Our take
A crossword is one of the best evening games there is: it has a clear end, it rewards patience and it works just as well with a cup of tea and a friend reading clues out loud. The Guardian publishes several grids, and they are free to complete online on a phone, tablet or computer, or to print.
The Quick crossword uses straight definitions and suits a short sitting. The Quiptic is a gentler cryptic for people learning how cryptic clues work, and the Cryptic is the main event. There is a mini grid for a few spare minutes and a Genius puzzle once a month for the dedicated. The archive goes back years, so a missed day is never lost.
Each grid page has check and reveal buttons, which makes it a good place to learn. Comments under each puzzle are full of solvers explaining clues, which can be a gentle way into cryptics. The pages are part of a news site, so expect adverts and the occasional request to support the paper.
A first sitting
Try the Quick crossword. If you finish it, open a Quiptic and use “check” whenever you are stuck for more than a few minutes.
Where to stop
A finished grid. If a cryptic clue is still beating you after a while, reveal it and call it a night; the next grid will be easier for it.
