Guardian 24,718 / Orlando
An enjoyable puzzle from Orlando, who’s always good value, I think. There are some very cleverly constructed clues and several to raise a smile. Across 1 REGAL: REG and AL, two male … Read more >>
Month: June 2009
Inquisitor 126 – Fatal Attraction by Ikela
The preamble to this puzzle was fairly complicated and needed reading a two or three times before I got it clear in my mind as there was reference to clued entries, unclued entries, … Read more >>
EV 864 Undercover Agents by Kruger
Sometimes it goes like this: I solve lots of clues. There are a few clashes but on the whole answers fit together. I get enough extra letters to work out the entire quotation … Read more >>
Guardian 24717 / Araucaria
There’s a mini-theme of golf and golf clubs in this one; I found this quite tough, but on writing the post I’m not entirely sure why, apart from the usual Araucaria liberties… Across … Read more >>
Independent 7,062 by Punk
*=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone, cd=cryptic definition, dd=double definition. A puzzle from a no doubt excellent setter whose style I’ve sadly never quite managed to get to grips with, and a somewhat distracted solve … Read more >>
Independent on Sunday 1007 by Quixote
A little tougher than usual from Quixote, I thought. Solving time, 28 mins * = anagram ACROSS 1 W EST B ENGAL (wangle)* est = established B = British 8 L EARNER L … Read more >>
Financial Times 13,094 / Bradman
This was an enjoyable challenge from The Don, with many very nice clues, including more “&lit” clues than I have seen in a while. However, a grid with this many long lights tends … Read more >>
Financial Times 13,085 – Falcon
Monday Prize Crossword on 25 May 2009 dd = double definition cd = cryptic definition rev = reversed or reversal ins = insertion cha = charade ha = hidden answer *(fodder) = anagram … Read more >>
Financial Times 13,084 by Cincinnus
Prize puzzle from the Weekend FT of May 23 Recent conjectures that Cincinnus is making his puzzles harder seem to me to be denied by this one. I found it fairly easy but … Read more >>
Independent 7,061/Dac
A puzzle packed full of elegant, concise clues today. On the easier side definitely, but still very enjoyable. Across 1 BELLA – (Alexander Graham) BELL,A 4 REMARKING – RE: MARKING 9 CONTRIVED – … Read more >>
Guardian 24,716 – Brummie
* = anagram < = reversed “” = homophone d.d. = double definition c.d. = cryptic definition Across 8. AL JOLSON. JLOALSO* + N 9. TINGE. GET* around IN. 11. OXFORD CLAY. OX … Read more >>
Financial Times 13,093 / Monk
A tough, but generally fair, puzzle from Monk today. I was held up briefly by entering a wrong (but I thought justifiable) answer at 8d which meant that 10a was not as obvious … Read more >>
Independent 7060/Virgilius
Initially I thought that Virgilius had referred so frequently to Roman numerals that this was in some way the theme, but perhaps it’s just that in the Across clues he’s fitted many numbers … Read more >>
Guardian 24,715 – Chifonie
dd = double definition cd = cryptic definition rev = reversed or reversal ins = insertion cha = charade ha = hidden answer *(fodder) = anagram Thank you, Eileen for so ably filling … Read more >>
Financial Times 13,092 /Dante
Rufus’s alter ego sets a puzzle to his usual standard: enjoyable, if not difficult, with clean concise clues and plenty of amusing cryptic definitions. Across 1 FEATHERS *(HERE FAST) 5 SCALED dd 9 … Read more >>