Guardian 28,334 – Picaroon

A clever and highly enjoyable puzzle from Picaroon based around 12d, with varying interpretations of the phrase. The gateway clue is quite an easy one, but it was still fun to work out … Read more >>

Guardian Quiptic 1103 Hectence

Thank you to Hectence for this tricky Quiptic. Definitions are underlined in the clues. Across 1. Luxury extension can perhaps ruin housing (12) EXTRAVAGANCE : EXT(abbrev. for “extension”) + [anagram of(… perhaps) CAN … Read more >>

Cyclops 692 – Xmas Special 2020

Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without the Jumbo Cyclops special. This year he has chosen to visit the ‘Pseuds Corner’ feature for the theme… (is anyone else just itching to put an apostrophe in ‘Pseuds’ – before or after the ‘s’?! – but it seems there isn’t one in the published magazine…)

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Enigmatic Variations No.1466 – All That by Poat

“The two unclued entries comprise a duo and an alternative rendering; ALL THAT must be completed by filling the empty cell. Four of the duo’s works, treated in accordance with the rendering, appear symmetrically in the grid, and must be highlighted along with the completion (34 cells in total). Chambers Dictionary (2016) is recommended.”

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Azed No. 2,533 Plain

A very pleasing selection of unusual words, with one fiendish clue and one rather puzzling one. Thank you Azed. ACROSS 1 SLANTINGWAYS Way t’ inn glass is swirled round obliquely (12) anagram (is … Read more >>

Everyman 3,872

The puzzle may be found at https://www.theguardian.com/crosswords/everyman/3872. When this blog comes out, we will be in the New Year, so let us hope for something a little better (can’t get much worse). Everyman, … Read more >>