Sunday rolls round again, you can get the crossword here
Azed 2,342
For the first time in three or four years I solved the Azed last Sunday. Whether this was due to luck or premonition is anybody’s guess, but I heard a couple of hours … Read more >>
Month: May 2017
Independent 9536 / Serpent
This is our first blog of a Serpent puzzle. Although he has been around setting daily cryptics for the Independent for a while, we remember him more for the excellent Inquisitor puzzles that … Read more >>
Enigmatic Variations No. 1275: Replacements by Artix
I have to admit I found REPLACEMENTS by Artix a pretty tough EV – so much so that I even considered calling for ‘replacements’, from amongst my fellow EV bloggers. But I persevered, accumulating answers … Read more >>
Guardian Prize 27,184 by Paul
Twenty-six clues, one for each mile. I wonder if Paul concocted this idea so he could stop and have a rest every few minutes? I also wonder if Imogen was running along too, or else how did he get between mileposts in time? And if he wrote as he ran what state was the puzzle in by the time they finished, could they read it at all? Definitely an excuse to stop and rest. And did Imogen fill the grid as he ran or was it pre-filled? Whatever, setting while running seems to have had little effect on the end result, good fun to solve as always. Thank you Paul and Imogen.
Financial Times 15,541 by BRADMAN
A real toughie from Bradman this Friday. Had to seek online aid for 2 clues and confirmations for a couple of others. Thanks Don, for a strenuous workout.
Guardian 27,189 – Vlad
As I expected when I saw Vlad’s name, this was pretty tough going, with sudden bursts of progress interrupted by long periods of staring hopelessly at the clues. Of course everything looks reasonably … Read more >>
Independent 9535 / Phi
Once every four weeks I go ten days without blogging a crossword, so it’s good to get back to the fray with a Phi puzzle. There were a couple of … Read more >>
Independent 9,534 by Maize
By chance poor old Maize has got me again. I was very enthusiastic about his/her previous offering; this one is less obviously outstanding, simply very good. There are a whole lot of excellent sound clues.
Guardian Cryptic 27188 Philistine
Some tricky clues here. Thanks to Philistine. Definitions are underlined in the clues. I can’t make a connection (there probably is one) to the numerical answers: hundred and one, thousand, and eleven. That could … Read more >>
Financial Times 15,540 by CHALMIE
Perhaps Chalmie should have “charged” us to complete this puzzle…
Financial Times 15,531 – Dante
Monday Prize Crossword / Apr 24, 2017
Fairly typical Dante with indeed a lot of cryptic and double definitions this time,
something that is not always the case (despite what many solvers think).
Financial Times 15,530 by Goliath
Prize puzzle from the Weekend FT of April 22, 2017
Financial Times 15,539 by AARDVARK
I found this a bit of a struggle, which is unusual for an Aardvark puzzle.
Independent 9533 / Crosophile
Crosophile stands in for Dac this week. It was only when we were compiling the blog that we realised that there is a theme here – given away (perhaps unnecessarily?) … Read more >>