FISO Christmas 2014 Fantasy Sports Cryptic Crossword

[admin]

If, like me, you enjoy tackling a cryptic crossword then you may like to have a go at my first attempt at setting one: FISO's Christmas 2014 Cryptic Crossword.

On 12 January I will make a random draw of all correct entries emailed to me (please write your fiso username on the grid when emailing me your completed entry) and the winner will win either a fiso mug or cash of £10 (winner's choice).

You can download a full copy here to print out:
http://www.fiso.co.uk/FISO-Christmas-20 ... ssword.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Or a cleaner copy of just the grid is here:
http://www.fiso.co.uk/FISO-Xmas-crossword.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
along with just the clues here:
http://www.fiso.co.uk/fiso-crossword-clues.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I have had a couple of people (crossworders but not FF players) check it so hopefully there are no mistakes on my part.

[murf]

Good stuff

Printed out - and I've got 4 across already - thankfully not a modern clue (for me)

[BobMem]

Cool! Will try and remember this when passing the last hours at work on Wednesday!

[Digsby]

Never been able to do a cryptic crossword in my life.

Come to think of it don't think I've ever finished any type of crossword.

[admin]

First completed entry received after 2 hours but 42d not correct.

[admin]

JPK with the 1st completely correct entry in.

[murf]

17 is down not across (but I'm sure folks will figure that out)

[BobMem]

Ok, first glance at this:

F me it's hard.

Got 1 of the answers on the first pass

[asm_fanz]

Quick question, is it doable if you're not British?

[admin]

Ok, first glance at this:

F me it's hard.

Got 1 of the answers on the first pass

Is that your own crossword clue??

I've had more than 1 completely correct grid submitted so it is doable but experience with cryptic crosswords (e.g. The Telegraph's) is of help.

Many cryptic crossword clues have two parts to them (each leading to the same answer) and part of the puzzle is deciphering where the 2 parts are within the clue. So for example 'Eastern country's landed property (6)' would be 'Estate' where the 1st 2 words are one part and the 2nd two words the 2nd part i.e. 'E' for Eastern then 'state' for country and 'Estate' is a landed property.

Also look out for anagram 'triggers'. For example, 'She lets bra loose getting excited (10)' is 'Breathless' because 'loose' is the anagram trigger for 'she lets bra'. (Wonder why I remembered that one!) or 'Deep Purple get a man rocking (7)' would be 'Magenta' with 'rocking' the anagram trigger.

And look out for double meaning clues - e.g. 'Its passengers don't take flight (4)' would be 'Lift' ('flight' refers to a flight of stairs) or 'dead centre? (8)' would be 'cemetry'.

And look out for words/letters being moved around, for example, 'Doctor has consumed last of flat fish (8)' would be 'Sturgeon' i.e. Surgeon with 't' (last of 'flat') within.

There are other nuances with cryptic clues; too many to list.

[admin]

Quick question, is it doable if you're not British?

It should be but will be harder. If you think the example clues in my post above are doable then have a go and see if you can complete one quarter of the grid and then take from there.

[admin]

Good stuff

Printed out - and I've got 4 across already - thankfully not a modern clue (for me)

Have you got any more than 4 across now?

[Knulpuk]

Just the thing for NYE in the office!

will tackle now

[Knulpuk]

Hmm 70% there - as always its the short words that do me in.

Hang your head Admin for 39 across, hang your head.

Edit 7 to go...

[Knulpuk]

Stuck on the bottom right 4 small clues - If I can just get one....

[jpk]

i could help you but if you won the mug you'd have to lend it to me every Friday

[Knulpuk]

Aha - all done - as always get one and they fall in to place - though not sure I get 42d - emailed over if you can list all the errors I will try and iron them out later

[Knulpuk]

i could help you but if you won the mug you'd have to lend it to me every Friday

You work near by - could leave it in the cistern of the toilet in the Bell Inn by Cannon Street every Thursday evening. and you could drop it in so to speak every Monday - I can guarantee it will never be found by a cleaner.

[hancockjr]

Only just seen this - I love cryptic crosswords so will give it a go when I can print it.

For anyone interested in them in general, the great benefit of the Telegraph one is there is a blog "Big Dave's Crossworld Blog" that tells you not only the answers but why they are correct, which really helps to learn the tricks.

[murf]

Good stuff

Printed out - and I've got 4 across already - thankfully not a modern clue (for me)

Have you got any more than 4 across now?

Got most of them. Think I was stuck on about 6 of them......

[admin]

Aha - all done - as always get one and they fall in to place - though not sure I get 42d - emailed over if you can list all the errors I will try and iron them out later

42d not correct and also 35d.

I can see why it's tempting to put 'Goals' as the answer to 42d but there is a answer that fits better with the 'graduated' clue (though maybe I should have used 'permanently' instead of 'all the time' in the clue which might have helped a little bit).

[Knulpuk]

Aha - all done - as always get one and they fall in to place - though not sure I get 42d - emailed over if you can list all the errors I will try and iron them out later

42d not correct and also 35d.

I can see why it's tempting to put 'Goals' as the answer to 42d but there is a answer that fits better with the 'graduated' clue (though maybe I should have used 'permanently' instead of 'all the time' in the clue which might have helped a little bit).

I think the clue is fair it's just that goals jumped out and I never thought through the 2nd part of the clue as soon as you said it jumped out at me!

[Bertie64]

Hey! No extra clues, please...

[Bertie64]

Here's one for fun:

Could poor frogs sample just how the game might be played in the park? (7,3,9)

[Grant]

Think I'm there! Bottom corner was tricky - knowing that 42d wasn't goals helped - get that clue now

[admin]

Here's one for fun:

Could poor frogs sample just how the game might be played in the park? (7,3,9)

Nice anagram.

[murf]

Finally got 9A - I understand the overall and end part but don't get how the first two letters are got - PM please


EDIT _ knulpuk has explained it - never heard of that usage in a crossword before!

[Bertie64]

Here's one for fun:

Could poor frogs sample just how the game might be played in the park? (7,3,9)

Nice anagram.

Thanks, and for the crossword too.
I used to do The Telegraph or The Times every day but it's just too damn expensive to buy the paper (about €4/5) here in Spain and I had a lot of issues with their website. I always enjoy them though.

[admin]

I used to do The Telegraph or The Times every day but it's just too damn expensive to buy the paper (about €4/5) here in Spain and I had a lot of issues with their website. I always enjoy them though.

Have you thought about just taking a photo of the Tele/Times crossword from the paper with your smartphone when out in Spain (assuming you have a printer). Or asking a relative to do same from their copy and email it to you?

[admin]

Finally got 9A - I understand the overall and end part but don't get how the first two letters are got - PM please

EDIT _ knulpuk has explained it - never heard of that usage in a crossword before!

'odd' is often used that way in the Telegraph crossword which is the one I do.