Independent 10516 / Phi
Phi eases us into the weekend with this Friday offering I wasn’t too sure about the word ‘bothered’ in the clue for OVERDRIVE at 26 across as OVER could simply … Read more >>
Month: June 2020
Guardian Cryptic 28,170 by Paul
A slow and tricky solve, with lots of fun clues – I particularly liked 1ac, 9/23, 13ac, 17ac, 21ac, 26ac, 3dn, and 14dn. Many thanks to Paul. ACROSS 1 SESAME Pith extracted … Read more >>
Financial Times 16,513 by WANDERER
I enjoyed this puzzle from Wanderer, thanks to whom for a good Friday joust. Couple of new words learnt along the way but eminently gettable from the immaculate cluing. FF: 9 DD: 8 … Read more >>
Financial Times 16,512 by REDSHANK
An enjoyable Redshank puzzle. This was a nice puzzle to blog, with just enough challenging clues to keep me interested, but nothing too difficult to parse. I liked 24 and 25 across, and … Read more >>
Guardian 28,169 – Nutmeg
Another top-quality puzzle from Nutmeg: a good range of difficulty in the clues, with some of the six double definitions (perhaps verging on the excessive side?) causing me the most trouble. There are … Read more >>
Independent 10,515 by Maize
Goodness how difficult, but what a privilege to be able to blog a crossword like this. Maize has yet again excelled themselves. There are lots of excellent and original clues in this crossword. … Read more >>
Financial Times 16,502 by Alberich
Prize puzzle from the Weekend FT of June 13, 2020 I had a scare when I first went to download this puzzle from the FT’s website. It informed me that its crosswords were … Read more >>
The demise of Enigmatic Variations
It would appear that The Telegraph intends to discontinue the Enigmatic Variations series of barred cryptic puzzles in August. We must try to prevent this from happening so please read the new article … Read more >>
Financial Times 16,511 by JULIUS
A great puzzle! Hard going at first until I twigged the theme, then it all fell into place. Thank you Julius The undefined answers are all writers of thrillers. ACROSS 1 COLIN DEXTER … Read more >>
Guardian Cryptic 28,168 by Puck
A toughie from Puck provides some midweek entertainment, but not one for those who don’t like toilet humour. Puck is at his naughty best here with a few clues that rely on a … Read more >>
Independent 10,514 by Eccles
Eccles again – we are more than pleased! As we always say, a fun Wednesday solve – just the job for the middle of yet another lockdown week ACROSS 1 Tenor joins composer for … Read more >>
Independent 10,513 / Radian
Radian has provided today’s puzzle for our intellectual stimulation and general entertainment. It is quite a while since it fell to me to blog one of his puzzles. Today is Tuesday, so there … Read more >>
Inquisitor 1651: Odd Situations by Kruger
Odd Situations by Kruger In several clues the definition contains a single letter misprint. The correct letters, in clue order, cryptically suggest how the unclued entries should be completed. Nice short preamble and, … Read more >>
Financial Times 16,510 by GURNEY
Not too demanding a puzzle from Gurney,,, but solid clueing and the odd flash of wit. No theme that I can see, although the middle row of unches, played slowly, make a nice, … Read more >>
Guardian Cryptic 28,167 by Qaos
The puzzle may be found at https://www.theguardian.com/crosswords/cryptic/28167. It’s Qaos, so there must surely be a theme; I could not spot it without a hint from his website – and it turns out that … Read more >>