A Little Variety

A Little Variety is a series of mini puzzles inspired by larger variety cryptic crosswords. The goal is to provide a quick daily dose of more complex cryptic clues for experienced solvers, and an accessible introduction to variety cryptics for newcomers.

The grid is not a traditional crossword grid—there are no “down” entries. Instead, it follows this rule: cells in the same column that share the same color outline contain the same letter. A cell without an outline is not linked to any other cell. In crossword terms, two letters in each six-letter entry are “unchecked,” while each remaining letter is checked by one of the other four entries.

Each puzzle also has an overall answer, which can be submitted once the grid is completely filled. This final answer is typically extracted in some way from the clues or the grid, as explained in the puzzle’s preamble.

Whether you’re new to variety cryptics or a longtime fan, I hope you enjoy solving these puzzles. ❤️

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