Recently I read a letter sent into a newspaper complaining about a setter’s use of obscure words as answers in a cryptic crossword. It seems the setter had used quite a few in the one puzzle, and this upset the reader. The appearance of a number of obscure words, or even just one, should be as a result of careful consideration by a setter, and balanced by alleviating devices. What do I mean? Take an obscure answer with a difficult clue and no given initial letter. I don’t think this has any place in a daily cryptic, however the same word clued with an obvious anagram, or simply clued with the initial letter obtainable is fine IMO. Cryptics can contain obscure answers as there should be two distinct ways to obtain the answers, however, with the definition unlikely to be of much use, the wordplay element must be spot-on, providing a clear way to the answer. A daily cryptic crossword should keep these obscure answers to a minimum inspite of the tools a setter can use to help solvers derive the answers. Some crosswords thrive on the use of obscure words, but these are usually known to be hard and there’s plenty of time between crosswords.
| Across | Answers and Clues | Explanations |
| 1 | LAST-MINUTE | |
| Modification of stimulant drug is rushed (4-6) | Anagram of STIMULANT+ E(cstasy) | |
| 6 | TEST | |
| Match ball is missing (4) | TESTIS minus IS | |
| 9 | NEXUS | |
| Bond’s old partner embraced by retired star (5) | EX inside (SUN reversed) | |
| 10 | CORKSCREW | |
| Device used to get at red rocks dislodged by workers? (9) | Anagram of ROCKS + CREW | |
| 12 | SCALLION | |
| Lilacs replanted next to spring onion (8) | Anagram of LILACS + ON | |
| 13 | WETHER | |
| Snipped offspring of ewe, the ram? (6) | eWE THE Ram | |
| 15 | AWRY | |
| Top driver leaving redesigned raceway off to one side (4) | Anagram of RACEWAY minus ACE | |
| 16 | OUTRIGHT | |
| I got hurt badly straight away (8) | Anagram of I GOT HURT | |
| 19 | BLOOMING | |
| Flowering bulb’s opening and taking shape (8) | (B)ulb + LOOMING | |
| 20 | STEM | |
| Check part of a ship (4) | Double Definition | |
| 23 | RATTLE | |
| Irritating sound Telstra corrected with seconds to go (6) | Anagram of TELSTRA minus S | |
| 24 | HEAR HEAR | |
| Words of agreement may be spoken at this place repeatedly (4,4) | Sounds like HERE repeated | |
| 26 | FOOTPRINT | |
| Track profit not involved in corruption (9) | Anagram of PROFIT NOT | |
| 27 | ARIES | |
| Sign changes after five (5) | v(ARIES) | |
| 28 | RISE | |
| Tower is located in middle of area (4) | IS inside a(RE)a | |
| 29 | COPENHAGEN | |
| Sort of change plugged by liberal European capital (10) | Anagram of CHANGE outside OPEN | |
| Down | Answers and Clues | Explanations |
| 1 | LINESMAN | |
| Court official left home with an assortment of names (8) | L + IN + anagram of NAMES | |
| 2 | SEXUAL RELATIONS | |
| Ecstasy taken by lax users ruined intercourse (6,9) | ELATION inside anagram of LAX USERS | |
| 3 | MUSCLE | |
| Uncle Sam moved around without using an elevator, for instance (6) | Anagram of UNCLE SAM minus AN | |
| 4 | NECROPOLIS | |
| Burial site on isle not usually entered by gathering (10) | Anagram of ON ISLE outside CROP | |
| 5 | TART | |
| Like lemon pie (4) | Double definition | |
| 7 | EARTHSHATTERING | |
| Three things a rat contaminated of great importance (15) | Anagram of THREE THINGS A RAT | |
| 8 | TAWDRY | |
| Showy and cheap off-road vehicle used in test (6) | AWD (All-Wheel Drive) inside TRY | |
| 11 | SHERIF | |
| Don’t say anything to inflame rising Arab leader (6) | SH + (FIRE reversed) | |
| 14 | STAG-BEETLE | |
| Good chard, for instance, eaten by common lamellicorn (4-6) | (G + BEET) inside STALE | |
| 17 | DOLLOP | |
| Helping to complete returned survey (6) | DO + (POLL reversed) | |
| 18 | IMPRISON | |
| Lock up troublemaker with forged irons (8) | IMP + anagram of IRONS | |
| 21 | TRY FOR | |
| Make an attempt to get entry form partially completed (3,3) | enTRY FORm | |
| 22 | BREACH | |
| Stretch out a hand after bishop’s transgression (6) | REACH after B(ishop) | |
| 25 | SILO | |
| Grain store is upset with most of consignment (4) | IS reversed + (LO)t |
