November 2020 – Page 7 – Fifteensquared

Financial Times 16,616 by Mudd

November 5, 2020 at 1:01 pmNovember 5, 2020 at 12:01 am by Pete Maclean

Non-prize puzzle from the Weekend FT of October 24, 2020 This puzzle is highly unusual in that I strongly suspect that there are two typographical errors in it. The suspect clues are 10ac … Read more >>

Enigmatic Variations No.1458 – Cover Story by Gaston

November 5, 2020 at 12:01 am by Mister Sting

“Clues are given in normal order, but there are five unclued thematic entries, one of which must have seven of its cells blacked out in the completed grid; the other four are all of a kind. Solvers must highlight 19 suitably placed cells in the completed grid, thus completing the COVER STORY. Chambers Dictionary (2016) is recommended.”

Financial Times 16,625 by BASILISK

November 4, 2020 at 9:53 am by PeeDee

A super puzzle. Traditional in style without feeling old-fashioned. Thank you Basilisk. ACROSS 1 PHARMACY Drug supplier’s quick to limit damage (8) PACY (quick) contains (to limit) HARM (damage) 5 ESCAPE Flight … Read more >>

Guardian 28,282 – Maskarade

November 4, 2020 at 8:55 am by Andrew

As the US election hangs scarily in the balance, a welcome diversion from Maskarade. A few bits of general knowledge required, and there are a couple of answers that are perhaps a bit … Read more >>

Independent 10,628 / Klingsor

November 4, 2020 at 8:00 am by RatkojaRiku

It has been a while since it has fallen to me to blog a puzzle by Klingsor, who is a compiler whose work I am more used to encountering on a Thursday than … Read more >>

Inquisitor 1670: Hot and Cold? by Hedge-sparrow

November 3, 2020 at 10:00 am by Hihoba

A third offering from Hedge-sparrow, a relative newcomer to the illustrious company of Inquisitor setters. The rubric read: One letter per grid row is not indicated by the wordplay of the clues. These … Read more >>

Financial Times 16,624 by LEONIDAS

November 3, 2020 at 9:25 am by Grant Baynham

My first tussle with this setter, and a quite a tussle it was. I was shamefully slow out of the traps this morning, eventually completing the SE corner with hardly anything else showing. … Read more >>

Guardian Cryptic 28,281 by Qaos

November 3, 2020 at 8:18 am by loonapick

A themed effort from Qaos this morning, My original preamble seems to have disappeared, so from memory… The theme of today’s puzzle is the author Stephen King, generally considered a horror writer, although … Read more >>

Independent 10627 / Gila

November 3, 2020 at 9:08 amNovember 3, 2020 at 7:30 am by duncanshiell

Gila is a setter whose puzzles appear every two months or so in the daily Independent series. Following on from the Nina offering advice to electors in the US Presidential … Read more >>

Guardian Quiptic 1,094/Anto

November 2, 2020 at 4:57 pmNovember 2, 2020 at 8:20 am by Pierre

Anto divides his time these days (or the editor does it for him) between the Quiptic and the daily Grauniad cryptic. This was a fine example of the former, with some pleasing anagrams … Read more >>

Financial Times 16,623 by MOO

November 2, 2020 at 8:16 am by Teacow

Great start to the week from Moo. A very enjoyable solve. A few write ins, but mostly a neatly and cleverly clued puzzle. Required a bit of general knowledge to complete, but all … Read more >>

Independent 10,626/Alchemi

November 2, 2020 at 4:59 pmNovember 2, 2020 at 7:45 am by Pierre

Alchemi is not a regular visitor to the Monday Indy slot, but he has turned up today with an intriguing puzzle for us. Maybe it’s because I only ever blog … Read more >>

Private Eye ( Cyclops / 688) Wealth Tests

November 2, 2020 at 6:00 am by beermagnet

I thought I might get the whole thing done in one pass, but ran out of steam with 5 to go mainly in the top left. Just as well really. When I got … Read more >>

Guardian Cryptic 28,280 by Vulcan

November 2, 2020 at 3:03 am by PeterO

The puzzle may be found at https://www.theguardian.com/crosswords/cryptic/28280. A very quick solve, with a few quibbles. 11A held me up looking for a cryptic element, but I cannot find any. ACROSS 1 BITE THE … Read more >>

Independent on Sunday 1,601/Peter

November 1, 2020 at 12:15 am by Pierre

It’s the Peter and Pierre show this Sunday. At the risk of repeating myself, we are not related; as far as I know, we are not even the same sex. The IoS puzzle … Read more >>