Viresh Ratnakar

Join me for an afternoon learning how to solve cryptic crossword puzzles in the fine city of Norwich on the 7th September.

Tickets here:

thehollowaynorwich.com/events/RVb6g...

Shares and word of mouth appreciated!

Since you own the book (many many thanks!), jump to the solutions page for "L for Lufz" (look away past the solution, to avoid spoilers), and read my "Personal Notes."

Periodic re-plug, especially for folks in India (if you're in India, you can get this book for free). #cryptic #crosswords

Post-run beer pic

7 mpl. #Running, back to the Sunday routine and a familiar haunt for #beer. Cheers!

If you open a .puz file with Exolve Player (exolve.app), you can then save it as PDF. It won't be that difficult for me to also add an option to just export the grid as an SVG file, I think (because the grid *is* an SVG element in the Exolve implementation). LMK if you need that.

**Tarry Hardware Opinion – Ep. 56** In which we have a tarry hardware opinion, try to stop thinking about our problems, grab something to eat, and chuckle at wily writers. === If the sound of all that doesn’t offend you, please click play: […] https://offgrid.tlmb.net/2025/07/27/tarry-hardware-opinion-ep-56/

New #OffGridPod, with sketches of soothing poetry, perhaps. And definitely not boring brow-beating badgering. https://offgrid.tlmb.net/2025/07/27/tarry-hardware-opinion-ep-56/

My pic with race medal

SF Half #Marathon 2025. Did the "1st half" this time--got to go over the Golden Gate Bridge (and the insane climbs on both sides :-)). Happy with my 2:45-ish time, especially as the back is still not a 100%. #Running (#beer soon!)

Post-run beer pic

10.1 mpl. Longer #running, prep for SF half next weekend. Ludwig's kind folks gave extra #beer, free. Cheers!

Picture of crossword heading.

Available now for subscribers: Browser #cryptic #crossword #231, set by me, edited brilliantly as always by @danfeyer.bsky.social.

Sample #crypticclue:

31a. Wrong smoking accessory killing high (6)

thebrowser.com/crossword-ar...

"Love^?"

By #Gussalufz

19a. "Release me!" snapped the thing (4)

23d. Grandfather possibly shut up after a sip of codeine (5)

Day-after-new-Hindu-crossword-of-mine-published = another older #cryptic #crossword now freely available on my site:

gussalufz.com/thc/2025/gus...

Picture of crossword grid, showing the title "Like Us?" and the lines "By Gussalufz" and "The Hindu Cryptic #14,541, Saturday, July 19, 2025", with some clues visible.

"Like Us?"

7d. Signature of a fantastic author (P. G. ____) (9)

23d. Resist quietly breaking wind (5)

Sample #crypticclue teasers from my @thehindu.com #Cryptic #crossword (#14,541, a palindrome!), appearing in Saturday's paper.

#Gussalufz

crossword.thehindu.com/crossword/hi...

If you still need a test solver, I'm happy to do it

Snippet from the Browser crossword page, showing "Cryptic #231 by Viresh Ratnakar (Coming July 20)"

It's brewing...

#cryptic #crossword

@charliemethven.bsky.social there should be fewer failures now, whenever to get around to that Indy/FT project of yours!

For anyone curious about the technical details, you can find them here:

github.com/viresh-ratna...

#JavaScript #OpenSource

Yes, for most standard blocked #crosswords, it can create an interactive solver from just the text of the clues.

Do let me know if it fails on any puzzle—I can always tweak the algo further :-).

I was annoyed that Exolve Player could not parse Guardian #cryptic #29,747 from just the text of the clues.

So I tweaked it, and now it can parse it (it can now also handle a few more cases involving linked clues).

Give it a go, try with just the text of the clues from any #crossword:

exolve.app

A cute, grumpy, green figurine with folded arms.

Bought this perfect cute grumpy figurine at the festival. It now belongs to my home office space and has a name: "Monday"

#LosAltos

Post-run beer pic

8.0 mpl. #Running over to Los Altos Art & Wine Fest 2025, #beer. Cheers!

Post-run beer pic

8.5 mpl. #Running on a warm but breezy afternoon, #beer. Cheers!

Goddess & Murphy: Gussalufz's first 50 cryptic crosswords from the Hindu Goddess & Murphy: Gussalufz's first 50 cryptic crosswords from the Hindu [Ratnakar, Viresh] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. Goddess & Murphy: Gussalufz's first 50 cryptic crosswords from the Hindu

- Amazon: amazon.com/Goddess-Murp...

- Amazon (UK): amazon.co.uk/Goddess-Murp...

- India: forms.gle/rCiixTzWPtgP...

Please use the following links to get your copy. For folks in India: since KDP does not deliver to India, I'm happy to send you a copy free of charge (unless there's an unforeseen deluge of requests! :-)), but, if you can afford to, then please make a donation (see details in the form).

Picture of cover page, shows the title "Goddess & Murphy" on a blue background in the top half, and a grid-like black-and-white pattern in the lower half.

** Goddess & Murphy **

Gussalufz's first 50 cryptic crosswords from the Hindu

By Viresh Ratnakar

My first 50 #crosswords as setter "#Gussalufz" for The Hindu #Cryptic are available in book form.

[Periodic plug, apologies if you've seen this before.]

Jiro Dreams of Sushi leaves Prime in 7 days
https://www.amazon.com/Jiro-Dreams-Sushi-David-Gelb/dp/B008ODZEQ0

Post-run beer pic

7.5mpl. #Running: recovering, er, back on a hot day :-), the #beer hits home perfectly. Cheers!

Thanks, this was fun! The pseudonym "Gussalufz" is just a silly, made-up name, but it does have a silly explanation. I've now added a short note about it (along with a link to the pronunciation) to my site: viresh-ratnakar.github.io#gussalufz

CrossweirdTV - Twitch 6/26/25-quartiles/word games/the atlantic mini/avcx mini cryptics/downs-only turt on green/bee

live now doing lots of the regular stuff plus cryptics from @avcx.bsky.social by Justin Stickel (ed. by Stella Z), Gussalufz (ed. by @mossdef.bsky.social) and Josh Singer (ed. by @francisheaney.bsky.social). Also an old nyer from @xws.bsky.social downs-only turtle mode 🐢
www.twitch.tv/crossweirdtv

#OffGridPod logo: Two cartoon heads engaged in conversation, with their brains on show. One head's lid is open, and icons representing chemistry, literature, music, film and biology are spilling out from it. Aboce the heads, a pen labelled "General Knowledge" is writing the phrase "Off-Grid", which is spilling out of the bounds of a crossword grid that pokes into the edge of the image.

A small tripod stands on an atlas, spread open to reveal a map of the UK.

**Indexing Herring Royalties – Ep. 54**

In which we’re indexing herring royalties, taking a trip to the pharmacist again, and crossing ducks with foxes.

===

Paddle your kayak over this way, and click: […]

https://offgrid.tlmb.net/2025/06/29/indexing-herring-royalties/

I have a beginner-level mini #cryptic #crossword out on AVCX (@avcx.bsky.social). It's been fun working with @mossdef.bsky.social as editor. Do subscribe/buy if you can!

avxwords.com/puzzles/1857/

Another Hindu #cryptic #crossword of mine (from Jan. 2025) is now freely available.

"CH-CH"

13a. According to Gussalufz, love died. (6)

29a. Old puzzle lying around? Save the last third for flight (6)

gussalufz.com/thc/2024/gus...