February 2016 – Page 7 – Fifteensquared

Enigmatic Variations 1210 Whodunnit by Ranunculus

February 5, 2016 at 9:12 pm by twencelas

A whodunnit this week – based on Cluedo. Five innocent suspects to be eliminated and 5 weapons too – all hidden in the clues. The murder room is then the room defined by … Read more >>

Financial Times 15,156 by WANDERER

February 5, 2016 at 11:46 am by Turbolegs

Yet another riveting challenge from Wanderer to bring a neat close to the FT work week. I enjoyed this solve thoroughly and hope others had a similar experience. Thanks to Wanderer!! I do have a bit of a struggle in being fully convinced about my parsing for 20ac, 26ac and 17dn so if anybody can improve upon it, much appreciated.

Guardian 26,799 – Screw

February 6, 2016 at 8:01 pmFebruary 5, 2016 at 10:20 am by Andrew

This puzzle has still not been published on the Guardian site – I’ve been hanging back hoping it would appear, but no joy yet. There’s a pdf version here, but, as the setter … Read more >>

Independent 9,145 by Phi

February 5, 2016 at 10:12 am by John

So many of these clues can be neatly and simply parsed that sometimes I feel as if I’m not doing the job properly. Some would say that I should be taking three lines to expound everything that’s happening, but I’m afraid I take the view that anyone who has got as far as reading this blog will have some ability at least to cope with the inclusions, synonyms, etc and if it can be explained simply then that is actually clearer.

Definitions underlined.

Financial Times 15,155 by SLEUTH

February 4, 2016 at 1:50 pmFebruary 4, 2016 at 9:45 am by loonapick

A pleasant Thursday diversion

Independent 9144 / Donk

February 4, 2016 at 5:51 pmFebruary 4, 2016 at 8:01 am by Bertandjoyce

We were really excited by the prospect of a Donk puzzle today, but although we enjoyed the solve we had hoped for more of his ‘risqué’ clues which usually raise a smile in … Read more >>

Guardian Cryptic 26798 Crucible

February 4, 2016 at 11:22 amFebruary 4, 2016 at 5:50 am by scchua

(Please click here for this same blog but with a picture quiz added. Please do NOT post hereinbelow any comment relating to the picture quiz. Thank you.) A relatively easy and enjoyable puzzle … Read more >>

Guardian Cryptic 26798 with Picture Quiz

February 4, 2016 at 3:51 pmFebruary 4, 2016 at 5:45 am by scchua

(Please post comments on ONLY the picture quiz hereinbelow. To post comments on the crossword puzzle, please click here.) A relatively easy and nice puzzle (until the LOI). Thanks to Crucible. Definitions are … Read more >>

Financial Times 15,146 – Gurney

February 6, 2016 at 11:09 amFebruary 4, 2016 at 12:05 am by Sil

Monday Prize Crossword / Jan 25, 2016

This must be Gurney’s debut for the Prize spot.
Not very difficult but smoothly clued as we may expect from this setter (aka Raich, at the Indy).

Financial Times 15,145 by Mudd

February 4, 2016 at 8:29 amFebruary 4, 2016 at 12:01 am by Pete Maclean

Prize puzzle from the Weekend FT of January 23, 2016 I found this puzzle interestingly different from the typical Mudd. My clue of the week is 17a (THESAURI) and I also applaud 9a … Read more >>

Financial Times 15,154 by LOROSO

February 3, 2016 at 2:24 pmFebruary 3, 2016 at 10:56 am by PeeDee

A tough puzzle. As the minutes ticked by I was worried that my attempt to solve and blog this might turn out an embarrassing failure, but in the end there is only one that I can’t fully explain. Thank you Loroso. Enjoyable in retrospect!

Independent 9,143 / Dac

February 3, 2016 at 8:00 am by RatkojaRiku

Today saw my monthly blogging encounter with Dac. I found this one to be towards the easier end of the spectrum in terms of difficulty and made rather speedy progress through it. I … Read more >>

Guardian Cryptic 26,797 by Pasquale

February 3, 2016 at 2:55 am by PeterO

The puzzle may be found at https://www.theguardian.com/crosswords/cryptic/26797.

Inquisitor #1422: Good Work by Eclogue

February 3, 2016 at 12:01 am by Hihoba

An ingenious and straightforward puzzle from Eclogue this week, completed in one session before midday on Saturday. The definition in each clue has overlooked a letter. In clue order, these letters provide the … Read more >>

Guardian26,796 / Nutmeg

February 2, 2016 at 9:39 am by Eileen

I’m always pleased to find Nutmeg’s name on a puzzle, especially when I’m blogging because, even when there’s a bit of a challenge, I know I can completely trust the integrity of the … Read more >>