The latest edition of the Genius crossword series, puzzle number 272, presents a captivating and multi-layered challenge for enthusiasts. This intricate puzzle combines traditional clue-solving with a unique mechanical twist, requiring solvers to think several steps ahead.
The Turtle's Journey Across the Grid
At the heart of this puzzle lies a fascinating premise. A turtle begins its journey on a perimeter cell of the grid and proceeds to move forward, one cell at a time. Its direction is dictated by the letters it encounters along the way. If the turtle lands on a cell marked with an 'L', it executes a sharp 90-degree turn anticlockwise. Conversely, if it encounters an 'R', it pivots 90 degrees clockwise. Should the cell contain neither of these markers, the turtle continues steadfastly in its current direction without deviation.
A Crucial Preliminary Step
Before even attempting to navigate the turtle's path, solvers must first engage with the crossword clues in a specific manner. A critical instruction reveals that one word within each clue must be deliberately removed prior to solving. The removed words, when considered in the precise order of the clues, form a sequence. The first letters of these omitted words spell out an additional, vital instruction. This extra layer of cryptic guidance is essential for successfully completing the puzzle's ultimate objective.
The Ultimate Objective
The core question posed by the puzzle is this: when the turtle finally exits the grid, having made at least one turn during its traversal, what single letter has its complete path traced out? The answer requires meticulous deduction, combining the solved clues, the extracted instruction from the removed words, and the logical mapping of the turtle's movements across the grid's cells.
Participants are invited to submit their solution for the traced letter. The deadline for all competition entries is strictly 23:59 GMT on Saturday, 28 February. To enter and be in with a chance of winning the coveted £100 monthly prize, participants must be registered users of theguardian.com. A one-time registration is required, after which solvers can sign in to access the online competition portal.
This puzzle exemplifies the innovative and engaging content found within the Guardian's Genius crossword series, designed to test logic, patience, and problem-solving skills to their limits.
