Mental exercise (such as working crosswords) is thought to benefit older brains by keeping them agile.  In cryptic crosswords each clue is a puzzle.  Cryptic crosswords have an added layer of logic, so cryptic varietal crosswords are like crosswords on steroids!  They combine cryptic clues with variation on the construction; the intent of the puzzle authors is to entertain with novelty.  We began this class with a core group of addicted, self-selected masochists, but we welcome new class members and will teach them the skills that the veterans have learned.  We begin with an introduction together as a class.  We use U.S. varietal crossword puzzles to learn how to solve cryptic clues and to deduce the wordplay of the varietals.  They will seem impossible at first!  Vocabulary skills are regular crossword assets but not nearly as important as mental flexibility and clue-type recognition.