crackingthecryptic

Connections with Nerves

Mark takes on four more days of Connections from the New York Times - from 10th - 13th October. As his streak has grown, the nerves set in ...

You can watch the video here: 2025-10-14 08:30:04 +0000 UTC View Post

An odd set of Connections

Mark tackles five more days of Connections, from the New York Times - from 5th - 9th October, and struggles with some more than others ...

You can see the video, and whether he can extend his...

Connections, Interrupted

Mark takes on five more days of the Connections game from the New York Times, but gets interrupted during Day 3.

See how he does here, and do comment on the video! 2025-10-05 08:30:01 +0000 UTC View Post

October Reward - Extra Bite, by Skunkworks

Hello Patreons!

Thank you so much for supporting the channel. We are delighted to bring you October's monthly reward today, from the Skunkworks collective.

If you can believe it, it's ...

Connections, with a Hitch

Mark takes on four more days of the New York Times's Connections game, from 26th - 29th September. His streak is at 69 before this video - where will it be at the end?

You can watch the video...

Spyder by Sabre: Listener 4884: Simon's Attempt: Part 5

A few weeks ago, Simon tackled one of the hardest and most brilliant Listener crosswords ever, Listen! by 'Eck. We were tipped the wink that Spyder by Sabre was another exceptional crossword and so...

A Connections Nightmare

Mark takes on five more days of Connections by the New York Times - struggling mightily in its toils this time. These episodes are from the 21st to the 25th of September.

You can see the vide...

Spyder by Sabre: Listener 4884: Simon's Attempt Parts 3&4

A few weeks ago, Simon tackled one of the hardest and most brilliant Listener crosswords ever, Listen! by 'Eck. We were tipped the wink that Spyder by Sabre was another exceptional crossword and so...

Spyder by Sabre: Listener 4884: Simon's Attempt: Parts 1&2

A few weeks ago, Simon tackled one of the hardest and most brilliant Listener crosswords ever, Listen! by 'Eck. We were tipped the wink that Spyder by Sabre was another exceptional crossword and so...

Back to the Future - Solution Walkthroughs, part 2

Mark talks us through the first four solutions in Blobz's excellent Back to the Future sudoku hunt, September's monthly Patreon reward.

Puzzles 5 - 7 were: Twin Pines Mall; Back in Time; and ...

"Back to the Future" - Successful Solvers

Hi Patreons!

Well done to all of those who solved Blobz's brilliant "Back to the Future" sudoku hunt, our September Patreon monthly reward. Attached to this post are TWO pdfs: one lists the p...

More Connections Struggles

Mark takes on six more games of the New York Times's Connections series, taking us from 14th - 20th September. Watch him struggle in this video!

Here's the video: 2025-09-21 08:00:07 +0000 UTC View Post

The Devious Monk Strikes Again

Mark takes on The Times Monthly Club Special no 289, a devious cryptic from August, by Mark Kelmanson (Monk).

Warning: this puzzle will contain obscure vocabulary, and may blow your mind. Ch...

Barrelling along with Connections

Mark tackles the New York Times's Connections game for another 5 days, attempting to keep his longest-ever streak going as the video starts, and we will see where he ends up ...

Here's the vi...

Mark Shoots His Connections Shot

If all went well in this video, Mark would reach and maybe even pass his own Connections streak record (of 50 in a row). But if he doesn't achieve it, be prepared for wailing and gnashing of teeth....

Tense Connections

Mark tries five more days of the NYT's Connections game, from 31st August to 4th September. His streak at the start of this video is 43 days! No wonder things are tense!

See how he does here...

September Monthly Reward - Back to the Future

Hello Patreons, and thank you for supporting us!

We are delighted to bring you a new sudoku hunt constructed by Blobz, one of our pernennially favourite constructors. It's based on the origin...

Some Variable Connections

Mark tackles five more days of the NYT's Connections game, taking us from 26th - 30th August. Will he keep this streak alive?

You can see the video here:

2025-08-31 08:30:04 +0000 UTC View Post

Listener 4880: Listen! By 'Eck: Simon's Attempt: Part 7

One of the hardest and most brilliant Listener crosswords ever was how this one was billed so we thought we should have a go at it. You'll get to see Simon's complete attempt (over many videos). We...

Listener 4880: Listen! By 'Eck: Simon's Attempt: Parts 5 & 6

One of the hardest and most brilliant Listener crosswords ever was how this one was billed so we thought we should have a go at it. You'll get to see Simon's complete attempt (over many videos). We...

Listener 4880: Listen! By 'Eck: Simon's Attempt: Parts 3 & 4

One of the hardest and most brilliant Listener crosswords ever was how this one was billed so we thought we should have a go at it. You'll get to see Simon's complete attempt (over many videos). We...

Listener 4880: Listen! By 'Eck: Simon's Attempt: Parts 1 & 2

One of the hardest and most brilliant Listener crosswords ever was how this one was billed so we thought we should have a go at it. You'll get to see Simon's complete attempt (over many videos). We...

Connections from the Fringe

Mark is in a hotel room for most of these 4 tries at the Connections game by the New York Times - the dates are ACTUALLY from August 22nd to 25th (no matter what the video claims). See how he does ...

Connecting the Whole Week Together

Mark takes on another whole week of the New York Times's Connections game. Sadly August 10th has been lost forever - he must have misclicked (probably double-clicked) when trying to record it! This...

Connections - with a Gap!

I'm afraid there are only 5 recordings here for a period covering 9th August - 14th August! Although Mark DID solve and record Connections for August 10th, that video is unavailable to him at prese...

Connections on Tour

Mark takes on 6 more days of Connections, from the New York Times, but he is on holiday for this set - see how he does in an unusual location, and whether he blames that on any difficulties he enco...

Clever Connections

Mark tackles 4 more days of the NYT's Connections game - trying to figure out the clever links ...

You can watch the video here: 2025-08-03 08:00:07 +0000 UTC View Post

August Patreon Reward - The Labours of Rostam

Hello Patreons!

Thank you so much for supporting us! We are absolutely delighted to bring you our newest hunt, The Labours of Rostam. These are based on the seven labours of Rostam, a mythica...

Connections, with Conniptions

Mark takes on another 5 days of Connections in the New York Times, from 25th to 29th July. 'Conniptions' means 'fuss, bother or panic', and applies to most of Mark's Connections episodes!

Do ...

Mark takes on Enigmatist

Today Simon is solving a cryptic crossword by John Henderson from the Times as the masterclass - we heard it was going to be difficult! Mark has recorded his own 'speed-solve' (minimal explanations...