It’s a Brummie, so…
Independent 10,577 by Tyrus
The puzzle can be found here. Hello everybody, and happy weekend. When I see that Tyrus is the setter, I know we are in for a real challenge, so I was pleased … Read more >>
Month: September 2020
Guardian Prize 28,225 by Maskarade
Maskarade’s traditional Bank Holiday weekend giant puzzle – but one of the less complicated versions. The preamble says: The wordplay of 29 clues lack a theme word to reach the required solution. These … Read more >>
Financial Times 16,573 by NEO
A mostly straightforward challenge from NEO today, a quick solve thwarted only by a couple of uncommon words. Thanks NEO. FF: 7 DD: 6 ACROSS 1 FINISHING SCHOOL Eating up some fish, females … Read more >>
Guardian Cryptic 28,230 by Shed
A very enjoyable puzzle today – my favourites were 11ac, 17ac, 26ac, 21dn, and 22dn. Lots of thanks to Shed ACROSS 8 ZUCCHINI South African (half-cut) visits Sark etc, receiving cheers (also half-cut) … Read more >>
Independent 10,576 by Phi
It’s Phi-day again! We worked our way through this puzzle fairly steadily, although we were held up briefly by entering DREAD for 18ac before realising, when we couldn’t figure out 14d, that we’d … Read more >>
Enigmatic Variations No. 1449: Lack of Education by Jaques
The initial grid is suffering from a lack of Education. Sounds familiar when I watch politicians on the news trying to understand simple maths and science. Several answers were too short for the … Read more >>
Financial Times 16,572 by ARTEXLEN
A fine Artexlen puzzle. Short of time this morning, so can't really do this justice at the moment, but this was a fantastic puzzle, keeping up the standard that has been shown across … Read more >>
Independent 10,575 / Dalibor
Dalibor is occupying this week’s Thursday slot. Dalibor is a setter whose work I have rarely blogged. I found this puzzle to be a challenging and entertaining medium-to-difficult solve. I think that I … Read more >>
Financial Times 16,562 by Redshank
Non-prize puzzle from the Weekend FT of August 22, 2020 I solved this puzzle very quickly and easily while noting that a substantial number of clues were strangely familiar. It was only after … Read more >>
Financial Times 16,571 by GOZO
Another enjoyable themed puzzle from Gozo, but not one requiring specialist knowledge. Thank you Gozo. The theme is names – B stands for Boy and G stands for Girl ACROSS 1 GRAHAM B … Read more >>
Guardian Cryptic 28,228 by Puck
Puck at his mischievous best. After a first run through, I had two solutions across and two of the long down solutions, so I thought I was in for a hard slog, but … Read more >>
Independent 10574 / Eccles
Eccles and I seem to meet regularly on a Wednesday. I am perfectly happy with that. As usual, Eccles treats us to some excellent surfaces which generate answers that make … Read more >>
Inquisitor 1661: Line Drawing by Extent
eXtent returns this week. I blogged the last puzzle from this setter back in January. That puzzle also featured some blanks in the grid during the solving process. The preamble … Read more >>
Financial Times 16,570, by DOGBERRY.
A fun Tuesday solve with some ingenious clueing for which thanks to Dogberry. For some reason, my software won't let me enter 10 Down, so SPOILER ALERT, I'll parse it here… 10 Endlessly … Read more >>