A cryptic crossword puzzle is a crossword where each clue is also a word puzzle.

For example, consider this clue from one of my puzzles:
"Living room takes in a school leader" (4 letters)

This is nonsensical as a standard crossword clue, but when reading a cryptic clue, you're looking for a definition and wordplay hidden inside.

The answer to this clue is DEAN.

• The definition is "school leader."
• The wordplay is "living room takes in a," which means DEN (living room) takes in the letter A to make DEAN.

I love this stuff! As a Scrabble fan, there is always a section of my brain devoted to taking apart words like this.

I'd never heard of cryptic crosswords until I was given a book of them as a gift, and I was immediately hooked. Now I occasionally make my own under the nom de puzz Marcvs Maximvs. Here is a sample puzzle, click here for more puzzles!