Guardian 24,596/Quantum
A straightforward puzzle with nothing particularly exciting and a few very easy clues. Key: dd = double definition cd = cryptic definition * = anagram < = reverse Across 1. TACTFUL (FACT ULT)* … Read more >>
Month: January 2009
Independent 6940/Virgilius
Now that Virgilius has appeared two weeks in a row, has he decided that he can now do every week again? That would be wonderful, although we shall have to wait and see. … Read more >>
Guardian 24,595 – Gordius
dd = double definition cd = cryptic definition rev = reversed or reversal ins = insertion cha = charade ha = hidden answer *(fodder) = anagram Not too difficult a puzzle with some … Read more >>
Financial Times 12973 / Armonie
I have two clues to go but my blog can’t wait any longer. 4dn is clue of the puzzle for me. Across 1 HYSTERIA – anag. of this year 5 SHREWD – cha. … Read more >>
Guardian 24,594 – Rufus
I sometimes get psyched out when I can’t get 1A easily, so I took a little while to get started today. Ploughed through most of the puzzle once I got going but took … Read more >>
Independent 6939 by Math
*=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone Across 1 Bored: ore in BD. 4 Games: Gas around ME. 9 Itchy: [T]itchy. 10 Solitaire: So I lit a [f]ire. 11 Scrabble: (BB + arcs)< + le. 13 … Read more >>
Azed 1910: last chance for honours
Solving time : a few hours, but it took me longer than it might have done because of a misprint in the pdf, whereby the clue for 23 down appeared as the clue … Read more >>
Guardian 24,587 (Sat 3 Jan)/Araucaria – Dammit, I’m mad!
Solving time: 20:32 (two mistakes: 13ac and 7dn) There’s a palindromic theme to this puzzle, built around the very long one referred to at 21ac. I found it hard to get going until … Read more >>
FT 12,970/Alberich
It’s hard to say exactly why Alberich’s puzzles amuse me so much. They seem to exude a sense of attention to detail and cliche-avoidance, which suggest that the clue-writing process was a labour … Read more >>
Independent 6937 by Phi
Excellent puzzle from Phi, thought it was going to be relatively easy when I got both 14-letter entries on first run through, but I found it was tricky in both SW and particularly … Read more >>
Guardian 24,592 – Araucaria
An enjoyable Araucaria today, with a completely non-topical theme of the Proms, with a bit of Shakespeare thrown in. dd = double definition* = anagram“” = homophone… = letters removed() = inserted Across … Read more >>
Independent 6932 / Nimrod (03/01/09)
An enjoyable solve, this – very tough in places, easier in others. Not sure about the wordplay in 14 and I’m not confident I’ve got the right answer at 19 either. The grid … Read more >>
Inquisitor 105, WARTIME SUSPENSE by Schadenfreude
The usual shudder occurred when I saw that it was Schadenfreude this week and I wasn’t disappointed! Not only misprinted clues, but also columns with a letter to be moved. This meant that … Read more >>
FT 12,969 by Orense. 8 January 2009
KATZENJAMMER or GUEULE DE BOIS – A hangover in any language from this alcoholic puzzle with drinks from many lands. At least it ended with a coffee! Only 20A was a new word … Read more >>
Independent on Sunday 986 by Quixote (4 Jan 2009)
Into the New Year that should see No 1000 in this series. Solving time, 17 mins, if I have solved it – some doubts that I’ll know for sure about only when solution … Read more >>