Financial Times 16,521 by ZAMORCA
A ZAMORCA to start off Monday… Not much to say really… nothing too taxing here, though the precise parsing of some of them was a little awkward. I suppose 7d might be a … Read more >>
Month: July 2020
Guardian 28,178 – Carpathian
I initially thought this was Carpathian’s debut in the Cryptic slot, but a little research showed me that I had in fact blogged her first such effort a few weeks ago. I can … Read more >>
Azed 2507
A quick start on this: after my first pass through the clues I found I’d solved 18. This would normally have been exactly half, but unusually this grid has 18 acrosses and 20 … Read more >>
Everyman 3,846/28 June
Another pleasing and entertaining puzzle from Everyman. I particularly liked the range of subject matter that came up today. The bird, natch; but it also got me looking into a few people/places/books that … Read more >>
Independent 1584 Tees
Another Sunday Teeser. Thanks to Tees. Definitions are underlined in the clues. Across 1 Bloomer from servant in base with Poles touring States (5-4,5) BLACK-EYED SUSAN : LACKEY(a servant) contained in(in) BED(base/bottom, such … Read more >>
Guardian Genius 204 by Soup
Soup provides this month’s challenge for the old grey matter The preamble reads: Definitions in all clues are normal, but you must count on a knowledge of French and German (as well as … Read more >>
Independent 10,523 by Tyrus
We solved the last Tyrus at the end of May which we said was ‘a pleasant solve’. We wish that we could have said the same again today. Our least favourite was 18ac … Read more >>
Enigmatic Variations No. 1440: Unusual Grounds by Kruger
Hi everyone, I hope you are well. I’m very happy indeed that this series has escaped the axe (for now) and would like to thank all those who stepped up in support – … Read more >>
Guardian Prize 28,171 by Philistine
A themed puzzle from Philistine for this week’s puzzle in the prize slot. I had the pleasure of blogging Philistine’s puzzles four times last year, but this is the first time this year … Read more >>
Financial Times 16,519 by BRADMAN
A slightly tougher-than-usual challenge from the Don this Friday morning. Thanks Bradman! FF: 9 DD: 9 ACROSS 1 ALEWIVES Fish in various parts of Wales I have caught (8) [I’VE (i have)] in … Read more >>
Independent 10,522 / Phi
Phi has rounded off yet another suite of mid-week puzzles, as one might expect. This puzzle uses a less common grid that allows for a lot of variety in terms of word length … Read more >>
Guardian 28,176 – Tramp
After a brief slow start everything suddenly fell into place, and this ended up as a pretty quick solve. Good fun though: thanks to Tramp Across 1. … Read more >>
Guardian Cryptic 28175 Vlad
Thanks to Vlad for the challenge. Definitions are underlined in the clues. Across 1 Crazy house internally a big let-down (6) BATHOS : BATS(crazy/nuts, as in “bats in the belfry”) containing(… internally) HO(abbrev. … Read more >>
Independent 10521 / Serpent
Serpent has given us quite a challenge today. I got three of the four 10-letter entries quite quickly which also very quickly created four mini crosswords in each corner. I … Read more >>
Financial Times 16,518 by FALCON
Falcon provides today's FT puzzle. This may well be the easiest puzzle I have solved in years. I don't know whether to feel cheated, as I had the whole thing done (including writing … Read more >>