FT 12,913/Alberich
With apologies for the tardy posting. Especially as I thought this was a really well-balanced and cohesive puzzle that merits plaudits or discussion. The surface readings in particular were what caught my eye. … Read more >>
Month: October 2008
Independent 6873/Nestor (Prize puzzle 25-10-08)
Apologies for the comparative lack of commentary – I’m a bit pushed for time today. Great puzzle, as always from Nestor. Across 1 CH(I,N)ASE,A 6 alternate letters of sPaRsElY 11 A(DO)PTER 12 NAME,NIL … Read more >>
Independent 6878/Phi
A typically nice crossword, but trickier than usual for Phi. Some long words were slow to come. Across 7 DOZE(n) 8 BOTTLENECK — I don’t really understand this — why wouldn’t you expect to find jam in … Read more >>
Guardian 24534 / Enigmatist
A remarkable grid with four 15 letter clues going down and lots of inventive and entertaining cluing… Across 8. RIBOSOME RIE (essentially bRIEf) covering BOSOM (“doing what bra does”). Ribosomes are organelles found … Read more >>
Enigmatic Variations 834 — Hero by Lato
My initial reading of the preamble left me confused. Were the two word unclued entries spread over two lights each or just one? The other two entries clued by extra words, were they … Read more >>
Inquisitor 95 ASDN WEEHWF HEDT by Schadenfreude
Blimey, what a corker! Several new words (including two of the dreaded Spenserian ones), a theme that was in code, answers to be both altered AND encoded. I almost gave up before starting! … Read more >>
Guardian 24533 by Taupi
We seem to be without a Guardian blog today so here is a breakdown of the wordplay. I’ll leave it to regular Guardian solvers to provide comments on the clues. . . Across … Read more >>
Independent 6877/Nimrod
Explanations and clarifications needed for 1a, 8, 12, 13, 19 and 26. Across 1 GOLF WIDOWS – can’t make head or tail of this, beyond some sort of pun on “putting”: “In small … Read more >>
FT No. 12,912, Set by Sleuth, October 30, 2008.
Plenty to think about today. The answers came fairly quickly but not always the explanations. 30a misled me for a few minutes – I trust I now have it right. Likewise 31a. No … Read more >>
Independent on Sunday 976 by Quixote
I found this quite easy, solving time, 14 mins. * = anagram < = reversed ACROSS 1 M (ODIC) UM odic = of poetry 5 A MAL(e) G AM 9 TOTE M 10 … Read more >>
Financial Times 12,903 – Crux
From Monday Prize Crossword on 20 Oct 2008 dd = double definition cd = cryptic definition rev = reversed or reversal ins = insertion cha = charade ha = hidden answer *(fodder) = … Read more >>
Financial Times 12,902 by Mudd
Prize puzzle from the Weekend FT of 18 October Mudd’s puzzle was the most difficult I have done in a while. I cannot figure out how 11A works. Across 1. BACKHAND – BACK … Read more >>
Financial Times 12,911 by Satori
I cannot say I particularly enjoyed today’s puzzle, partly because there are two clues (1a and 3d) that I can’t fully explain. I will continue to work on these though I am not … Read more >>
Independent 6876 by Dac
Excellent, accessible, puzzle by Dac, as ever. Solving time, 14 mins * = anagram < = reversed ACROSS 1 MAOIST Very good with seamless join at old time/communist O (old) in Siam< t … Read more >>
Today’s Independent – Sub needed
Hi all, Apologies for the short notice, but I’m laid up with a bad cold and am unlikely to be fit for blogging today. If anybody can step in, I’d be much obliged. … Read more >>