Game # 1

A creation by Crypticpro

 

 

This is a new game not found anywhere else in the world.

 

If you wish to improve your knowledge of English play the Cryptic Parlor Game and see your vocabularies grow by leaps and bounds.

 

The essence of this game teaches deeper understanding of cryptic crosswords while providing hours of educational entertainment.

 

Not only is this game stimulating mentally it is highly enjoyable and like a drug, you’ll crave for more once you get hooked, so beware. As a consequence you will become a very intelligent person respected by all, so what are you waiting for? Give it a go.

 

A good point to remember in cryptic solving is that only the principal word or phrase in the clue makes pure sense, as such it needs defining to find a synonym. The rest of the words in the clue must be treated as words only and not as they appear to mean. Understanding this concept helps to clear up the confusion felt by beginners.

 

The Benefits of Playing the Cryptic Parlor Game;

 

Teaches how to decode cryptic crossword clues

 

Improves your reading skills and comprehension

 

Increases your vocabulary

 

Upgrades your knowledge of English

 

Trains you to see different things in the written text

 

You learn how to read between the lines

 

Provides you with hours of intellectual fun

 

Keeps you mentally alert even into the twilight years

 

And that’s not all, everyone will think you are a smart cookie.

 

How to play the Cryptic Parlor Game

 

You can play the Cryptic Parlor Game alone if you like; Contemplate each question as you would if you were doing a cryptic crossword puzzle and cover the answers until you have studied and solved all the clues.

 

The Cryptic Parlor Game can be played by a group of any size and it takes a minimal amount of time to organize. Ideally it can be a classroom project for teachers and students alike.

 

Even average intelligent children can participate.

 

Begin by nominating a team leader for the game.

 

Each game provides the team leader with a list of short phrases which he calls

 

out or writes down on a blackboard.

 

Only he has a list of the answers.

 

Each phrase sounds complicated and senseless at times

 

Here are some examples:

 

The leader announces the following phrase

 

“Call it a day when they have passed” [6-4-5]................................... [T-F-H ]

He or she explains that the answer consists of three words, of six letters, four letters and five letters.

As a starting aid the contestants are informed that the first letters of the words are T,Fand H.

 

The players then put on their thinking caps and compete to see who comes up with the required answer.

 

The phrase has a double meaning written in such a way that the players are required to indulge in deep thought or cryptic strategy in order to figure it out correctly.

 

Tricky, Yes but that is the fun of it. It makes people think and compete in the process.

 

Eventually someone will come up with the answer which is Twenty Four Hours

Of course twenty fours is a day as the clue suggests.

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The leader announces another phrase “Take pleasure in nothing”. [4]........L

 

He explains that the solution is a four letter word starting with the letter L.

 

The answer to this example is Love.

 

Do you get the idea? To take pleasure in is to love and in tennis love means a zero point or nothing.

 

Here’s another example:

 

The leader will announce the following phrase

 

“It is almost twelve, go to sleep.[4].....................................................D

 

The answer is a four letter word starting with the letter D”

 

After some serious thought someone will get it.

 

Answer. Doze. Is correct and it agrees with the main definition for go to sleep.

 

Doze would be almost twelve by adding N to make a dozen. This agrees also with the auxiliary phrase “it is almost twelve.

 

 

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The three aforementioned examples should get you started but you will really catch on once you start playing the game. Each catch phrase or question is educational in essence and the further you go the more proficient you will become in the English language.

 

The leader will have a copy of the answers on hand with full explanations as to how they were developed.

 

The contestants can have as much time as they need to come up with the answers at the beginning but eventually as they become more proficient a time limit can be agreed upon.

 

The number at the end of the clue indicates the number of letters in the answer. More than one word numbers are indicated for each. The letter shown is the first letter of the answer.

 

This game is super for vocabulary building.

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GAME # 1

 

By the Cryptic Pro

 

 

CLUES

 

1. Backtracked in a degenerate way. [7]…………………………….. R

2. You’ll find out when the clock strikes. [4-4-4] …………….... T,W,T

3. This word brings a smile to your face. [6]………………………… C

4. They bred an anagram for the big race. [3-5]…………………T-D.

5. Strip to the waist maybe, like some riders. [8]……………………..B

6. Drag fish in opposite direction to get away from the wind. [7]……L

7. Lie in bed after munching lousy food that can’t be eaten. [8]……I

8. Departs and settles debts. [5] ………………………………………Q

9. Drinking glasses for circus performers. [8] ………………………....T

10. A unit is ordered somewhere in Africa [7] ………………………… T

11. Place for beach bums? [9]............................................................D

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Answers:

 

1. RENEGED is the solution for backtracked and it is found by reversing the letters of degenerate. Like the clue said "backtracked in a degenerate way."

 

2. TIME WILL TELL.......[you'll find out when the clock strikes]

 

3. CHEESE

 

4 THE DERBY the letters of they bred are in anagram form meaning the letters are jumbled up to get name of the big race.The Derby is England's biggest horse racing event of the year.

 

5. BAREBACK stripping to the waste bares ones back, like some riders who ride bareback.

 

6. LEEWARD is the answer to get away from the wind. Note when you reverse the letters of leeward you get draw eel [drag fish in opposite direction]

 

7. INEDIBLE the letters of lie in bed are rearranged {after munching)

 

8. QUITS for departs and also to settle debts,a double meaning clue.

 

9. TUMBLERS both circus performers and drinking glassed are so called.

 

10. TUNISIA is an African country [A unit is] rearranged.

 

11. DECKCHAIR is certainly a place for a beach bum.

 

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