking The Cryptic @crypticcracking]

Two sudoku experts are back playing Lorelei and the Laser Eyes... right now... love to have your company if you're free:

https://t.co/cFOS7RJqpu

[Cracking The Cryptic @crypticcracking]

We were shocked to hear that @Independent might stop publishing a daily cryptic crossword. In this bonus video, Simon solves their fantastic Sunday xword & hopes this won't happen (given the explosion of interest in the hobby due to minutecryptic etc).

https://t.co/WU06PiMYRP

[Cracking The Cryptic @crypticcracking]

An incredible crossword today in @thetimes by John Guiver! Here's our masterclass video - a privilege to solve it.

https://t.co/ynJfjwKMZQ

@serpent_xwords
@Mickhodgkin
#crossword
#cryptic

[Cracking The Cryptic @crypticcracking]

Two sudoku guys are back playing Lorelei and the Laser Eyes this evening... love to have your company if you're free!

https://t.co/Q6KyhODABC

[Cracking The Cryptic @crypticcracking]

https://t.co/mKkMg7lfIQ

[Cracking The Cryptic @crypticcracking]

One of the great sudoku puzzles tonight on the channel. It's by Phistomefel and we think it would make an interesting @numberphile episode. Let us know @BradyHaran :)

Link in the comment below.

[Cracking The Cryptic @crypticcracking]

He's BACK!! Phistomefel has made a new sudoku so it's beholden on us to try to solve it!!

https://t.co/gLS0fCs7H8

[Cracking The Cryptic @crypticcracking]

Here's our Friday masterclass on today's @thetimes cryptic crossword! Lovely puzzle as always by Andy McCarroll with lots of interesting vocab...

https://t.co/WFf7iNjbia

@Mickhodgkin
@serpent_xwords
#crossword

[Cracking The Cryptic @crypticcracking]

A fascinating crossword today from James McGaughey in @thetimes. Here's our masterclass on how to solve it:

https://t.co/l5Z2mXpic0

@serpent_xwords
@Mickhodgkin
#crossword