August 2011 – Page 2 – Fifteensquared

Guardian Prize 25,406 / Brummie

August 27, 2011 at 1:17 pmAugust 27, 2011 at 1:00 am by Eileen

I was away for the weekend and took my Guardian with me. I was, naturally, amazed and disappointed to find the previous day’s Araucaria’s puzzle when I opened it to solve the crossword! … Read more >>

Independent 7752 by Nestor (Saturday prize puzzle 20th August 2011)

August 27, 2011 at 12:12 am by twencelas

A tricky one this week from Nestor, with a good use of different vocabulary to direct or mis-direct the solver. I found this quite a slog – an enjoyable 27 clues, picked off … Read more >>

Enigmatic Variations No.980 – Balancing Acts by Nudd

August 27, 2011 at 12:00 am by Mister Sting

Balancing Acts, eh? What sort of acrobatics does Nudd have in store? He/She/It tells us to highlight “the work in which the quotation was originally attributed”. That’s an odd instruction – what can … Read more >>

Guardian N° 25,411 by Gordius

August 26, 2011 at 3:46 pm by PeterO

Once I had dug out the answer to 1A, this puzzle gave me little trouble. Gordius comes up with several ingenious misdirections, and a smile at 24A; but there are also some clues (10A, 13A, 17A) where he seems to be waving his arms about furiously to indicate the answer. I submitted this blog first to Gaufrid, who had a few useful comments; my thanks to him.

Independent 7757/Phi

August 26, 2011 at 10:33 am by John

As always a nice solving experience from Phi. My heart tends to sink when I see that many of the clues refer to some other clue: one is always slow to get started and … Read more >>

Financial Times 13,782 / Falcon

August 26, 2011 at 10:17 am by Gaufrid

With each of the corners being linked to the rest of the grid by only a single answer this was more like four puzzles in one. A couple of old chestnuts (10ac, 11ac), … Read more >>

Guardian Cryptic 25410 Bonxie

August 25, 2011 at 7:00 pmAugust 25, 2011 at 11:37 am by scchua

I had come across a few Bonxies I couldn’t complete, and was afraid this one would be the same – well almost, with the NW being the last to yield. Tricky in places, … Read more >>

Independent 7756 by Tees

August 26, 2011 at 2:46 pmAugust 25, 2011 at 10:44 am by flashling

Three cheers for Tees today. I’m back after my week off here setting off a few fireworks and many thanks to Eileen for covering for me. . Well a remarkable crossword today – … Read more >>

Financial Times no.13,781 by GAFF

August 25, 2011 at 9:14 am by Ringo

In a bit of a hurry this morning, so please forgive any typos/slips/basic errors of logic and/or judgment. Far too many anagrams for my liking from Gaff today (my rule of thumb is … Read more >>

Financial Times 13,772 – Dante

August 31, 2011 at 11:18 amAugust 25, 2011 at 12:15 am by Sil

Monday Prize Crossword/Aug 15 Two Dante puzzles in a row, but I am not one who is going to complain about that . Just like last week, please keep in mind that I cannot respond to … Read more >>

Financial Times 13,771 by Cincinnus

August 25, 2011 at 5:37 pmAugust 25, 2011 at 12:01 am by Pete Maclean

Prize puzzle from the Weekend FT of August 13 Well, here is a confounding puzzle from Cincinnus. It includes a good dose of his typically brilliant clues, notably 14A (PAINTERS) and 10D (BARNACLE … Read more >>

Financial Times 13,780 by Aardvark

August 24, 2011 at 12:57 pmAugust 24, 2011 at 11:32 am by PeeDee

A good plain crossword from Aardvark. No themes, ninas or other funny business, just straightforward crossword fun. My favourite clue was 14 down, least favourite was 17 down. Hold mouse over clue number to see clue. … Read more >>

Guardian 25,409 / Enigmatist

August 24, 2011 at 10:10 am by Eileen

Well, this was a surprise for a Wednesday – especially as I was convinced we were due for a Gordius – but I’m certainly not complaining! It was quite a tough work-out but … Read more >>

Independent 7,755 / Dac

August 24, 2011 at 9:00 am by RatkojaRiku

With Dac as the mastermind behind today’s puzzle, highly sound clues with smooth-as-silk surface readings were bound to be the order of the day, and Dac did not disappoint. Overall, I very much … Read more >>

Inquisitor 1190 – Part-time by Charybdis

August 24, 2011 at 5:30 am by Hihoba

Has Charybdis been on holiday to Cornwall recently? If so he set a corking crossword while there! The rubric was pretty complex and, having read through it and not understood much, I cracked … Read more >>