Listener Crossword: Puzzles
Jump to this year’s puzzles.
Puzzles by year
A few of the earliest Listener puzzles have been reproduced HERE. These are Crossword No 1, the first puzzle with an unusual grid shape, the most famous Latin puzzle, an early Christmas puzzle, and the first mathematical puzzle.
- 1930 0–40
- 1931 41–94
- 1932 95–146
- 1933 147–198
- 1934 199–250
- 1935 251–302
- 1936 303–355
- 1937 356–407
- 1938 408–459
- 1939 460–511
- 1940 512–563
- 1941 564–615
- 1942 616–668
- 1943 669–720
- 1944 721–772
- 1945 773–824
- 1946 825–876
- 1947 877–926
- 1948 927–979
- 1949 980–1031
- 1950 1032–1078
- 1951 1079–1130
- 1952 1131–1182
- 1953 1183–1235
- 1954 1236–1287
- 1955 1288–1339
- 1956 1340–1387
- 1957 1388–1439
- 1958 1440–1491
- 1959 1492–1544
- 1960 1545–1596
- 1961 1597–1648
- 1962 1649–1700
- 1963 1701–1752
- 1964 1753–1805
- 1965 1806–1857
- 1966 1858–1909
- 1967 1910–1961
- 1968 1962–2013
- 1969 2014–2065
- 1970 2066–2118
- 1971 2119–2170
- 1972 2171–2222
- 1973 2223–2274
- 1974 2275–2325
- 1975 2326–2367
- 1976 2368–2406
- 1977 2407–2445
- 1978 2446–2484
- 1979 2485–2528
- 1980 2529–2578
- 1981 2579–2627
- 1982 2628–2678
- 1983 2679–2724
- 1984 2725–2776
- 1985 2777–2828
- 1986 2829–2879
- 1987 2880–2932
- 1988 2933–2984
- 1989 2985–3036
- 1990 3037–3088
- 1991 3089–3130
- 1992 3131–3182
- 1993 3183–3233
- 1994 3234–3286
- 1995 3287–3338
- 1996 3339–3390
- 1997 3391–3442
- 1998 3443–3494
- 1999 3495–3545
- 2000 3546–3598
- 2001 3599–3650
- 2002 3651–3702
- 2003 3703–3754
- 2004 3755–3805
- 2005 3806–3858
- 2006 3859–3910
- 2007 3911–3962
- 2008 3963–4014
- 2009 4015–4066
- 2010 4067–4117
- 2011 4118–4170
- 2012 4171–4222
- 2013 4223–4274
- 2014 4275–4326
- 2015 4327–4378
- 2016 4379–4431
- 2017 4432–4483
- 2018 4484–4535
- 2019 4536–4587
- 2020 4588–4639
- 2021 4640–4691
- 2022 4692–4744
- 2023 4745–4796
- 2024 4797–4848
The list above gives access to the titles and setters for all puzzles up to the present, split according to the year of publication. Statistical information is compiled at the end of each year, initially made available by post to solvers, and later added to the page for that year.
In each year’s file the column headed ‘✓’ provides the number of correct submissions, when known. (When prizes were eventually limited to the first five or three correct entries opened, this is shown by ‘5+’ or ‘3+’, unless there were insufficient correct entries.) The column headed ‘More’ contains links to more detailed information. A ‘Theme’ link leads to basic information about the puzzle, such as the size, the type of symmetry, the theme and names of prizewinners (since random prize draws began). A ‘Notes’ link leads to full clue-by-clue solution notes; this commenced mid-2007.
The text in the puzzle files uses some shorthand references to standard devices:
- DLM for Definition and Letter-Mixture
- LL for Letters Latent
- MP for Misprints
- PD for Printer’s Devilry
- Playfair cipher scheme.
- The notation used for Symmetry is a number, indicating how many rotational symmetries there are in 360 degrees, with an additional “R” if there is a reflectional (mirror) symmetry. (1 means no rotational symmetry, 2 means 180-degree symmetry, etc.)
A list of all puzzles from No 0 (or 1) to 4014 (end-2008) is also available, in two formats.
- A tab-delimited file HERE (Puzzles.txt), suitable for input to a spreadsheet program. It may be best to save the file and open it outside the browser. To do so, Right Click on the link in this item, then “Save Target As…” wherever convenient.
- A Microsoft Works® database HERE. This should be accessed outside the browser by saving as explained in the previous item.
Thanks are due to Ross Lawther for collecting and providing the full list of puzzles, and to the Listener statisticians for the full statistical record.