Independent 10,604 / Alchemi
Alchemi is occupying the Wednesday slot this week. This is a compiler whose work I have little experience of solving in the Indy, and even less experience of blogging. I enjoyed the puzzle … Read more >>
Year: 2020
Financial Times 16,601 by BASILISK
An interesting puzzle, I found it easier to guess the solutions than to parse them. Thank you Basilisk. There is some amusing elision going on in the grid: REVISED VERSION, STAINLESS STEEL etc. … Read more >>
Guardian Cryptic 28,258 by Nutmeg
Nutmeg is the setter in today's Guardian… …so we know what to expect – clean surfaces, no wasted words or unnecessary fillers, nothing terribly obscure and an elegant mix of general knowledge and … Read more >>
Inquisitor 1666: It’s an Ill Wind by Harpy
The number 1666 for this puzzle was always going to be the most important clue to the subject matter, so let’s dispose of it straight away. It had to be the Great Fire … Read more >>
Financial Times 16,600 by GURNEY
Simple elegance from this mornings setter. Strain-free surfaces & deadly accurate wordplay. A smooth, swift and satisfying solve. Thanks to Gurney. ACROSS 1 STATISTICIAN Rewritten, after resistance suppressed, it’s antiracist, this guy figures? … Read more >>
Independent 10603 / Wire
I don’t think I have blogged many puzzles by Wire so it was interesting to solve a puzzle from a setter who is fairly nw to me. It’s Tuesday so there … Read more >>
Guardian Cryptic 28,257 by Brummie
The puzzle may be found at https://www.theguardian.com/crosswords/cryptic/28257. A fairly quick solve, pleasant, but not too exciting, with some strange surfaces. A theme of headgear is plastered all over the place. Indeed, a google … Read more >>
Guardian 28,256 / Vulcan
Vulcan starts the week with a typical Monday medley of charades, anagrams and cryptic definitions, with just one double definition today. I’m not usually a great fan of Vulcan’s puzzles but I enjoyed … Read more >>
Independent 10,602 by Filbert
Filbert provides our mental workout this morning: not the easiest puzzle for a Monday, but a fun challenge. For some reason we have “pop diva” twice, both referring to the same lady; I’m … Read more >>
Guardian Quiptic 1,090/Matilda
A thoughtfully compiled Quiptic from Matilda, which I’d be happy to recommend to those who are new to this kind of torture. Friendly grid, no obscurities, clear cluing. Happy days. … Read more >>
Financial Times 16,599 by SLORMGORM
An enjoyable puzzle from Slormgorm. Quite a few animals – making me want to find a theme, but alas I could not. Almost a few mini themes going on. I worked through this … Read more >>
Private Eye (Cyclops / 686) Volcanic Entombment
On the tough side this time, though it may have been me having a bad solving day. In retrospect, there isn’t anything madly difficult, so I must’ve been off Cyclops’ wavelength this time. … Read more >>
Independent on Sunday 1,597/Tees
Another thoughtfully constructed and pleasing puzzle from Tees, with some delightfully succinct surface readings and more cryptic definitions than usual. Abbreviations cd cryptic definition dd double definition cad clue as … Read more >>
Everyman 3,859
The Observer crossword from 27 Sept, 2020 A generally typical Everyman puzzle for which, however, I needed a (short) second sitting to finish the SE corner. It looks like Everyman said goodbye to … Read more >>
Azed No. 2,520 Plain
I finished the puzzle, but there are a few unparsed. Cards on the table – I printed the puzzle off last Sunday and left it sitting beside the printer until Saturday evening, thus … Read more >>