Financial Times 16,576 by FALCON
A solid effort from Falcon this morning and one which took me longer than necessary. Mostly because I'd convinced myself of PAWN SHOP for 4, which dropped anchor in the top right until … Read more >>
Year: 2020
Guardian 28,233 / Nutmeg
A typically elegant and witty puzzle from Nutmeg today. Many thanks to her for the fun. Definitions are underlined in the clues. Across 1 First chapter on one subject (5) TOPIC TOP (first) … Read more >>
Independent 10579 / Kairos
Kairos is a setter that I don’t think I have blogged before Kairos seems to favour ‘double definition’ clues. I counted five of these in this puzzle. The wordplay constructions … Read more >>
Guardian Quiptic 1,086/Matilda
As always, I enjoyed solving and blogging this offering from Matilda. One or two devices that newer solvers might have been unfamiliar with, but learning new stuff is part of the enjoyment, no? … Read more >>
Independent 10,578 by Harold
A challenging puzzle from newish compiler Harold. This wasn't entirely my cup of tea with quite a lot of slightly dodgy CDs and DDs but there were some interesting clues that required quite … Read more >>
Financial Times 16,575 by ZAMORCA
Very enjoyable pangram from Zamorca. I found this morning’s puzzle thoroughly enjoyable – not overly challenging, but kept me on my toes throughout. Very neat and clear clues with some excellent surfaces. First … Read more >>
Guardian Cryptic 28,232 by Vulcan
A little tricky for a Monday, and good fun – my favourites were 11ac, 24ac, 5dn, 20dn, and 21dn. Thanks to Vulcan for the puzzle. ACROSS 1 MEAN BUSINESS Perform decisively in shabby … Read more >>
Private Eye (Cyclops / 684) Global Guidance
Another diverting solve from our one-eyed friend. Solving proceeded in a stuttering manner with about half done at the end of the first pass with solutions entered all over the grid so the … Read more >>
Everyman 3,855
The Observer crossword from 30 Aug, 2020. Perhaps it is just me but I found this puzzle a bit harder than usual. The construction of some clues (like 11ac and 24ac) may be … Read more >>
Independent on Sunday 1,593/Tees
Another Tees ‘n’ Pierre show for your Sunday delectation and delight (well, the Tees bit, anyway …) Abbreviations cd cryptic definition dd double definition cad clue as definition (xxxx)* … Read more >>
Guardian Genius 206 — Qaos
The instruction “the wordplay in each clue leads to a solution where two letters require an elementary substitution before entry in the grid” may have been intended as cryptic , but I guessed … Read more >>
Azed 2516
A plain puzzle from Azed this week The grid contains the usual collection of less common words clued very precisely. I liked the linked clues at 29 and 31 down … Read more >>
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 >>
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 >>