Enigmatic Variations No. 921 – Gang of Four by Hypnos
An ‘EV’ puzzle in more ways than one, as it turned out! Bit of a complicated preamble – the solver is searching for a ‘gang of four’ who aren’t actually in the grid, … Read more >>
Month: July 2010
Independent 7,404/Phi
A very nice way to round off the working week as always from Phi. The clueing is very tight here and I found this tougher than usual. Got there in the end, though … Read more >>
Financial Times 13,433 / Cincinnus
GK buffs will feel right at home with this puzzle which touches a range of domains like literature and biology and geography. The wordplay is accessible, so with help from good old Wikipedia, … Read more >>
Guardian 25,058 – Gordius
Gordius seems to be getting easier – his Saturday prize puzzle a couple of weeks ago was pretty straightforward, and so was this, with a lot of rather obvious anagrams. As usual with … Read more >>
Independent 7399 (Sat 03-Jul) by Nestor
Another first Saturday of the month slot for Nestor, and another non-Nina puzzle as far as I can see (Unless Nestor is now sponsored by “Savalab”) Across 1 SHOULDER PADS SHOULD (are obliged … Read more >>
Financial Times 13,432 – Styx
I found this to be a real variety show of both easy and elusive answers, with some intermittent channelling of Sid James or Frankie Howerd to keep us amused (“titter ye not”). Across … Read more >>
Independent 7403/Merlin
A pleasant (but long — 35 clues) solve today from Merlin, although as is usual one or two seem a bit odd. The grid is very strange, in that there is a word … Read more >>
Independent on Sunday 1064 by Quixote – 4 July 2010
An unusually easy outing this week, finished in something like 15 minutes, which is about as quick as we get. ACROSS 6. BLOODSTONE (old bones)* around ‘to’ 9. R AID 10. PA ELLA … Read more >>
Guardian 25057, Arachne
Morning campers! An enjoyable if none too taxing puzzle today. Our favourites for today were 17ac and 10d for their amusing surfaces. ACROSS 1. GO P HER 4. ICE S(HE)ET 9. NIC(H)E 10. … Read more >>
Financial Times 13,423 – Crux
Monday Prize Crossword on 28 June 2010 Quite a gentle stroll through the park on a Monday morning. ACROSS 1 APPLAUD Cha of APPL (apple minus e or endless fruit) AU (chemical symbol … Read more >>
Financial Times 13,422 by Mudd
Prize puzzle from the Weekend FT of June 26 I found this a slightly difficult Mudd with a couple of sterling anagrams: 1A (SIGMUND FREUD) and 5D (FATBOY SLIM). I also like 10A … Read more >>
Independent 7402 by Dac
I thought this had everything you could ask for in a puzzle at the easier end of the Indy spectrum. Flawless clues, excellent surface readings, easier wordplay for the less familiar answers. Solving … Read more >>
Guardian 25,056 / Paul
I found this tough compared to most of Paul’s puzzles – fun to solve, though. I’m afraid I don’t understand how 6 down works and I’m not sure about my explanation for 26, … Read more >>
Financial Times 13,431 / Cinephile
I initially thought that many of the clues were on the easy side for a Cinephile but then found that there was a very obscure reference in 26,27 which I wouldn’t have known without the … Read more >>
Inquisitor 1132: Secret Excitement by Hypnos
After the relatively gentle strolls (or canters) of the last few weeks, this puzzle proved rather a stiffer challenge (or maybe I just wasn’t really in the mood). Two of the first clues … Read more >>