Brendan provides the Tuesday Guardian challenge this week …
… and a challenge it was. Despite having a bit of knowledge of probability and statistics, I struggled with this.
In particular, I am not entirely sure of the wordplay / parsing for GUESSWORK (29 across), CUBIC (13 down) and TOSSED (23 down)
I am fairly happy with my definition and wordplay for TOSSED and I have pasted, immediately below, a fairly badly worded extract from the internet, that might explain CUBIC. However, the parsing of GUESSWORK still eludes me.
An Artificial Intelligence search on the internet tells me that a “cubic random number” likely refers to generating random numbers near the centre (like 0 for a range like -1 to 1) are more probable than extreme values (like -1 or 1), or it could be a misunderstanding of cube numbers (like 8, 27, 64) or using a physical cubic die for random selection. In computing, it usually means using a function that produces numbers with a non-uniform, cubical shape for their probability density, often for simulations where central tendency is key.
No, I don’t really understand it either, but it does relate to CUBIC to randomness. (The comment at 4 below, suggests a much simpler parsing)
For GUESSWORK, the best I can offer is that GUESt or GUEStS, excluding the T (time), refers to ‘company’ and K is the last letter [end of] weeK. Maybe WORK refers to the time before a week-end (a time when one doesn’t work)? But, as many people do work at week-ends, I don’t have much faith in that suggestion. I look forward to solvers explaining what I have failed to see. (I knew it wouldn’t take long – see comments at 2 and 3 below, which explain that WORK is parsed as W OR K, either of the end letters of WeeK)
At 27 down, I wondered whether RAKE and playboy were synonyms. I don’t think all playboys are necessarily as debauched and dissolute as RAKEs.
Despite my struggles, there was much to enjoy in this puzzle as the theme of probability, gambling and gameplay in various forms was well handled and covered a wide range of scenarios. There were some good definitions requiring a bit of lateral thinking and some clever wordplay.
Thanks to Brendan for the challenge.
| Across | |
| 9 | Chance to happen, as you announced in gallery, on drawing (9)
EVENTUATE (turn out; happen) EVEN (tied on the same score; drawing) + (U [sounds like {as announced} YOU] contained in (in) TATE (reference one of the TATE art galleries) EVEN T (U) ATE |
| 10 | Location for dicey games lacking excitement, we hear (5)
BOARD (games involving dice are often played on a BOARD) BOARD (sounds like [we hear] BORED [wearied by tedious things; lacking excitement]) BOARD |
| 11 | Probability in relating to one sense organ – or another (5)
OPTIC (relating to the eye; relating to [another] sense organ) P ([statistical] probability – abbreviation listed in the Oxford Dictionary of English) contained in (in) OTIC (relating to the ear; relating to the sense of hearing) O (P) TIC |
| 12 | Origin of theme in Brendan’s collection – they can be hard to solve (9)
MYSTERIES (things that are hard to solve) T (first letter of [origin of] Theme) contained in (in) (MY [the crossword setter’s [Brendan’s] + SERIES [set /collection of things]) MY S (T) ERIES |
| 13 | Associated with probability one can tire when wrecked (7)
CERTAIN (descriptive of an outcome with a probability of one; something associated with probability) Anagram of (when wrecked) CAN TIRE CERTAIN* |
| 14 | Bet on way of escaping and withdraw (4,3)
BACK OUT (withdraw) BACK (support by placing a wager; bet) + OUT (a way of escaping) BACK OUT |
| 17 | Wager I had placed inside – it helps one clean up (5)
BIDET (basin on a low pedestal, for washing the genital and anal areas, etc; it helps one clean up) I’D (I had) contained in (placed inside) BET (wager) B (ID) ET |
| 18 | Not enough, as cash – toss for it (3)
SHY (short, lacking) SHY (specifically, short in payment, especially in the game of poker, not enough cash) SHY (toss) triple definition? – maybe just a double definition as the first two are variations on the same definition. SHY |
| 19 | A non-English type in English course that offers better opportunities (5)
ASCOT (an English racecourse which offers opportunities for punters to lay bets; an English course that offers better opportunities) A + SCOT (a person from Scotland; a non- English type) A SCOT |
| 21 | Poet having change of heart is opportunist (7)
CHANCER (opportunist) CHAUCER (reference Geoffrey CHAUCER [c1343 – 1400], English poet) with the central letter U replaced by N (change of heart) to form CHANCER CHANCER |
| 23 | Diplomacy’s about constant plans to reduce risk (7)
TACTICS (the science or art of manoeuvring in the presence of the enemy; plans to reduce risk) TACT IS (diplomacy is, diplomacy’s) containing (about) C (specifically, a constant representing the speed of light; more generally, a constant in mathematics) TACT I (C) S |
| 24 | Embezzles or gambles after initial loss (9)
PECULATES (appropriates dishonestly for one’s own use; embezzles) sPECULATES (gambles) excluding the first letter S (after initial loss) PECULATES |
| 26 | Player out of luck, perhaps? Not so far losing head (5)
LOSER (a player who doesn’t win; a player out of luck) cLOSER (not so far) excluding the first letter C (losing head) LOSER |
| 28 | Uncertain news from France I don’t broadcast (2-3)
ON-DIT (French word for hearsay or rumour; uncertain news) Anagram of (broadcast) I DON’T ON-DIT* |
| 29 | Company losing little time before a week-end? It has some chance of success (9)
GUESSWORK (a conjecture which has some chance of success) I’m not entirely sure of the parsing here. We have GUESt or GUEStS (company) excluding (losing) T (abbreviation for [little] time) and we have K (last letter of [end of] worK), but that leaves TWOR or WOR that I can’t fit into the wordplay. Perhap’s there is some reference to TWO (as in TWO’s company …) excluding the T? I am sure someone will tell me what I am missing. GUESSWORK |
| Down | |
| 1 | Minimum probability one can get out of maze, roughly (4)
ZERO (A probability of zero is the lowest possible probability that relates to an outcome that will not happen) ZERO (hidden word in [out of] maZE ROughly) ZERO |
| 2 | Person risking money on form of Edward is beaten (8)
BETTERED (beaten) BETTER (someone risking money on a wager) + ED (one of the shortened forms of EDward) BETTER ED |
| 3 | Calm about players including husband – it’s randomly determined (10)
STOCHASTIC (random; it’s randomly determined) STOIC (indifferent to pleasure or pain; calm) containing (about) (CAST [players in the theatre] containing [including] H [husband]) STO (C (H) AST) IC |
| 4 | Stake a lot – mostly that’s nonprofessional (6)
LAYMAN (a non-professional person) LAY (place a bet; stake) + MANy (a lot) excluding the final letter Y (mostly) LAY MAN |
| 5 | Within bounds of possibility, female having no difficulty ensnaring bachelor (8)
FEASIBLY (within the bounds of possibility) F (female) + (EASILY [having no difficulty] containing [ensnaring] B [bachelor]) F EASI (B) LY |
| 6 | Accomplished what’s likely after 24 down (4)
ABLE (skilled; accomplished) ABLE can be placed after PROB [the entry at 24 down] to form PROBABLE [likely] ABLE |
| 7 | Place for gambling in which cash is not always endless (6)
CASINO (a place for gambling) CASh excluding the final letter H (endless) + Is excluding the final letter S (endless) + NOt excluding the final letter T (endless) [CASh Is NOt always endless] CAS IN O |
| 8 | Probability of dice delivering six initially (4)
ODDS (probability) ODDS (first letters [initially] of each of Of, Dice, Delivering and Six) O D D S |
| 13 | Like simple random number generator, sugar? (5)
CUBIC (one form of sugar is CUBE-shaped [CUBIC]) CUBIC – I am defeated by the wordplay or second definition here, as I can’t see how CUBIC can be defined as random. Surely a cube of a number (a CUBIC) is clearly defined as the number raised to the power three? However, see the material in the introduction to the blog that attempts to relate CUBIC to randomness. CUBIC |
| 15 | Perfectly played in part of church, with female ending (10)
CHANCELESS (without [an opportunity for] error; perfectly played) CHANCEL (the eastern part of a church, originally separated from the nave by a screen of latticework to prevent general access to the altar, sanctuary and choir) + –ESS (suffix indicating a female) CHANCEL ESS |
| 16 | Betting system’s takes (5)
TOTES (carries; takes) TOTE’S (Totalizer’s [betting system’s]) TOTES |
| 18 | Contract overturned in random long- term plan (8)
STRATEGY (long-term plan) GET (contract as in ‘get a disease’ [contract a disease’]) reversed (overturned) and contained in (in) STRAY (casual; isolated; random) STRA (TEG<) Y |
| 20 | Approach counter in gaming club and drink (4,4)
CHIP SHOT (an approach SHOT to the green in golf) CHIP (a small flat piece of wood used to represent money in a casino [gaming club]) + SHOT (a dram [a small drink of whisky]) CHIP SHOT |
| 22 | A wrong card, bridge player concludes, for game situation (6)
ARCADE (an amusement location for playing games) A + an anagram of (wrong) CARD + E (East, a designation for one of the four bridge players) A RCAD* E |
| 23 | Decisively raised a little bit of money – wasn’t easy (6)
TOSSED (reference a coin [little bit of money] thrown up in the air to make a decision; decisively raised a little bit of money) TOSSED – another clue where I am a bit unsure of the wordplay. Possibly a reference to being TOSSED about [rolled or thrown violently from side to side] in a situation that wasn’t easy? TOSSED |
| 24 | A little difficulty? Before 6, it’s to be expected (4)
PROB (informal, abbreviated [little] term for a problem [difficulty]) PROB can be placed before ABLE [the entry at 6 down] to form PROBABLE [likely] PROB |
| 25 | Something drawn using paper a great deal? (4)
LOTS (something drawn as in ‘draw LOTS‘) LOTS (a great deal) double definition LOTS |
| 27 | Playboy that takes in money at roulette table (4)
RAKE (a tool for various purposes, toothed, notched or bladed and with a long handle (e.g. a croupier’s implement for drawing in money at a roulette table) RAKE (debauched or dissolute person; playboy [light-hearted irresponsible person, who, to me, doesn’t sound quite as bad as a RAKE) double definition RAKE |
TOSSED as in coin, is correct I think. Annoying, as it was where I failed. (Pass the tea tray). A very nice Tuesday challenge. Thanks Brendan and duncanshiell
Guesswork….guests without t + w or k end of week?
GUESSWORK
weekend W OR K
CUBIC
Is the clue referring to a die, which is a cube?
23d Tossed as in being uneasy, agitated (toss and turn)?
David Boddington @ 2 and KVa @ 3
Thanks – that makes a lot of sense and is clearly correct.
KVa @ 4
That too makes a lot of sense, as a die can be considered to be a random number generator, if it isn’t loaded. Your suggestion is certainly more understandable than the extract I found on the internet.
13d a die is cubic and can be used to generate random numbers?
Thanks Brendan and Duncanshiell
I saw a theme!
I did parse CUBIC (as KVa), but failed on GUESSWORK; also on STRATEGY.
Fasvourite CHIP SHOT for the misleading definition.
TOSSED
Does this work?
Easy: slightly drunk
TOSSED: heavily drunk
adam @5 has it right imo.
not easy = uneasy and tossed as with turned.
i threw in cubed for 13d way too quickly and got properly stuck on the poet/gambler before the penny dropped as ’twere
I thought the theme would defeat me but the lovely clues made it a reasonably straightforward solve. I managed to solve it consecutively, which is rare for me. I also parsed the clever GUESSWORK as DB & KVa and I also thought like KVa of the sugar cube shaped die as a random number generator (haven’t seen ERNIE for a long time). ASCOT was a bit of a groan and I was surprised to see ‘losing’ in the clue for LOSER. Nice to see STRATEGY alongside TACTICS as well.
Ta Brendan & duncanshiell.
Definitely tough for a Tuesday! 4d held me up for a while as I had PARLAY, which also works [par(t)lay]. But I got LAYMAN eventually. I was fine with CUBIC and GUESSWORK.
So I’m annoyed to have missed TOSSED, my first failure of the year as well. I had TESTED which at least fitted the definition even if there was some guesswork in the wordplay.
Nonetheless, a very entertaining puzzle. Thanks to Brendan and duncanshiell!
As someone with a maths degree and an interest in poker and probability I should have found this easier than I did.
Funny that alanc@12 mentioned ERNIE I was expecting him to make an appearance today.
Liked GUESSWORK (parsed as above) and STOCHASTIC.
When you start playing games with polyhedral dice the regular die is referred to as the cubic die so it can be differentiated. I did originally have CUBES in there which slowed me down.
Also unsure about TOSSED but happy with previous comments.
Thanks Duncan and Brendan.
With KVA and Colm on cubic relating to the use of a die to generate random numbers
Have seen it referred to as the “cubic method” for such use
Enjoyed this with a theme I am at least know som3thing abou, unlike many other themes which have exposed the extensive holes in my general knowledge
Thanks to Brendan for the fun and duncansheill for filling in the parsing gaps
That was so tough! I failed with 23d TOSSED where I also had TESTED, Lockjaw@13. I was unsure of several parses so I’m glad to be able to come here to get it all to make sense with the help of the blog and other participants. I still enjoyed the puzzle and the theme, and particularly liked 21a CHANCER.
Thanks to duncanshiell and Brendan.
Well, I was fine with pebbles on the beach yesterday but this was no fun for me. Worked out a few, guessed some more and got STOCHASTIC (really?) via crossers and Crossword Solver then lost the will. I liked CHANCER, BOARD, ON-DIT and OPTIC.
A personal clue in a Brendan puzzle is something special indeed! It made my day. Thanks Brendan!!
A brilliant puzzle, enjoyed it thoroughly. Many favourites including PROB ABLE, STOCHASTIC, CHANCELESS, CUBIC, PECULATES (a jorum but a nice word), EVENTUATE. Thanks Duncan for the blog!
After the first three clues, guessed we might see STOCHASTIC somewhere, but the smugness of being right was erased when being defeated by TOSSED at the end.
Agree with those who see CUBIC as being related to dice.
I too put in CHANCER, but I think CHAUCER technically works too, although the reading there is a little more awkward.