Comments on: Financial Times 13,926 – Crux

By: Steve

Steve — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 14:54:07 +0000

Hi Sil – thanks for the blog and I don’t think you (or Crux, whose puzzle today was also excellent) should take the low number of comments personally! The same is often true for most of the prize crosswords given the long delay before the blog can be posted. I thoroughly enjoy reading Fifteensquared everyday but by the time the blog for the prize versions comes around have pretty much forgotten those crosswords. My selfish preference (being US-based and never bothering to submit entries) would be to do away with the prize part altogether. Or maybe the FT could move to an on-line solution submission process with much shorter deadlines for entry.

By: Bamberger

Bamberger — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 17:24:39 +0000

Couldn’t get the wordplay for 1d or 23d . Had no idea what Mandy had to do with it. Mandy who I was thinking?
If I solve the crossword fully (albeit with aids) and fully understand it, I don;t usually comment.

By: Sil van den Hoek

Sil van den Hoek — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 23:07:21 +0000

Whoa, thank you, PeeDee!

What Crux has in common with Rufus/Dante is the smoothness of his cluing. Just like Rufus, Crux has always some cryptic definitions but – as you might guess – no-one can beat this week’s Birthday Child in that area.
That aside, I think, Crux has a real good sense for judging which devices to use and how often, while keeping a close eye on the surface.
Most of his clues are based on construction and that’s where he differs from Rufus/Dante.
I really like the combination of “a light touch” and “thoughtful cluing” in Crux’s puzzles.
He’s not a hard setter, but certainly not a throwaway setter either.
And if someone said to me “he’s the FT incarnation of Dac”, I would believe him/her instantly.

The fact that his crosswords do not attract many comments, is not something that bothers me [I learn from blogging a puzzle, irrespective of how many comments there are].
But I think, a good setter like Crux deserves more credit than he usually gets here.

By: PeeDee

PeeDee — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 11:38:26 +0000

Hi Sil, I have not done a Crux, so I did this one so I could brighten up your day with a comment!

It was a pleasant crossword, a bit like a Rufus. My favourites were 5ac and 11ac.