Azed 1969
A puzzle of two halves, I found: I whizzed though about two-thirds very quickly and without aids, then struggled rather more to finish it off. As promised, I’ve done this blog in the … Read more >>
Month: February 2010
Guardian Genius 80 (February 2010) – Puck
I struggled with this puzzle when I first tried it, though getting enough down answers to guess that they all had one or more Bs missing. Then I left it for a couple … Read more >>
Everyman 3308
Plenty of anagrams this week particularly in the down clues (I count 10 clues containing at least a part anagram). Since these are often the easiest to spot, it should have been quite … Read more >>
Enigmatic Variations No. 902 – Alternative Outcome by kcit
The preamble seemed quite straightforward, no extra letters etc in the wordplay just the possible modification of six across answers and twelve down ones before entering them in the grid. I started with … Read more >>
Financial Times 13,320 / Falcon
The usual from Falcon, elegant and not too taxing. One new word for me, at 24A, nothing too obscure otherwise. The parsing for 27A is foggy still, help invited. // 27A updated. Across … Read more >>
Guardian 24,939 (Sat 20 Feb)/Enigmatist – Criminal record
Solving time: 14 mins I don’t think I’ve ever finished a crossword having understood so few of the solutions! It took me at least as long again to fathom them all out. As … Read more >>
Independent 7,290 by Tees
A very enjoyable one here. I had expected to say that I found this a bit easier than usual for a Tees, but then I started to struggle towards the end. Still, here … Read more >>
Guardian 24,944 / Bonxie
A quite quick second appearance for Bonxie this year, considering we had only four of his / her puzzles last year [thanks, Andrew!]. There was nothing too taxing – some ingenious clues and … Read more >>
Beelzebub 1,044 (21/02/10)
My ongoing quest to complete a whole Beelzebub unaided led to a full grid, yet with a couple of silly errors. Still, a good week and always a pleasure to work out the … Read more >>
Inquisitor 1113 – Origins by Samuel
Samuel is a setter I have come across in The Listener and Magpie as well as here in the Inquisitor series. I have always enjoyed his puzzles. This was no exception. Like all … Read more >>
Independent Prize Puzzle 7285 by Bannsider – Saturday 20 February 2010
As I only blog Independent puzzles once a month, I don’t have a great deal of experience of individual setters. A little research though shows that I have solved Bannsider’s puzzles before as … Read more >>
Independent 7,289/Morph
A nice puzzle from Morph with some great cryptic definitions and humourous touches, as appears to be his wont! I found the NW corner very hard, but overall a very satisfying solve. Across … Read more >>
Independent on Sunday 1045 by Quixote – 21st February 2010
Two unknown words and one unknown spelling made this a tougher challenge for your faithful correspondents. One clue we haven’t successfully parsed. ACROSS 4. POUND triple definition. 6. HE I NOUS 8. CONNIVER … Read more >>
Financial Times 13,319 /Orense
A paddle in the shallow-end today, with the waters only getting above knee-depth with the slightly obscure – but readily deducible – answer at 17D. Puns and cryptic standalones seem to feature more … Read more >>
Guardian 24,943 – Paul
Quite a tough one from Paul, with some characteristic humour. I don’t fully understand 1 across, and I have some niggles about a couple of other clues. Across … Read more >>