Independent 10665 / Phi
A puzzle from Phi on a Thursday is unusual. Either another setter has a special reason for getting the Friday slot or Phi has something going on today. The grid … Read more >>
Year: 2020
Enigmatic Variations No. 1464: Brilliant by Chalicea
Hello everyone. It’s hard to believe that I’ve been an EV blogger now for two years, after I rashly answered Gaufrid’s call for a volunteer having previously tackled only one EV (managing the … Read more >>
Financial Times 16,652 by Mudd
Non-prize puzzle from the Weekend FT of December 5, 2020 Another elegant puzzle for us muddlarks. My first-in was 4ac (CHESTNUT) and I completed each quadrant in turn working counter-clockwise and progressing smoothly … Read more >>
Financial Times 16,661 by MONK
Oh dear, I can’t finish this, how embarrassing. Thanks Monk! Any help gratefully received. ACROSS 7 ERIC Perhaps Clapton’s earpiece regularly dropped (4) every other letter (regularly dropped) of EaRpIeCe 8 UNFORESEEN Sudden … Read more >>
Guardian Cryptic 28,318 by Puck
Set aside some time for today's puzzle! This was Puck at his mischievous best. Lots of general knowledge, difficult words, unusual wordplay… but a very satisying solve in the end. I think the … Read more >>
Independent 10,664 by Tees
Tees’s crosswords were once full of cultural references and one needed a rather good general knowledge to cope. But in this, everything was quite gentle and by my standards I raced through it. … Read more >>
Inquisitor 1676: Hands Across the Sea by Ifor
Ifor – can usually be relied upon for many fine clues, often with few redundant words in them. I’m looking forward to it. Preamble: Clues to one entry in each odd-numbered row … Read more >>
Financial Times 16660 Falcon
Thank you to Falcon. Definitions are underlined in the clues. Across 1. Colour scheme in side corridor (5) DECOR : Hidden in(in) “side corridor“. 4. Material needed by friend, organ cleaner (6,3) COTTON … Read more >>
Independent 10,663 by Crosophile
It’s been about a year since we last blogged a Crosophile, so we looked forward to this. We always like the challenge of identifying the theme on a Tuesday as well. This theme … Read more >>
Guardian Cryptic 28,317 by Tramp
THe puzzle may be found at https://www.theguardian.com/crosswords/cryptic/28317. That took a time to complete – there is nothing outlandish, but a whole lot of meaty clues that too me some work to elucidate, There … Read more >>
Comments
Due to a recent WordPress update, a WordPress comment plugin, which the site used to use, no longer works, so I have had to deactivate it. This means that you will now only … Read more >>
Missing Paragraph Spaces
Update: I have found the cause of the missing paragraph spaces in comments. The plugin that generated the WYSIWYG comment field is not compatible with the latest version of WordPress. I have therefore … Read more >>
Financial Times 16,659 by PETO
I found this to be relatively challenging for a Monday, but very witty and great fun to solve! I feel I must be missing something with 4a so please do correct or enlighten … Read more >>
Guardian 28,316 / Vulcan
Vulcan is back in his regular fortnightly Monday slot. I found this a gently pleasant solve, with some clever anagrams and witty definitions. There are several (good) cryptic definitions but, unusually for a … Read more >>
Guardian Quiptic 1,100/Beale
Beale was one of the original setters way back in the day when the Quiptic launched over twenty years ago before disappearing from the scene, but has reappeared recently. Whether he or she … Read more >>