How to Solve Cryptic Crossword Puzzles | The New Yorker

[@scout_finch]

I want a more of Erik Agard! He's a great character with a lateral-thinking mind!

[@Nature_r-n6v]

This was great, I been tryin to find out about "spiritual warfare help" for a while now, and I think this has helped. Ever heard of - Banulian Lonameron Breakthrough - (should be on google have a look ) ? Ive heard some extraordinary things about it and my friend got great success with it.

[@themroc8231]

1 - that's amazing 2 - I hate it.

[@JungianHeights]

I love Crosswords and Cryptic Crosswords. I started understanding the cryptic ones because of that one episode of Inside No.9 where he explains the clues to solve them.

[@jasminesofela]

yesss same!

[@BornvsMe]

Can you share link?

[@jasminesofela]

@@BornvsMe inside no. 9 season 3, episode 3

[@joecab1]

I loved that last one -- nice! And yes the difficulty is hilarious but a lot of people crave their cryptics that way.

[@paulmerced5587]

His hair is so big because it's full of brain power

[@maljamin]

Capable of the fuzziest logic

[@kuztomix]

His hair is actually short...

[@Blueoceandog]

That's why his hair is so big. It's full of secrets.

[@maypasifiki9360]

I've tried to solve a cryptic crossword in the Sunday newspaper but it always stumped me. This clip is a great start on how to begin solving it

[@tsukikage]

In fairness, I've been doing the NYT crossword for a while now, and while I'm pretty darn good at Mondays, like most people I have to cheat a lot on the later days because I simply don't know the "best-selling novel that begins in Pondicherry, India".

[@maxdavis8767]

life of pi?

[@emilyjay4152]

Life of Pi?

[@SC-bg8wf]

When I see the solutions to cryptic crosswords I still struggle.

[@BioYuGi]

The last one kills me because how would you know that the capital it refers to is Juneau, Alaska?

[@zmaj12321]

That one would definitely require some crossing letters to help solve.

[@snakelemon]

I think if you HAPPEN to know about the bank note clue, you might be able to cross reference what capital might contain the same letters as the people on the bank notes.

[@shnitzel9052]

@@snakelemon Yeah, a lot of cryptic is knowing an answer to what you've figured out is the straight part and seeing if the cryptic part actually can coincide.

[@maximilianellis1311]

Immediately thought of juneau because of all of the letters it has in common with the start, but I couldn’t figure out the letter swap part so i assumed it was something else. I never would’ve been able to get it without knowing the answer beforehand though.

[@faithharrison3755]

@@shnitzel9052 for me it’s almost always definition first, wordplay second.

[@Vitoria-tx4xh]

Cryptic crosswords are absurd. I love it.

[@godlaydying]

In Australia crosswords are often printed in pairs, a cryptic and a 'normal' one.

[@qwmx]

I never knew that. I use to do crosswords but lost interest because there were facts that weren't things that I normally would know (they were pop culture facts).

[@StoneColdMagic]

Excellent video. Thanks for sharing! The main issue I've had with cryptic crosswords (watching them on KZbin, not actually solving them) is often they relate something obscure that only a Brit would know about. For example, I've seen some that refer to street names (non-well-known) in London that unless you live there, you're not likely to know the word or be able to follow the clue. Other cases are words that are inherently British like "loo." Loo, however, is a relatively commonly known word outside of the UK, but there are plenty of others that are just not known to us Yanks. :0] Is there a cryptic crossword for Americans using American icons, and jargon? I've not been able to find one.

[@levtokol8649]

Well, the New Yorker itself actually has a series of them you can find for free online. They started offering them weekly around when this video came out, iirc.

[@wordsinahandle]

Start doing "Minute Cryptic" daily. There is an explanation each day for the single clue. I got most except the last one of course

[@wordsinahandle]

The guardian also has a free daily cryptic crossword now

[@Tossphate]

As a Brit, I felt that the cryptics in this video were quite American-centred. For example I solved the cryptic part "loo" but discounted it because it's not a place to go. Except of course in American speech, when you need to go to the toilet, you "need to go". Also the aluminium one, I was just thinking of the chemical symbol for Al, because it didn't click that it was the unusual spelling of aluminium. The last one was too hard because it requires knowledge of the British pound notes, plus thinking of American capitals.

[@Eval999]

How are you supposed to get Juneau?

[@andyq210]

Wow this is exciting! Can't wait to try the next New Yorker cryptic!

[@ELCNUmorFnaMehT]

That last one was just ridiculous.

[@ReGGiEbayer95]

That’d be so satisfying to get though

[@yeerk]

@@ReGGiEbayer95 no one would

[@RubyTyndale]

I want a more of Erik Agard!

[@ResistorSynthwave]

These two are perfectly matched as presenters and should have their own series.

[@rickreation0]

So sad that y’all stopped publishing the cryptic :(

[@RajMahall]

"Go Tell It On The Mountain" as bumper music is 👨‍🍳😘👌

[@v1d300]

O M G! I been solving regular/easy crosswords for quite sometime now and never knew what Cryptic crosswords meant. I feel so stupid. Thank you though. TIL.

[@dirtywashedupsparkle]

So glad for that disclaimer for the last one, that would have been a quitting point otherwise! *D'you know?* hint hint

[@shreyashabhinav1979]

I did not even try solving that but that seems gopd

[@Lalabaster]

I would need an in-person intensive 2 to 4 week course to pick this up 😅2dum❤

[@whedonobsessed]

How many secrets is he keeping in his hair though

[@gastrickbunsen1957]

The Jane Austen clue is typical of a setter in a daily UK newspaper. Whenever I see the name "Paul", my head falls. If get five or six of the clues I'm over the moon. To be really honest, "Paul", either stop setting crosswords, or at least, give us humans a chance.

[@Qahtan-z6y]

the cutest couple in youtube history

[@BioYuGi]

1:00 I must be doing very easy crosswords because if the answer is 'loo', the clue is just straight up 'british word for bathroom'.

[@babumadarasova5193]

bruh in my country london would just be "british city" jane austen would be shortened to austen and be british author

[@rhijulbec1]

Nope! Still can't do them. Cryptic xwords are my kryptonite, lol. I can do american style with ease~but those? Arrrggghhhh!

[@dailycrosswordsolve3448]

For tips & tricks to crack a different type of crossword, check out my daily TUTORIALS for the New York Times Crossword Puzzle! kzbin.info/www/bejne/pZW1ZJ-uYq2Dm9U (Today's puzzle by Erik had a CRYPTIC CLUE!)

[@cameronporter1]

great video!

[@johnrobbins917]

The WSJ occasionally publishes a cryptic puzzle on the weekend.

[@tonyastark1215]

This is horrible, I love it

[@arthimmig]

This is awesome.

[@ah_dan6572]

As a Brit I never knew there was another type of crossword.

[@ClifDickens]

Erik Agard is the James Joyce of puzzlemaking.

[@mgmartin51]

Delightfully devious, regard Kia.

[@Azura12378]

I like the cryptic ones !

[@Stillmikaela]

I got lyre and got so happy

[@berserk322]

Everything I try to learn cryptic crossword I loose my mind a little

[@kihunipunk]

#1: This video just made me a subscriber. #2: I can't figure out cryptic passwords to save my life. #3: I TOTALLY ship these two!

[@josephsauris4949]

I've seen clues in The Nation harder than that Jane Austen one.

[@BlackPixel1]

So, are they together now?

[@o2brhubarb]

“The Life Aquatic” beginning with bobbin (3 letters)

[@ryaneckersley2037]

bob

[@rhijulbec1]

👏👏👏MORE👏👏👏MORE👏👏👏MORE And did I say MORE?

[@marcusbeach1762]

the music is 'Go tell 'em on the mountain' oh my lord

[@shreyashabhinav1979]

Thnx man

[@PossumMedic]

6 down - rap god who never sleeps 🙌

[@paolavalentina9349]

I only knew that Jane Austen is on the £10 note 🤣

[@JacksonPriceSonder]

That Jane Austen clue is absurd

[@JungianHeights]

It's a little odd that he doesn't mention the fact that the key part of a cryptic crossword is that the definition of the answer will always be at the beginning or at the end.

[@JungianHeights]

Oh, he does eventually. It's just bizarre that he doesn't mention the basic concept until halfway through the video.

[@n8style]

he does at 5:22

[@alexwells2231]

And there is literal type as well One may have used rifle criminally? Ans Lifer - anagram of rifle and also the whole clue is a straight clue.

[@jgreen2015]

Bottle only party? Impossible! (2,3,2)

[@katiekawaii]

I heard "place to go stare endlessly" and thought "place to go pee (because "peer" minus the last letter)"...guess I need more practice? 😅

[@amazinggrace5692]

One problem with the British style is that it can use spellings that are British and European landmarks or geography for example.

[@hidoom4239]

American style is sometimes impossible because who in the world knows who Fran Lebowitz is or what they think about a place to get bronchitis.

[@suprabath02]

Can somebody tell me how "Head of England" is an American clue to "LOO"!? Thank you in advance!!

[@rywilk]

Apparently, "head" is a slang term for "toilet" on ships. So the clue becomes "toilet of England" = "loo".

[@Azura12378]

Oh I have found my self a new way to live

[@wobblyorbee279]

3:19

[@skyrose6529]

Can someone help me with a crossword please 🥺?

[@Aryankumar-dz9ze]

Yes

[@henrytebbs1620]

I do agree the last one is satisfying - however not a good cryptic clue. The whole idea of a cryptic crossword is that it is complex within reason and still doable. The clue would be perfect for a Briton if it weren't for Juneau and it would be perfect for an American without the British Ten Pound Note. Particularly Juneau which is so integral in the clue is far too obscure for a cryptic clue. Setters that publish in (English) papers generally are aware of this and rely more on synonyms of woulds than obscure general Knowledge.

[@henrytebbs1620]

Also it is a bad example for a video like this when the setter himself says "It's an absolute mess". Not a good tricky clue for a beginner video

[@eddeh0772]

Cracking The Cryptic is a great YT channel where they solve these crosswords weekly, and a fantastic way to learn how intellectually inferior you actually are! (Jk, it’s actually a really fun wholesome watch, well recommended)

[@TheBetterGamer]

lmao i would never do cryptics. i am way too dumb for those.

[@KgakgudiLama]

Her laugh is straight Julia Roberts

[@BioPhys92]

Bit of a strange distinction between American and British.. we just have both.. the 'American' one as you call it is just called concise or simple.. actually most people in UK play this one also - probably more than cryptic now

[@BioPhys92]

But yeah, useful for improving my cryptic skills as I'm just a beginner. Thanks

[@chetanisthebest]

When I saw Figure close to 10, I was thinking of her looks lol

[@reemlaza1]

Traylyn

[@brettvalerybrett730]

#freejulianassange #no_usa_extradition #freepress... 🎅

[@AlexRoseGames]

cryptic crosswords are easy mode compared to The Listener

[@kicknknowledge2178]

Them explaining cryptic crossword puzzles: The next narcissistic serial killer: 😈😈😈😈😈

[@TheArtkaw]

Jane Austen.... REALLY?!?

[@_hollowsky]

What does the first one even mean? How is "Head of England" loo?

[@_Pike]

Head means toilet

[@reemlaza1]

Shorty

[@Rollers123a]

I need more weed.

[@degausser99]

the only puzzling thing about this is whether this is a video about crosswords or a just really good chick flick bc i can't follow wtf's going on but whatever i'm invested

[@mikewilliams6025]

Get a room already

[@sebasbk7x22]

primer ;v xd

[@overtonwindowshopper]

Cryptic chad meets normal virgin Honestly tho, normal crosswords are just worse lol

[@Arkinals]

Crosswords I went to the double slit, fell down on my knees I went to the single slit, fell down on my knees Asked Albert Einstein, "Have mercy, now, save physics if you please" Yeah, standin' at experiment, tried to see a cat Ooh-ee, I tried to see a cat Didn't no cat seem to show me, babe, every look changed it's fate Standin' at the double slit, baby, electrons goin' thru Standin' at the single slit, baby, electrons goin' thru I believed in my soul, now, poor cat is live and dead You can run it, you can run it, tell my friend what I found ooh You can run it, you can run it, tell my friend what I found ooh I got experimental blues this mornin', Albert my thiinkin' said I went to the double slit, mama, I saw it live & dead I went to the single slit baby, I saw it live & dead I found no answer, Albert, simpy lookin' changed its' state

[@kicknknowledge2178]

Them explaining cryptic crossword puzzles: The next narcissistic serial killer: 😈😈😈😈😈

[@kicknknowledge2178]

Them explaining cryptic crossword puzzles: The next narcissistic serial killer: 😈😈😈😈😈

[@alexwells2231]

kick'n' knowledge Snake in alien surroundings - through water it sped (1-4) Answer is E-boat not U-boat ET is "alien"and "snake"is boa and "surrounding" indicating put boa inside ET so E(BOA)T