Comments on: Independent 6949 by Phi

By: Allan_C

Allan_C — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 07:48:50 +0000

I agree with Niall – this was difficult for a Phi puzzle. But some good misdirections; in 24a I spent ages trying to think if there was a name for an alphabetical sequence of three letters, beginning with ‘th’ (two-thirds of ‘the’) followed by a synonym or example of ‘time’. And as a chemist I have to confess to not getting ‘hydrogen’ for ages, although I got ‘molybdenum’ straightaway.

By: nmsindy

nmsindy — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 23:32:24 +0000

As a maths person from way back, Wil, the points you make re KLM did occur to me and you are of course right but I notice over the years that the bookies give the odds 66/1, never 67/1. Agree with you re 2 dn also which was the last I understood and was a little surprised at the usage in a daily puzzle and wondered was there maybe another explanation. I did enjoy the puzzle tho and Phi clues always tend to stack up – I find I almost always understand them fully in the end.

By: Wil Ransome

Wil Ransome — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 23:02:57 +0000

I think you must have been off form, Niall. This struck me as of average Pie difficulty, i.e. not very hard.
Two minor grumbles: I didn’t like the 66% in 24ac and would have preferred two-thirds, which doesn’t give it away any more than the rather obvious 66%, which isn’t even accurate, since it should be 66 2/3%. If he must give a whole number, it’s closer to 67%.
And I thought that had = ‘d in 2dn was not quite everyday cryptic fare.