How to solve cryptic crosswords
Don Manley is giving a presentation on ‘How to solve cryptic crosswords’ in Oxford on Saturday 26th March. Details of the event are given below. .
Month: January 2011
Independent 7579 by Crosophile
This is, I think, a new pseudonym for the Indy so maybe a new setter. If so, welcome! Quite a difficult puzzle, I found, solving time 43 mins, but I got there … Read more >>
Guardian 25,233 / Rufus
This was a fairly standard puzzle from Rufus that will no doubt divide the solving community along the usual lines. As ever, from Rufus, there were a number of clues based on cryptic … Read more >>
Quiptic crossword No 585
I was feeling particularly leaden, and made heavy weather of solving this, but in writing it up there does not seem to be anything to struggle over: mostly straightforward charades and envelopes. Across … Read more >>
Private Eye/Cyclops 435 – Telltale Claptrap
First Eye blog of the new year for me. Thanks to jetdoc who is alternating the task from now on and who produced an admirable effort last time. She has certainly laid down … Read more >>
Beelzebub 1092
Beelzebub has certainly thrown down the gauntlet with this cruciverbal challenge * anagram dd double definition () omitted < reverse ACROSS 2 JUSTE MILIEU IM JULIET SUE* 9 NAPPE NAPPE(R) … Read more >>
Independent on Sunday 1093 by Quixote
Another quality work from the Don with a rich variety of cryptic devices, each crafted well and creatively. I do, however, have one teeny-weeny quibble. Dr Brian Skinner, my crossword moderator, would never … Read more >>
Azed 2017
I found this one of the hardest Azed plain puzzles for a long time, with, I think, a higher-than-average proportion of obscure words. I ended up with some rather tedious dictionary-searching to get … Read more >>
Everyman No 3,356
A few mild obscurities, perhaps, but plenty of smooth surfaces. Thanks to The Trafites and to PeeDee for the tools to help create this blog. Across 1. A master of light farce with … Read more >>
Sloggers & betters in Derby
What a lovely day! Many posts will be posted and many photos uploaded. For now, having returned home, let us thank Peter (Kathryn’s Dad) and Eileen for their magnificent effort. Lots more to … Read more >>
Enigmatic Variations 950: Resident Jokers by Owzat
Typical!! One of my (two) New Year resolutions is to adopt the practice of giving the full clues in my EV blogs. And what happens? I get landed with a puzzle that has … Read more >>
Independent 7572 by Nestor (Saturday Prize Puzzle 22 January 2011)
Welcome to my first blog of the Independent’s Saturday prize crossword. A very enjoyable puzzle from Nestor – not too taxing, but not without some head scratching (most notably explaining 4dn). A bit … Read more >>
Guardian Prize Crossword 25,226 by Enigmatist
Another good puzzle, not easy, but all there to be found if you look. I thought the construction of the clues was very tight indeed, only 5dn giving me any doubts, but this may just be … Read more >>
Independent 7,577 / Phi
After spending a week struggling with crosswords of all descriptions and from numerous sources, and having difficulty unpicking wordplay even when I had the solution before me, Phi’s puzzle felt like a breath … Read more >>
Financial Times 13,603 / Hamilton
I had mixed feelings about this puzzle. Liked some clues such as 17a, 16d, found others a bit shaky. Across 1,5 PERSIAN CARPET (APPRENTICES A[lways] R[eady])*; “principal always ready” = A R? Hmmm … Read more >>