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 Urban Worrier

Thanks, Lex!

Drunken decision results in fine detail (4,10)

Direct on the right

More modern wording might be "Drugged-up decision results in fine detail"

High Resolution, methinks


...and do you all play Wordle which I have only just started? https://www.nytimes.com/games/wordle/index.html?success=true

Good call, Lex! ===[**CDM**]===

Dip into it occasionally - afraid it might become addictive

Wordle is definitely addictive and, in my family, has become a daily competition. I also enjoy Quordle which is a Wordle variation in which you solve four puzzles at the same time.

Just had my first shot at Quordle and managed three out of four, so a work in progress...

... and thank you Rog

Spooner's tipsy enthusiast is controller of boat (8)

Direct on the right

Enthusiast would have been fan before becoming part of a Spoonerism

merry fan -> ferryman

Very cute!

You will no doubt look cute wearing this! ===[**CDM**]===

A sparkly thank you, Lex

Large quantity of nitrogen in can (4)

Direct on the left

**(*)*

**N*

ma(n)y

Many thanks for solving this one, manxie! ===[**CDM**]===

thank you Pandie

Dog will be trained someday (7)

Samoyed (anag.)

(I did a report on them in 7th grade!)

Good one Demo ===[**CDM**]===

Thanks, manxman!

Imitation Julius Caesar shifts six areas to Democrats (6)

Direct on the left, and another unconventional indicator elsewhere.

cvcvcv, vowels all different and in alphabetic order (but not necessarily consecutive alphabetically)

This is tough: I keep coming back to parody, but only because it fits and means imitation rather than with any other justification, and I keep fixating on the fact that areas is an anagram of most of Caesar (with shifts as a possible indicator), and I have no ideas about the relevance of six (vi?) or Democrats (d?)...

"parody" is correct--but figuring out why might be tricky.

"Caesar" is part of an indicator, which involves no anagrams...