Lovatts Handy Crosswords – 25 December 2022

Summary

Lovatts Handy Crosswords Issue 136 January/February 2023 packs 65-plus puzzles into a single volume at AUS $6.50, with a headline $8,000 Jackpot crossword plus a $100,000 Magic Money draw advertised at page 83. The cover line Australia's finest the original and the best sits above a family editorial note from Christine Lovatt, who with James started making crosswords 40 years ago and now works alongside their three children Patrick, Dominic, and Kathleen. The Giant Crossword 1 leads the puzzle lineup, followed by numbered crosswords 1 through 3 and the Jackpot puzzle entry. Subscription deals are advertised at page 82.

The puzzles range from straightforward themed grids to trickier cryptic-style challenges. The Jackpot 56 puzzle functions as the issue's centrepiece competition with a first prize of $8,000, plus four runner-up prizes at $500 each and 20 prizes at $200 each. The $100,000 Magic Money draw requires a separate entry. All entries are submitted via postbox@lovattspuzzles.com or mail to the Lovatts office.

The family editorial note at the opening sets a personal tone rare in puzzle books: Christine recounts how a 40-year hobby turned into a multi-generational business with a team of wordsmiths committed to error-free puzzles. The back pages carry the prize entry forms and subscription offers. A reliable purchase for the regular solver who wants quantity plus a cash-prize incentive.

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Content Guide

▸ Jackpot Competition

p.xxx · Handy Jackpot 56
The $8,000 Jackpot crossword requires solvers to complete the grid and extract a shaded-letter answer as the tiebreaker. First prize is $8,000, with 4 x $500, 10 x $200, 20 x $100, and 20 x $50 runner-up placings. Entries close on the date printed on the entry form. Photocopy your completed grid before mailing in case the original is lost.

▸ Core Puzzles

p.xxx · GIANT CROSSWORD 1
A large-format grid with extensive Across and Down clue lists spanning general knowledge, wordplay, and thematic entries. The size makes it suitable for an extended solving session over tea or a commute. Solve the themed entries first as they often unlock the most obscure across clues.

p.xxx · CROSSWORD 1
A standard-sized grid mixing straightforward definitions and cryptic-style wordplay. Difficulty is moderate, accessible to regular solvers. The clues use standard crossword abbreviations — check the abbreviation list on the inside back cover if stuck.

p.xxx · CROSSWORD 2
Medium-difficulty grid with a higher proportion of cryptic clues than Crossword 1. The puzzle includes a small number of themed answers around a specific topic. Identify the theme early to chain-solve the related entries.

p.xxx · CROSSWORD 3
A more challenging puzzle designed for experienced solvers, with longer entries and less common vocabulary. The clue structure favours double-definitions over anagrams. Leave this puzzle for last when your solving momentum is highest.

▸ Features

p.xxx · $125,990+ In Cash and Prizes
A full-page promotion of the issue's total prize pool covering the Jackpot, Magic Money $100,000 draw, and additional spot prizes across the year. The prize breakdown is printed with entry conditions. Read the competition terms carefully — some entries require a skill-based question, not just a lucky draw.

p.xxx · Christine's Promise
The family editorial note in which Christine Lovatt explains that she and James started 40 years ago, never expecting their three children to join the business. The note promises error-free puzzles from a team that takes pride in quality. The personal touch justifies the premium price over generic puzzle books.

▸ Back Matter

p.82 · Subscription Deals
Discounted multi-issue subscriptions for Handy Crosswords and other Lovatts titles. The subscription includes home delivery and ensures you never miss a Jackpot entry window. A 12-month subscription works out cheaper per issue than newsstand purchase plus saves the trip.

p.83 · Magic Money Entry — $100,000 Cash
Entry form for the $100,000 Magic Money prize draw with instructions and terms. The draw is separate from the Jackpot crossword and may require no puzzle solving — check the entry method. Enter both competitions in the same envelope to save postage if the rules allow combined entries.

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Editor's Take

Lovatts Handy Crosswords knows its lane and stays in it. The 65-plus puzzle count delivers genuine value at AUS $6.50, and Christine Lovatt's family editorial is a warm differentiator in a market of anonymous puzzle publications. The $8,000 Jackpot is a credible prize that likely drives newsstand impulse buys. On the weak side, the $100,000 Magic Money draw dominates the cover design but requires a separate entry process that has nothing to do with crossword skill — it is a lottery dressed as a puzzle promotion. The physical layout is dense: small grid typeface and narrow margins make the larger puzzles hard on older eyes. The issue includes no thematic variety beyond crosswords — no word searches, Sudoku, or logic puzzles that other titles in this price bracket typically bundle. Best for the dedicated crossword solver who wants quantity and a chance at a cash prize.

Strengths
• 65-plus puzzles at AUS $6.50 offers strong puzzle-per-dollar value
• Christine Lovatt's family editorial adds personality to a puzzle book
• $8,000 Jackpot is a meaningful newsstand incentive

Weaknesses
• Magic Money $100,000 draw is a lottery, not a puzzle competition
• Dense typography makes grids hard to read for older solvers

Verdict: Recommended — Best value in the Australian puzzle market for crossword quantity, though the lottery-style second prize undermines the puzzle-first brand promise.