Prize crossword from the Weekend FT of March 7, 2020
Month: March 2020
Financial Times 16,428 by GOZO
A themed puzzle, quite taxing to finish. Thank you Gozo. The theme is rivers. I made life hard for myself by misunderstanding the instructions. I was looking for 3 down clues that were … Read more >>
Independent 10430 / Eccles
I always look forward to blogging an Eccles puzzles Eccles clues have excellent surfaces, none more so today than the splendid 10 Downing Street, Angela Leadsom clue for PISTOLS at 18 … Read more >>
Guardian Cryptic 28,084 by Qaos
The puzzle may be found at https://www.theguardian.com/crosswords/cryptic/28084. Forgive me if this sounds like damning with faint praise, but after yesterday’s Puck, what would not be anticlimactic? My real gripe is not with Qaos, … Read more >>
Reason for lost comments
Without any prior notification, our hosting company migrated my account, and hence the site, to a new server earlier today and it would appear that in the process a number of comments were … Read more >>
Inquisitor 1637: Free TV Licences for the Poor by Pointer
It’s been well over a year and a half since we had an Inquisitor from Pointer. This is the first Pointer puzzle I have blogged, but I have enjoyed solving many of his … Read more >>
Financial Times 16,427 by SLORMGORM
Straightforward on the whole, but with enough wiliness to keep complacency at bay.
Guardian 28,083 / Puck
I’m always delighted to see Puck’s name on a puzzle, particularly when I’m blogging – and he’s on top form today. I was a bit daunted at the beginning, seeing two clues containing … Read more >>
Independent 10,429 by Atrica
Atrica is a new name for me, although it isn’t: only five months ago I blogged one. I wrote then This is the first I’ve heard of Atrica, who doesn’t seem to have … Read more >>
Quiptic 1,061 by Matilda
Another enjoyable Quiptic from Matilda this morning. (Or last Thursday, for those who noticed it was erroneously published early under the Cryptic heading on the Guardian website.) The wordplay in 11a and the … Read more >>
Financial Times 16,426 by VELIA
A gentle start to the week from VELIA… A very pleasant solve. Lot’s of great clues. Hokuto apples were new to me. My parsing of 28a is perhaps a bit dodgy. Thanks VELIA! … Read more >>
Guardian Cryptic 28,082 by Chifonie
A nice difficulty for a Monday, and several clues that raised a smile – I particularly liked 1ac, 9ac, 22ac, 6dn, and 20dn. Thanks to Chifonie
Independent 10,428/Poins
In the past, Poins has been a contributor mainly to the Independent on Sunday puzzle slot, but he’s made a few appearances recently on a Monday. This was in the customary Monday style: … Read more >>
Private Eye (Cyclops/672) Upfront Whopper
A much more accessible puzzle this time. Nothing here to trouble us much. Almost a record solve with only 3 left to do after the first pass and they were scattered around so … Read more >>
Independent on Sunday 1568 Hypnos
Thanks Hypnos for an enjoyable puzzle. Definitions are underlined in the clues. Across 1 Dismiss sandwich possibly with no end of chicken (4) SACK : “snack”(an example of which/possibly, would be a sandwich) … Read more >>