Independent 7603 by Radian
Tough puzzle today from Radian, solving time 48 mins. All over the clues the phrase “1 of 20” appeared. Thought that when I cracked 20 after about 10 minutes, the rest of the … Read more >>
Month: February 2011
Guardian Quiptic No 589 by Orlando
Together with the Rufus, we have a veritable blizzard of double definitions today. Across 1. Where Marco Polo went in a yacht, wandering (6) CATHAY Anagram (‘wandering’) of ‘a yacht’. Cathay is an … Read more >>
Guardian 25,257 by Rufus
Nothing very demanding – notably heavy on double definitions, and only a hint of a cryptic definition. Across 1. Influences or distorts the standard (7) COLOURS Triple definition. 5. Makes an entry, a … Read more >>
Private Eye/Cyclops 437 – Chirrupy Corgi
I had trouble getting going with this puzzle. I read loads of clues before finally cold solving one with a definite answer at 6D, and then only had about a dozen answers in … Read more >>
Beelzebub 1096
Some rare gems are revealed in the answers of this week’s puzzle ( )* = anagram [ ] = omitted < = reversed Across 1 It’s mostly separate, and also … Read more >>
Azed 2021 plain
I found this very hard, partly because I had never heard of either of the two 13 letter anagrams at 15 and 29 across. There were several other obscure words and I will … Read more >>
Independent on Sunday 1097 by Quixote
As to be expected, The Don served up another scrupulously fair puzzle that can be enjoyed without too much problems on a lazy Sunday. ACROSS 1 CERISE Ins of ERIS (rev of SIRE, … Read more >>
Everyman 3360/20 February 2011
There has been discussion recently about Everyman getting a bit harder. This one was certainly accessible, but for me it just lacked a bit of the usual zing. Comment was made on the … Read more >>
Enigmatic Variations 954: As Per Brewer by Kruger
I think Kruger has set some tough puzzles in the past, but this week’s was comparatively easy. The wordplay in every clue had an extra letter not entered in the grid, and these … Read more >>
Guardian Prize No 25,250 by Paul
I thought that this was an easier than usual puzzle for a prize competition, and it took me about an hour and a half. The theme – Leonardo and the Ninja Turtles – … Read more >>
Independent 7596 by Bannsider (Saturday Prize Puzzle 19 February 2011)
A nicely constructed and clued puzzle, with some wonderfully diverting surface readings, and a little theme-ette (nina?) woven in as well. The theme, not indicated by any preamble, but alluded to by the … Read more >>
Independent 7,601 / Phi
This Phi puzzle did my blogging confidence a world of good, after I had emerged last week battered and bruised from my tussle with Nimrod. Nonetheless, I found this a challenging and enjoyable … Read more >>
Financial Times 13,627 / Alberich
The usual Alberich brilliance with great clue surfaces. No single clear favourite today but a lot of all-round goodness. The easy long entries at 3d, 6d got me off to a quick start … Read more >>
Guardian 25,255 / Bonxie
We don’t see enough of Bonxie, I think, so this was very welcome: a witty and entertaining puzzle, with ingenious cluing, some excellent surfaces, several penny-dropping moments and a few smiles to end … Read more >>
Independent 7,600/Nestor
We don’t often see Nestor during the week and it seems like ages since I’ve blogged one of his puzzles. I was expecting a bit of a toughie, but actually found that I … Read more >>