Independent 7,754/Punk
Posted by Ali on 23rd August 2011
Another great puzzle from one half of the Indy’s ‘John H’ setting team (I’m assuming there are no others!)
Posted in Independent | 12 Comments »
Archive for August, 2011
Financial Times 13779 Gurney
Posted by scchua on 23rd August 2011
Can’t say I’ve done many Gurneys (though I’ve, enjoyably, completed quite some Raich’s), but this was quite enjoyable. Last one in was 9A, with the parsing coming to me only after I had started the blog, making it my 2nd favourite, with the first being 17D. Thanks Gurney. Definitions are underlined in the clues. 2 of the picture sets have a hidden connection in them.
Posted in FT | 8 Comments »
Guardian 25,408 – Paul
Posted by Uncle Yap on 23rd August 2011
What a pleasure to wake up to a Paul puzzle with all its multi-various devices of all hues, shapes and sizes; and none boring. If you were to see me solving and working out the wordplay, you might think I have gone bonkers as I laughed, grimaced, guffawed or quietly smiled as I went along. Extremely entertaining fare
Posted in Guardian | 25 Comments »
Guardian Quiptic 614 / Hectence
Posted by Big Dave on 22nd August 2011
In previous reviews of Quiptics by Hectence I have commented on the high number of anagrams. This count is considerably reduced today. I still think that many of the constructs and indicators were a bit too difficult for a Quiptic.
Posted in Guardian Quiptic | 6 Comments »
Independent 7753/Quixote
Posted by Pierre on 22nd August 2011
I found this a pretty straightforward and enjoyable puzzle from The Don in his fortnightly Indy slot. A good one for less experienced solvers, I think; for this reason I’ve tried to give full explanations.
Posted in Independent | 9 Comments »
Guardian 25,407 – Rufus
Posted by Andrew on 22nd August 2011
Standard Rufus fare, rather heavy on the cryptic definitions for my taste (six of them). I don’t think I was quite on the right wavelength for this one today, as it took me a while to get started, but once a few answers were in there were no major difficulties to overcome.
Posted in Guardian | 23 Comments »
In memory of Mike Laws
Posted by jetdoc on 21st August 2011
Yesterday (20 August 2011) a group of crossword addicts went to the ‘office’ used by the late Mike Laws — The Springfield Park Tavern, in Bounds Green, north London — to present two framed tributes which will be hung above the corner he made his own. In the background to the presentation, you can see the Chambers used by Mike when he was at work.
Posted in Announcements | 1 Comment »
Beelzebub 1,121
Posted by Simon Harris on 21st August 2011
A solve of two halves for me this week, comprised of a first session where I made very slow progress and solved only a handful, followed a few days later by a second attempt where everything fell into place rather more smoothly. In the end, an unaided finish, but it doesn’t count because I’d guessed wrongly at 11dn.
Posted in Beelzebub | 2 Comments »
AZED No. 2,046 Plain
Posted by The Trafites on 21st August 2011
Nick: Typical AZED this week, which I rate 6/10 on the ‘Azedian’ hardness scale.
Posted in Azed | 6 Comments »
Everyman No. 3385 (14th August)
Posted by The Trafites on 21st August 2011
Posted in Everyman | 13 Comments »
Independent on Sunday 1122: Poins
Posted by jetdoc on 21st August 2011
A bit of a mixed bag from Poins — all clues are sound, but some are very simple indeed, while some (25a, 26d, for example) have more deceptive wordplay and were much more satisfying to solve. 30a is quite a neat clue, though hardly one that gave pleasure, given the context. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in Independent | 7 Comments »
Independent 7746 by Anax (Saturday Prize Puzzle 13 August 2011)
Posted by mc_rapper67 on 20th August 2011
A veritable tour de force from Anax, on my first opportunity to blog one of his puzzles.
Posted in Independent | 20 Comments »
Enigmatic Variations No 979 Problem by Salamanca
Posted by twencelas on 20th August 2011
So some shaded squares this week to help define the problem and 6 clues to be entered in a non standard way to indicate the title. Other than that everything is straight forward. Is it an elementary puzzle or something more complex.
Posted in Enigmatic Variations | 1 Comment »
Guardian 25,400 / Araucaria
Posted by mhl on 20th August 2011
A fun and very devious prize crossword, which took us a couple of train journeys to complete. There’s a nice theme of film and television which linked six of the clues. Some points of note include two hidden answer clues where the hidden part could only be found indirectly, and a rather outrageous definition in 13d
Posted in Guardian | 32 Comments »
Financial Times 13,776 / Mudd
Posted by shuchi on 19th August 2011
Great fun with Mudd’s trademark humour on display in 20a and 14d. I found this a gentle solve without being a walkover, just the right level of difficulty to challenge without giving me anxiety.
Posted in FT | 5 Comments »