By way of reminder, the object of this game is to solve (and briefly explain) the clue presented by the previous poster and then set your own clue.

Anything from the (worldwide) crossword arena is acceptable by way of clue style, but if you stray too far from the pure path beware the scourge of... Pandora's WET NOODLE!

The puzzle could be an old favourite or something of your own making. Don't be shy: this is for everyone, not just the old hands!

For those unfamiliar with crossword clues who want to give it a try, there is plenty of guidance online and a quite entertaining and instructive book (not just for beginners) available from amazon http://www.amazon.com/The-Times-Crack-Cryptic-Crosswords/dp/0007546521/ref=dp_ob_image_bk and no doubt elsewhere, and for those who like British Crosswords you may like to try these (which are free): http://www.theguardian.com/crosswords and https://www.ft.com/crossword.

There is nothing to prevent (say) a couple of related clues if offering a single clue cramps your style.

If there are multiple answers involved, there is no restriction against one person solving all and the solver of the final clue/part is the one who goes next.

Obviously you need to await confirmation of a correct answer before posting your own puzzle, but please then do so reasonably promptly: if having answered correctly you are not going to be able to set a follow-up clue within about the next 18 hours, please pass your turn to someone else so that the game does not stall.

To save the poor demented solvers from excessive brain damage , you should consider revealing one letter of the answer when the question is set, unless the answer is very short/easy so that provision of a letter hint at the outset would spoil the sport!

If no-one is biting within about 24 hours you should start dropping additional hints, and to try to give everyone a fair crack of the whip, the immediately previous setter is asked not to post a solution to the current clue within the first 24 hours.

Constructive criticism and cheerful badinage are to be expected, not to mention a certain amount of national rivalry, but above all, have a bit of fun.

The weighty trophy to be passed to whoever solves your clue is the jewel-encrusted CanukDenis Memorial Championship Belt
===[**CDM**]===

This thread is so named in honour of our late dear friend Denis Borris (aka CanukDenis) who was an ever cheerful and quick-witted presence on this forum, posting many an iffy crypt just to stir the pot, and intrigued by all things linguistic, mathematical and beyond.
RIP CD - we hold you in our hearts as we play on!

Next clue:

Best players unable to finish meal (5,3) :tree:

Direct on the right, wordplay 5 + (4 - 1)

Apologies for delay in hints - possibly more of a snack than a meal ccvvc cvv only featuring two different vowels

A staple of British afternoons, especially in Devon/Cornwall during the summer

Cream (best) tea (team-m)

All yours m'dear: ===[**CDM**]===


... and have you dipped your toe in the water of Baba is You yet?

Thank you!

I got Baba for Christmas but haven't started it yet. Soon!

Dessert portion includes a bit of fudge - top-notch (7)

Hint time! Denis would have liked this one. Direct on the left.

par(f)(ai)t

You got it! ===[**CDM**]===

Lex, I started Baba Is You last night. Didn't get far before I got stuck, had an idea as I was waking up this morning and went straight to the computer. The idea worked, thank goodness, and I'm sure that was my first of many such mornings. This is my favorite kind of game - the kind you keep thinking about when you're not actually playing it. So simple, so clever.

Thanks, Sue! And thanks for the heads up about Baba is You. I need to check it out.

Reserved quirky, manic, uncut movie (15)

Sue, I am delighted that you are enjoying Baba: I was sure it was likely to appeal to your puzzle-addled brain, and I am glad to see that Cheryl is also now tempted. For me this is most fulfilling game in several years, fully deserving all the awards it has gathered so far, and the creator is nothing short of a genius!

You may like to look at his website and blog https://www.hempuli.com/

After over six months I have completed 213 levels and there must be at least another 10 (some levels are hidden until earlier ones are completed, and even then it can be part of one level to find another...) - several took more than 24 hrs head-scratching and a couple of times I left it for a week or so: I must admit to using a walkthrough on a handful of occasions (although that rather defeats the point), but more often, like you I would wake up with an idea which worked or at least generated another idea - great fun and very satisfying!

I found one particular walkthrough which provides a useful overview of the game and a series of hints rather than giving the whole show away https://www.keyofw.com/baba-is-hint/overworld.

...but back to Cheryl's clue - no idea yet...

Back to the crypt:

Direct on the left.

uncommunicative (anagram)

I reserved this for you, manxy! ===[**CDM**]===

Thank you Sherlock

Utterly sixscore? (7)

Vi-tally

Perfectly solved UW ===[**CDM**]===

Thanks, manxman!

Pirate hears rude song (7)

corsair (coarse air)

Aha, Jim lad - thet be right! ===[**CDM**]===

Arrr Cap'n

A sin that overcomes a miser, ultimately! (7)

vcvcvcv

Okay, here's my best guess:

avarice

a sin = a vice
overcomes = container ind.
a
miser ultimately = r

Nailed it! ===[**CDM**]===

Thanks, Sue!

Minimal show of relief about lawyer's first trial (9)

Slightest = minimal - sigh (show of relief) containing (about) l (lawyer's first) + test (trial)

And, that's a wrap! ===[**CDM**]===

Thank you!

Some elements are rather unusual - with hint of similarity (4,6)

Direct on the left cvcv vvcccc

rare earths (anagram are rather + s)

Lex, I'm loving Baba. So simple and yet so brain bending.

On the money: ===[**CDM**]===

Really glad that you are enjoying Baba - right from the start I found myself thinking that this was going to be a game for my friend the Queen of Puzzles!

Lex, it's so much fun. I'm stuck again but fresh eyes almost always help.

Deciphers subway schedules without one (10)

Direct on the left. Charade with a subtraction.

I'll be back with an answer in the morning if there are no takers by then.

Meanwhile, what level are you on in Baba and what platform are you playing on? Have you yet encountered "empty" and/or had to make two words to overlap?

I'm on Tiny Pond. I was mistaken about being on level 7 last week. That was only within the first section.

I'm playing on Win 10. Have not yet encountered "empty" or made two words overlap!

It might take me a while to get to those things. I appreciate the sites you mentioned but I won't look at them. Once I break that barrier, it's too easy for me to keep doing so.

translates (train slates)

Well parsed, Sherlock! ===[**CDM**]===

Thank you, Sue!

Arrest in prison is for pot (8)

Direct on right. 3 vowels, two of which are the same.

cannabis = pot, I think but I am struggling a liitle with the justification - can (prison) + nab (arrest) + is seems on the right lines but not quite there...!

Correct answer, Lex!

in is the container indicator. Nab (arrest) contained in can (prison) is.

Thanks, I was just being slow at seeing what nab is contained in (trying to see it inside can)!

Gem dealer nuts to accept million (7)

Have you been tempted to try playing Baba is You yet...?

Emerald (nuts "dealer" containing m(illion)

Keeping the Belt this side of the pond: ===[**CDM**]===

Does the lady of the house still allow you an occasional fix of Baba?

Oh yes (in return for unlimited browsing on the Horse and Hound website!)

Thanks for the belt:

Braces for US golfer (7)

Early hints:

1. Double definition
2. "Brace" is used as a noun, not a verb
3. US Masters winner from the '90s

Ah - yet another Rog-up I'm afraid. The answer was "couples" but the plural of "brace" (meaning a couple) is just "brace" not "braces" so bad clue

Substitute clue:

Wilt and fall, having nothing (5) - direct on the left

dr(o)op

Yes, Cheryl! And so my "hole in one" handover goes to waste ===[**CDM**]===

Thanks, Rog!

Guided around top floor having an open structure (8)

Hint time: direct on left, 3 vowels, all different

c(vccvc)vc

Okay, last hint: a 3 letter word that means guided around a 5 letter word for a "top floor"

D'OH....

LatticED

Darn! I should have checked previous posts when I wondered why this wasn't getting solved. Must be my dyslexia! Ha!

Great solve, Koala, considering I didn't give you much to go on! ===[**CDM**]===

No problems Sherlock...Your last clue sealed the deal.



Speaker is lower than a dog? (9)

Subwoofer

===[**CDM**]===

Thank you kind sir!

Comatose feline needs a pick-me-up (9)

Cat-a-tonic

Of course: what else could follow subwoofer? Well, perhaps caterwaul!

Here you go ===[**CDM**]===

Thanks, Lex!

Joke, American, about dawn (5)

Hint time:

Direct on the right

"Joke" is my favourite form of wordplay

"about" is a reversal indicator, not an including one

sunup (pun us reversed)

Face the new dawn with this wondrous belt, Cheryl! ===[**CDM**]===

Thank you, Rog!

Haziness erodes doubts (9)

Direct on the right. Really. I checked to make sure!
Only 2 vowels.

Mistrusts = doubts - mist (haziness) + rusts (erodes)

I think I can trust you with this, Lex! ===[**CDM**]===

Thank you!

Recklessly altered mint causing harm (11)

Direct on the right, cvccvcvccvc, two es

Just completed Baba is You after almost nine months, so now suffering withdrawal symptoms... but also

An anagram, altered mint = detrimental.

Lex, have you played The Witness?

Spot on Remi: ===[**CDM**]===

And yes Sue I have played and enjoyed The Witness: I am about to try Stephen's Sausage Roll. Gorogoa was another fun puzzle game I played recently.

Thanks Kevin.

In Scandinavia grandpa found potent drug. (6)

viagra (hidden word)

You got it Cheryl. ===[**CDM**]===

Stephen's Sausage Roll is not as cute as Baba, but devilish in a similarly fun way (and nearly as likely to be grounds for divorce!): I only knew of it because Steam was offering it as a bundle with Baba...

Thanks, Remi!

Eating dessert, takes place with tenants (9)

Direct on the right. 4 vowels, all different.

occu(pie)rs

I was stuck on occupants for far too long.

You can now occupy this belt, Sue! ===[**CDM**]===

Thank you, Cheryl!

Responsibility befalling my group (4)

onus (on us)

Have one on me, manxie! ===[**CDM**]===

Thank you Pandie

Falls behind convicts (4)

Lags

You took no prisoners UW

Many thanks, manxman!

Children changed, embracing soak (6)

Hint time:

Bad spelling corrected
Direct on the right
Surprised Cheryl hasn't surfaced

Here I am!

drench (hidden word)

Take it away, m'dear! ===[**CDM**]===

Thanks, Rog!

Titan finally falling short (5)

Atlas = Titan - at last (finally) dropping last letter (falling short)

That answer didn't fall short, Lex! ===[**CDM**]===

A huge thankyou!

Understands about relative with left gloves (9)

...and another interesting computer puzzle gaming link https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Increpare_Games
https://www.increpare.com
Anyone for multi-dimensional Tetris (amongst numerous free offerings)?

g(aunt)(l)ets

Great links, Lex! I've been loving/hating Baba but The Room 4 just released and took my top time spot.

Well caught ===[**CDM**]===

Thanks, Lex.

Elegant ecru flag waving (8)

Graceful (anag)

Always, Koala! ===[**CDM**]===

Thank You, M'Dear.

Spell "Lung" (8)

Breather - double def (and a good one)

Nice solve, Lex.

===[**CDM**]===

Thanks mate

Acting in secret, they allure (8)

Direct on right vccvcvcc

enticers (anag. of in secret)

This will no doubt add to your allure:
===[**CDM**]===

Thank you, Lex!

Archbishop, stiffly formal, had dinner (7)

Prim-ate

Correct, Rog! ===[**CDM**]===

Thanks, Cheryl!

Anxiety takes memory a very short distance (8)