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, for instance http://www.gameboomers.com/Garden/CrypticCrosswordTypes.htm and https://archive.nytimes.com/www.nytimes.com/premium/xword/cryptics.html as well as 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. English setter John Halpern's website may also be of interest www.johnhalpern.co.uk.

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 to follow shortly from current trophy holder Helmer

Thank you, Lex. (Please excuse the delay, everyone; my Internet access was sketchy for a few days.)

Algebraic asset? Teachers help make case! (8)

_ A _ _ E _ T _

Thanks, Helmer - cassette (embedded word)

Yes, UW! Yet, too small to hold this: ===[**CDM**]===

Thanks, Helmer!

One who writes about beer (8)

re/porter

Belt reporting for duty, ma'am!

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

Thanks, Rog!

Dwelling likely to house crafty folk? (9)

Direct on the left. 3 vowels, 2 the same.

Thanks, Sherlock.

apartment

And here's your belt, sly one! ===[**CDM**]===

Thanks, Sherlock (you crafty one)!

I saw the following crypt elsewhere. Maybe it came from here.

Let cat out of bag; put in second bag (5)

I often use the search facility on this website to check whether I am using an old clue, and using that I see that this one was posted by Demosthenes in September last year and that I solved it, although looking at your clue today I was struggling...!

Doh! I had to be logged in to search, lol. (Couldn't find the link.) That crypt was scribbled on paper with other puzzling questions. They're everywhere. Okay, um, perhaps a re-clue?

Pure Bags! Second-prize money offered at event (5)

That's … not so great. How about a message for 007?

BAG DROP! SECOND URANIUM (INSIDE) – PURSUE!! (5)

I have to use the search quite often because I have a pile of old crosswords with what I think are quite neat clues, but no system for remembering which ones I may have already posted - I am usually too lazy to develop my own clues!

You could probably have left that one up for someone else to solve, and I will wait a few more hours to see if anyone else bites on the reclued version before answering.

Okay so it's purse = bag, being capture - cat + s, or pure + s, or pursue - 2nd u

3 purses yield 1 belt for you: ===[**CDM**]===

Thank you good sir!

One that gently tickled me from a puzzle today:

Continue to look after a bird (4,2,2)

Is the double-e a typo Lex, or genuine?

Oops - typo, now corrected (this is a pretty unsubtle clue...)!

Direct on the left, but it's a double definition groaner when it becomes 4,1,3

Keep at it (Keep a tit)

All yours UW: ===[**CDM**]===

Thanks, Lex!

Confuse foreign negative and positive (7)