Enigmatic Variations No. 1441: Extracts by Kcit
Quite a cryptic preamble this week – clues are normal and then a number of extracts to be found – works by the unclued entry. This entry is then to be changed to … Read more >>
Year: 2020
Guardian 28,177 / Paul
A fun puzzle with a subtle theme of misdirections. I probably wouldn’t have noticed the theme here, except that I managed to join the first 20 minutes of John Halpern’s zoom call last … Read more >>
Guardian Cryptic 28182 Picaroon
A nice challenge. Thank you to Picaroon. Definitions are underlined in the clues. Across 1 Act weakly to have debts seized by creditor (5) COWER : OWE(to have debts outstanding) contained in(seized by) … Read more >>
Independent 10,528 by Phi
It’s the end of another week and once again it’s Phi-Day. It’s always a pleasure to blog a Phi puzzle as even when you think you have finished you are still looking for … Read more >>
Financial Times 16,525 by WANDERER
An excellent workout from WANDERER that I was only able to crack with dogged determination. Thanks to Setter (!!) D stands for DOG throughout the crossword FF: 10 DD: 9 ACROSS 1 BRAVADO … Read more >>
Independent 10,527 / Knut
Knut has set today’s cruciverbal challenge. It is some time since it last fell to me to blog one of his puzzles. One is tempted to think that there may have been a … Read more >>
Financial Times 16,524 by MOO
Moo returns for his/her fourth FT outing I also blogged the setter's second puzzle and found it to be enjoyable, if not perfect. I think the same could be said of this one. … Read more >>
Guardian Cryptic 28,181 by Nutmeg
The puzzle may be found at https://www.theguardian.com/crosswords/cryptic/28181. It takes me a while to get onto Nutmeg’s wavelength, so this was a slow but steady solve, but ultimately very satisfying. ACROSS 9 LAGER LOUT … Read more >>
Financial Times 16,514 by Artexlen
Non-prize puzzle from the Weekend FT of June 27, 2020 Our second weekend puzzle from Artexlen had me working hard for a while. Guess I need a bit more time to easily tune … Read more >>
Financial Times 16,523 by GOZO
Easier then usual from Gozo, but no less enjoyable. There is at least one pangram in here, probably more. UPDATE: this is a quadruple pangram. Not many of these have been achieved in … Read more >>
Guardian 28,180 / Brendan
Brendan provides the midweek challenge in a clever puzzle with a theme that, especially with time on one’s hands, is not hard to spot. Too much cross-referencing in clues can be irritating but … Read more >>
Independent 10526 / Eccles
I always enjoy blogging an Eccles puzzle. This was good fun with lots of smooth clues as always. My favourite was the one for ENTERITIS at 3 down where the … Read more >>
Inquisitor 1653: Lemon Time by Triton
Triton returns to a previous character when his friend, the setter Andy Lemon, is kidnapped again. Andy first appeared in Inquisitor 1579 in February last year. In that blog, Ken Mackenzie noted that … Read more >>
Financial Times 16,522 by FLIMSY
Worth a look, if you haven’t tried it. Mostly straightforward but with some teasers in the bottom left which gave me pause. Enjoyed it. Thanks to Flimsy. ACROSS 1 INDUSTRY Attempt to follow … Read more >>
Guardian Cryptic 28,179 by Imogen
A tricky set of clues after what felt like a very quick start. I particularly liked the four outer clues, as well as 5dn, 17dn, and 19dn. Thanks to Imogen. Getting ELBOW ROOM, … Read more >>