crackingthecryptic

Getting Going on Connections

Mark takes on five more episodes of Connections, from the New York Times. He's had a hard time lately, but will it go better in this video?

You can watch the video here: https://youtu.be/jfmLGL2XW6w

Regeneration: Solution videos, part 2

Mark talks us through the solutions to the third and fourth puzzles in the Regeneration sudoku hunt that was July's monthly reward. The puzzles in this video are:
Modular; Same Difference

Watch the video here: https://youtu.be/n8h__VfDasU

Connections and Disconnections

Here's another attempt by Mark to play the New York Times Connections game, over five successive days, for most of which Mark is on holiday. You can see the video here: https://youtu.be/Rv5z5HojDmw

Some Suspicious Connections

Mark takes on another six days of the Connections game from the New York Times, trying to make four groups of four each day. See how he gets on here and leave a comment if you enjoy the content:

https://youtu.be/50yESAAJkNE

Monk and the Devious Cryptic

Here's where you can watch Mark take on the Times Monthly Club Special for June 2025. Can he finish it without using the dictionary? And why does he even try?

The puzzle is by Monk (Mark Kelmanson), and is June's Monthly Club Special from The Times. You can watch the video here: https://youtu.be/uDYzGeVEdqg

Connections for half an hour

Mark takes on six more days of the New York Times's Connections game, trying to create four connected groups of four each day. Do leave a comment below the video if you enjoy watching these - it really matters!

You can see the video here: https://youtu.be/3bAgJ-XoEGA

Straining for Connections

Another chance for Mark to extend his streak a bit, playing Connections from the New York Times. Here's five days' worth, from 28th June to 2nd July.

See the video here: https://youtu.be/zWeVUjFJbF8

July Monthly Reward - Regeneration

Hello Patreons!

Welcome to July, and the new sudoku hunt! This one is called Regeneration, based on the proclivity of planarian flatworms to regenerate as separate organisms if they are cut in half.

There is a worm running through each puzzle, and in each 9x9 sudoku it must be divided into THREE separate worms of the types indicated. Separate rules appear in each puzzle. An attempt to give you clickthrough URLs has not been successful!

If you get stuck, remember there are of...

Seeking Connections Traps

Mark takes on six more days of the New York Times's Connections boards, from 22nd - 27th June. See how he navigates, or otherwise, the various challenges and traps ...

Here is the video: https://youtu.be/7lQuqqibu4U

Yin Yang Journey Solutions, part 4

Thanks so much to Yttrio for supplying the puzzles (and text) in his Yin Yang Journey. Here Mark takes us through the solutions to the final two puzzles in this video:

Sum-X-Sum

Restoring Balance

You can see the video here: https://youtu.be/dCe2tM0uK5M

Yin Yang Journey Solutions, part 1

Thanks so much to Yttrio for supplying the puzzles (and text) in his Yin Yang Journey.

Here Mark takes us through the solutions to the puzzles in this brilliant June Patreon reward . In this video, he test-solves:

Yin Yang Introduction; Go Yin Yang; Through the Caverns; and Sandwich Break

https://youtu.be/9sR64w-KJgM

More to come!

Easy or Hard Connections?

Mark takes on five more days of the Connections game from the New York Times, this time covering 17th to 21st June. See how he does in the video, and how well he can tell whether each day's puzzle is easy or hard!

Here's where you can see (and comment on) the video: https://youtu.be/Nu6QGjMH9bs

Yin Yang Journey, Successful Solvers

Here is the list of successful solvers of the Yin Yang Journey, Yttrio's wonderful June Patreon reward. Many thanks to Yttrio and his testers; many thanks to all of you for the wonderful solving and the extremely positive comments!

And congratulations if you appear on the list! It's in the attached pdf.

Within the next couple of days, we will post again, with recaps of all the successful solvers of this year's Patreon rewards.

Mark & Simon

Dodging the Connections Bullets?

Six more days of Connections action, from 11th - 16th June, and it feels like Mark is trying to dodge bullets every single day. See how he gets on with such attempts here:

https://youtu.be/xDNK2U64Bao

It's a Peculiarly Cruel Cryptic

Mark tackles the Times Monthly Club Special cryptic crossword. This one is from May, and is by Roger Phillips, and as usual Mark has at it without a dictionary to hand - which is a special kind of lunacy!

Watch the video here: https://youtu.be/vjOFMnDeq7g

How Hard are these Connections?

Mark struggles with five more games of the New York Times's Connections, including trying to estimate how others will have fared. These games are from 6th - 10th June.

You can see the video here: https://youtu.be/jDueCdQq-LY

UPDATE: The video has been corrected here (to include the 6th, and NOT two versions of the 7th!): https://youtu.be/P9bKfDCs1d8...

Connecting all the Apples

Mark takes on four more days of Connections boards in the New York Times's' game, trying to connect four lots of four connected sets, and today it includes two separate apples ...

Watch the video here:

https://youtu.be/SGxInrKP9v0

Connections & Confusion

Mark takes on five more days of the New York Times's Connections game, and talks himself into some confusing situations ...

You can watch the video here: https://youtu.be/1WFz4CFUQwM

June Monthly Reward - Yin Yang Journey

Hello Patreons, and thank you for supporting us!

We are delighted to bring you a sudoku hunt constructed by Yttrio, one of our favourite constructors. It's the first time Yttrio has made a sudoku hunt for us, and we are thrilled!

This one is a Yin Yang Journey - and that is its title. In case you haven't seen Yin Yang sudoku solves before, there are quite a number on the channel, but Yttrio also provides a guide to some of the key deductions at the start of the pack.

We are ...

Connections Up & Running

Mark takes on another four days of the Connections game from the New York Times, trying to make four sets of four connections each day.

Remember to leave a comment on the video if you enjoy these uploads!

Here is the video: https://youtu.be/0CclaspbMZs

Oil and Water - Solution video (part 4)

Here is the final video in the series of solution paths for the Oil & Water sudoku hunt by Blobz that was May's monthly reward.

Here, Mark takes us through the last three puzzles (listed below) - you can watch the video here:

https://youtu.be/N6h_goB12C8

X. ARROW MOSAIC

BONUS I. FOGGY OIL AND WATER

BONUS II. DIAGONAL DISCOVERY

Oil & Water - Solution video (part 3)

Here is the next video in the series of solution paths for the Oil & Water sudoku hunt by Blobz that was May's monthly reward.

Here, Mark takes us through three more puzzles (listed below) - you can watch the video here: https://youtu.be/luaHYjlOHh0

The puzzles included are:

VII. OIL, WATER, KNIGHTS 2

VIII. LIESL DOES OIL AND WATER

IX. BLACK SHEEP

Disputed Connections

Mark takes on another five days of the Connections game from the New York Times, trying to keep his streak building towards an all-time best of 50.

You can see the video here: https://youtu.be/-ZVgt5EEmyE

And please leave a comment if it entertains you!

Successful Solvers List

Many congratulations to all those solvers who correctly solved Blobz's Oil & Water sudoku hunt, our May Patreon reward! Indeed, congratulations to all of those who have solved any or all the rewards so far this year.

The attached file shows the names of the solvers who have been marked right for all five hunts this year so far, and we will try to keep this file updating (more) promptly each month.

(The blue names in 'Oil & Water' mark those people who submitted the 'Oil' ...

Connections - on the Go

Even being away from home doesn't stop Mark playing Connections by the New York Times, and trying to extend his streak. You can see how he does with five more days of the game here, from 13th - 18th May.

See th evideo here: https://youtu.be/GqckVu-8TsE

May I try some Connections?

Mark takes on four more days of the New York Times's Connections game, trying to keep going with a streak that had to begin again recently.

You can watch the video here: https://youtu.be/mqjCia7P62k and do leave a comment!

Cracking Some Connections

Mark cracks on with five more days of Connections, from the New York Times, from May the 5th through to the 9th.

You can watch his video here: https://youtu.be/TBAt5FMMSPE

Do Not Try this Crossword at Home

Yet again Mark takes on the Times Monthly Club Special cryptic crossword, without a dictionary. You are warned not to try this at home. The puzzle's creator very much expects you to use a dictionary when solving.

This puzzle is Mark Kelmanson's second outing as the setter.

Watch the video here: https://youtu.be/3eqnjr-NvnA

Galactic Connections

Mark takes on four more days of Connections, from the New York Times. This takes us from May the 1st to May the Fourth (be with you).

See how he does with a nascent streak building ...

Watch the video here: https://youtu.be/WFg3u1Lc2hw

May Monthly Reward - Oil & Water

Hello Patreons, and thank you for supporting us!

We are delighted to bring you another sudoku hunt constructed by Blobz, who earlier brought us The Lord of the Rings, the Hobbit AND Nurikabe World.

This one is based on Oil & Water - and the fact that they don't mix, and one floats on the other! You may have seen us solve puzzles themed on Aquarium, the Japanese pencil puzzle involving this type of ruleset. If not, prepare to immerse yourself for the first time in both oil and ...