November 2011 – Page 2 – Fifteensquared

Tips For Solving Alphabetical Jigsaw Crosswords

Sat November 26, 2011 at 4:00 pm by Admin

The following is a copy of a blog written by PeeDee for an Araucaria puzzle that appeared in the Guardian on 19/11/2011. It contains useful tips for those who have not met this … Read more >>

Independent 7830 / Punk – Saturday Prize Puzzle 19 November 2011

Sat November 26, 2011 at 2:00 am by duncanshiell

If there is a theme in this puzzle, I can’t spot it. The puzzle is not a pangram. This was simply a soundly constructed crossword with only a couple of words or phrases … Read more >>

Enigmatic Variations No. 993: Mind the Gap by Ifor

Sat November 26, 2011 at 4:46 pmSat November 26, 2011 at 12:01 am by mc_rapper67

For a long while, the ‘gap’ causing the most problems for me with this puzzle was the one between my ears… I can just about get my head round those ‘alphabetical jigsaws’, like … Read more >>

Guardian Prize Puzzle 25,484 by Araucaria

Sat November 26, 2011 at 11:45 amSat November 26, 2011 at 12:00 am by PeeDee

To me this is absolutely classic Araucaria – an alphabetical jigsaw with great clues cutting a swathe through general knowlegde, and taking some Araucarian liberties in the process. Not an easy solve but a very satisfying one. A … Read more >>

Independent 7,835/Phi

Fri November 25, 2011 at 2:01 pm by Ali

For anyone who has navigated here directly and/or solved this online, your attention is drawn to this note on the main page. I had no idea that this puzzle was used for the … Read more >>

Financial Times 13,860 / Sleuth

Fri November 25, 2011 at 10:33 am by Gaufrid

A quick solve for me today as the wordplay, or subsidiary indication as some prefer to call it, was quite clear in all the clues. I prefer something that presents a bit more … Read more >>

Guardian 25,489 – Bonxie

Fri November 25, 2011 at 12:54 am by Andrew

I’ve sometimes found Bonxie’s puzzles quite hard, but this one wasn’t too bad, despite a few rather obscure words. A nice theme involving the two “parts” of ROCK and ROLL, using at least … Read more >>

Today’s (25/11) Indy by Phi

Mon November 28, 2011 at 9:33 amFri November 25, 2011 at 12:05 am by Admin

From Kathryn Friedlander and Philip Fine at the University of Buckingham:

In 2010/11 we invited a number of crossword solvers to take part in recorded trials at Buckingham, during which they solved a cryptic crossword while commenting on their progress out loud. This crossword has been published today in the Independent newspaper as ‘Cryptic Crossword 7385 by Phi’.

In order to gain a richer understanding of the particular dynamics of this puzzle, we are inviting comments on it from all solvers who tackled the published version on or shortly after Friday 25th November 2011.

Independent 7834/Mordred

Thu November 24, 2011 at 11:09 am by John

A good crossword from Mordred today, although there was in my opinion too much checking of less than 50%, including two of the dreaded 2 out of 5s. Otherwise nothing very controversial I … Read more >>

Financial Times no.13,859 by ALBERICH

Thu November 24, 2011 at 11:06 am by Ringo

Some lovely – if at times maddeningly convoluted – clueing by Alberich here. Had terrible trouble with the left-hand side of the grid, but that’s down to the fuzziness of my brain today … Read more >>

Guardian 25,488 / Araucaria

Thu November 24, 2011 at 10:10 am by Eileen

Since I’m only a substitute today, I count myself very lucky to have drawn this fun puzzle from Araucaria. I really enjoyed it, for its amusing, whimsical cluing and some clever linking between … Read more >>

Financial Times 13,850 – Crux

Thu November 24, 2011 at 12:15 am by Sil

Monday Prize Crossword/Nov 14 Crux is one of those setters whose crosswords I am always looking forward to. Many lovely touches and thoughtful cluing along the way. However, sometimes I seem to expect a … Read more >>

Financial Times 13,849 by Mudd

Thu November 24, 2011 at 1:43 amThu November 24, 2011 at 12:01 am by Pete Maclean

Prize puzzle from the Weekend FT of November 12 I found some challenging clues in this puzzle, especially 1D (WOMANISH), 3D (EDEN) and 8D (REEFER). My favourite is 26D (SAGA) and I also … Read more >>

Financial Times 13,858 by Cinephile

Wed November 23, 2011 at 11:14 pmWed November 23, 2011 at 11:10 am by PeeDee

A relatively straightforward puzzle from Cinephile, and nothing contentious that I can see. Thank you Cinephile for an enjoyable puzzle. Hold mouse over clue number to see clue. Across 1 LEBANESE BANES (troubles) … Read more >>

Guardian Cryptic crossword No 25,487, by Arachne

Wed November 23, 2011 at 2:11 pmWed November 23, 2011 at 10:47 am by Stella

There’s always a lot of fun in the Spider Woman’s puzzles, and this one was no exception, though I did find it rather full of “pick out the letters” clues. Also there are … Read more >>