Financial Times 13,064 / Adamant
I couldn’t spot anything here that required more than a cursory explanation, but please leave a message after the tone if you disagree…..beep…. Across 1 EARTHQUAKE – (heart)* + quake 7 CUFF – … Read more >>
Month: April 2009
Independent 7032 by Nimrod
Hard as Nimrod usually is, solving time, 58 mins. Very hard to break into, but seeing 1 down was a breakthrough helping with the LHS of the grid. Never systematically counted but Nimrod’s … Read more >>
Guardian 24687 / Araucaria
A typically difficult puzzle from Araucaria, but with some very pleasing clues. Across 1. TRAVESTY T + RAVE + STY 5. THAMES HAM in SET reversed 9. MIA FARROW AIM reversed + FARROW, … Read more >>
Independent on Sunday 1002 by Quixote (26 Apr 2009)
Great minds are still puzzling as to how Quixote has crossword 1002 in the 1000th issue of the paper which contained many articles and reminiscences to mark that occasion. The puzzle itself was … Read more >>
Financial Times 13,055 – Dante
Monday Prize Crossword on 20 April 2009 dd = double definition cd = cryptic definition rev = reversed or reversal ins = insertion cha = charade ha = hidden answer *(fodder) = anagram … Read more >>
Financial Times 13,054 by Cinephile
Prize puzzle from the Weekend FT of April 18 A nice, moderately difficult puzzle from Cinephile with a memorable clue in 3D. I was stumped on 10A for a while as I was … Read more >>
Guardian 24686 / Auster
I really enjoyed this one; quite easy on the whole and only a few quibbles. Across 9. REDUNDANT (UNDER)* + D = “German” + ANT = “worker” 10. LEACH Homonym of “leech”; I … Read more >>
Independent 7031/Phi
What’s Phi doing on a Wednesday? There must be something devious lined up for Mayday on Friday, and no doubt we’ll be seeing Dac on Saturday. Or perhaps he just needs a holiday, … Read more >>
Financial Times 13,063 / Cinephile
Another grid that is effectively four separate crosswords, loosely linked. I found the NE and SE quadrants reasonably straightforward but took a little longer over the other two. With hindsight, most of the … Read more >>
Financial Times 13,062 / Neo
Another good puzzle from Neo. Some good cryptic definitions in this one. Across 1 LACHESIS LA (at Harfleur, “the”) + I in CHESS (game that targets king). One of the three Fates of … Read more >>
Independent 7,030/Radian
Radian’s certainly developed a fairly unique and often fairly tricky style in his short time as an Indy setter, but I’m a fan. There’s some nice stuff here. There’s a kinda theme too … Read more >>
Guardian 24,685 – Chifonie
dd = double definition cd = cryptic definition rev = reversed or reversal ins = insertion cha = charade ha = hidden answer *(fodder) = anagram After that Monday puzzle yesterday, this one … Read more >>
Independent 7029 by Punk
*=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone, CD=cryptic def A couple of rather loose definitions (laptop computer = means of communication ?) meant I found sections of this tricky. There was only one (15 down) I … Read more >>
Guardian 24,684/Arachne
A non-Rufus Monday with a puzzle from Arachne that I found quite hard going, with some very involved wordplay. There are a couple of clues that I still don’t understand, but I’m sure … Read more >>
Private Eye/Cyclops 389 – Mock election
One of those where I couldn’t get the last couple for days. 22D was the bugbear. The eureka moment when I finally thought of RAG for “mock” was nice, but I’m glad … Read more >>