Enigmatic Variations No.1506 – Potato Scraps by The Ace of Hearts

6 comments on “Enigmatic Variations No.1506 – Potato Scraps by The Ace of Hearts”

1. Another enjoyable and satisfying EV puzzle. In this one I liked the fact that the clue manipulations applied to every clue – also the way that the four thematic items, once I had revealed them all, helped with the completion of the crossword.

   I’m not one for grid-gazing, but DODGER was practically in plain sight, saving me a search. As I wasn’t sure what Murphy’s Game was (apart from being the answer to the tricky clue in the title!), I looked it up, and I remembered getting PAPER as one of my last entries. So it was worth trying to put MONEY there (changing four letters) to see what harm would be done to the completed grid, but everything turned out all right. A neatly implemented theme, which I enjoyed even more on seeing the ENVELOPE holding the money (which I missed).

   I very much liked the inclusion of so many (six) intersecting long words, as I always find clue-solving more interesting when there are long words. I cold-solved two of them (HEROICALNESS and ULTRATROPICAL), giving me several crossers, and got three more a little later, with a similar result. VERISIMILITY, though, had to wait until near the end.

   Thanks to The Ace of Hearts, and to Mister Sting for the blog and for pointing out the envelope.

2. A nicely constructed puzzle providing an enjoyable solve. Thanks to setter and blogger.

3. Excellent blog and puzzle! Since MURPHY at the end of the message emerged relatively early, I initially was conned into thinking we were looking for terms of potatoes. Until GAME appeared and the potatos/craps parsing occurred to me.

4. Am I being thick? The preamble says a trickster has implemented the definition of “one of” these words. MURPHY’S GAME is not one word it’s two. The preamble would make sense if it said one of these ‘terms’ or ‘descriptions’. Can someone help me out?!

5. Bingy

   I think it should have said “one of those headwords/subheads”.

   I enjoyed the puzzle, the first Ace of Hearts one I have been able to solve. Thanks to him and Mister Sting.

6. Very enjoyable. Like Alan B I much prefer it if a ‘clue manipulation’ is applied to every clue. I usually don’t attempt them if it’s only to some clues. Also that the missing letters spelled out the words/phrase in order. This really helped with solving – getting (most of) confidence trick earlyish on opened it up for me.
   Then a lovely denouement with the envelope/paper ruse!

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