I found this quite difficult, and for a while a bit frustrating.
Year: 2015
Independent 8840 / Phi
Today we have what on the face of it is a fairly standard puzzle from Phi Well that’s what I thought until I just noticed before starting the blog that … Read more >>
Financial Times 14,854 by CHALMIE
A very enjoyable puzzle from CHALMIE this Friday. There were some devious twists and turns that extended the solving time by atleast 25% for me. A couple of clues also had me googling feverishly for checking the parsing but otherwise relatively unambiguous.
Guardian 26,494 by Qaos
Found this tough but fun, with 1ac, 11ac and 20/27 my favourites. Thanks Qaos.
Independent 8,839 by Monk
Rather a difficult Monk today I thought, but as usual very enjoyable. There are one or two loose ends which, thanks to the wisdom of those reading this blog, should be tied up before the end of the day.
And of course there’s the Nina, which I half saw and then forgot, to be reminded by Herb @1, who saw rather more than I did. The bottom row is a clear statement, so I looked at the top and couldn’t understand what was happening. All explained below. Very good. I can’t see why Herb thinks he hasn’t got it, for it clearly refers to the Russian novel.
Definitions underlined.
Financial Times 14,853 / Aardvark
Ringo has work commitments today so you will have to put up with me instead. I found this to be a steady solve, with no particular hold-ups or parsing problems once I had … Read more >>
Guardian 26,493 / Tramp
I found this very hard, and a bit of a slog – I seemed to be staring at a virtually empty grid for ages. Even getting the long answer at 11,2 didn’t make … Read more >>
Financial Times 14,844 / Dante
I failed to complete this one to my satisfaction as I am not sure of the correct entry for 11ac. Otherwise it was a typical Dante with the usual plethora of cryptic definitions. … Read more >>
Financial TImes 14,843 by Cincinnus
Prize puzzle from the Weekend FT of January 31, 2015 I found it refreshing and delightful to have the now-rare treat of a Cincinnus puzzle. And as usual it proved to be fairly … Read more >>
Guardian 26,492 by Arachne
Apologies for the delay, forgot it was my turn, so this is a bit rushed, can’t explain one of them either.
Financial Times 14,852 by IO
Not as hard as some Io puzzles, if you can get started!
Independent 8838 / Dac
One or two unfamiliar words for me today. I think I have met 23ac before (but had forgotten it) but 17ac was certainly new and I don’t think I would have got it … Read more >>
Inquisitor 1371: Conclusion by Kruger
Inquisitor 1371Preamble: Wordplay in each clue gives the answer with either an extra or missing letter. In order, these letters spell out a phrase which identifies the pattern collectively provided by the separate … Read more >>
Independent 8,837 / Knut
The Tuesday slot is one that is occupied by a wide variety of setters, and this Tuesday we have the pleasure of welcoming a (to me at least) new setter to the Indy … Read more >>
Financial Times 14,851 by PHSSTHPOK
First time I am standing in, so feels strange to be out on a Tuesday. Thanks to Phsssthpok for a grid that really had me at my wits’ end!! Had to get some help for the parsing of some clues but at the end of it, felt like a really good challenge.