Agentzero

An American and a New Yorker, I learned to solve cryptic crosswords by working my way through Emily Cox's and Henry Rathvon's monthly puzzles in the Atlantic. Good cryptics are scarce in America, so eventually a growing appetite drove me to attempt the puzzles in the British broadsheets. I initially found them bewildering, but persistence, recourse to the learned bloggers and commenters on this website, and a stint working in London (which taught me such useful things as the meaning of "leg before wicket") helped immensely. Nonetheless, I am still invariably thrown by homophones that depend on the non-pronunciation of the letter "r". I am a regular solver of the daily and Saturday FT and Guardian puzzles, but completing an Azed puzzle is still very much in the realm of aspiration for me.

Financial Times 13,248 / Armonie

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A typical collection of lapidary clues from Armonie.  I am always impressed by his concision and the natural surface readings. Across 1 EVENING OUT EVEN (all the more) IN (concerned with) GOUT (foot … Read more >>

Financial Times 13,242 / Jason

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Unfortunately the grid that appeared with this puzzle was incorrect.  There are two blacked-out squares that should not have been blacked out: the square between what is given in the grid as 13 … Read more >>

Financial Times 13,236 / Dante

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I thought 16 ac and 6 dn were the best of the cryptic definitions that are characteristic of Rufus/Dante.  Some very good, natural surfaces as well, e.g., 27 ac and 22 dn.  Across 1 ALBERT … Read more >>

Financial Times 13,230 / Neo

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Some pleasantly tricky clues from Neo today. Across 1 PLASTIC SURGEON *(SUSPECTING ORAL) 10 HOGAN HOG (pig) AN (one).  The reference, of course, is to Hogan’s Heroes.  I can still hear the theme … Read more >>

Financial Times 13,212 / Dante

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As usual with this setter, some nice cryptic definitions.  14dn fooled me for a while, but of course is obvious in retrospect.  It felt to me that this puzzle had a few too … Read more >>

Categories FT

Financial Times 13,206 / Phssthpok

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An interesting variety of clues today, and some unusual words. Across 1 SHISH KEBAB *(KISS BABE H H) H H is “H[ard] twice” 7 SACK dd 9 FREE d&cd 10 BUDGERIGAR BUDGE (shift) … Read more >>

Categories FT

Financial times 13,200 / Armonie

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Nothing too difficult here; a pretty quick solve.  Meanwhile, the FT seems to alternate between posting the puzzles days late or (as in this case) a few hours after midnight London time the … Read more >>

Categories FT

Financial Times 13,194 / Neo

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The usual collection of clean and interesting clues from Neo. Across 1 ROCHDALE CH (church) +AD (after Christ) reversed, in ROLE.  “After Christ” should be read as after birth, not death   6 BUTTON … Read more >>

Financial Times 13,188 / Jason

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This enjoyable puzzle was a mix of straighforward clues and some tricky ones. It took me a while to unravel the wordplay for some of them, learning a few new words in the … Read more >>

Financial Times 13,182 / Neo

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Some amusing clues from Neo today.  Across 1 AIR HOSTESS *(IS AS OTHERS) 7 PAVE P + AVE (prayer) 9 LYRA L (close to “lethal”) + *(RAY) 10 SECULARIST *(LETS ICARUS) 11 FLY-TIP … Read more >>

Financial Times 13,170 / Armonie

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A good solid puzzle from Armonie.  Unfortunately the FT webmaster has apparently not yet returned from holiday–the last puzzle posted online is Friday’s. Across 1 PARTICLE P (penny = copper) ARTICLE (item) 5 … Read more >>

Categories FT

Financial Times 13,158 / Neo

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A mix that included some fairly easy anagrams and some significantly trickier (and well done) clues.  I really enjoyed this, even though 3 down still eludes me. Across 1 PREVENT PRE (before) VENT … Read more >>