kenmac

In early 2022 I took over administration for this site. Born 1954. I've been fascinated by cryptic crosswords since childhood. My mother used to attempt the Daily Mail cryptic every day but I don't remember her ever finishing one. Then, when I started working, a colleague would bring in The Telegraph every day. It wasn't till my daughter started to get interested, when I bought her a "how to" book that I realized that the definition is "always" the first word (or words) or the last word (or words) of the clue. In 2000 I discovered the, then, Independent Weekend Crossword (now Inquisitor) and later Enigmatic Variations and The Listener. I solve The Inquisitor most weeks and won the Champagne once. In 2005 I achieved an ambition by having a barred crossword published in The Independent using the pseudonym Cayenne. Then I had another one in 2015 in collaboration with Anax. This was Inquisitor 1839.

General Discussion

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This page is for the discussion of general crossword related matters and other topics of interest. Comments posted before 03/11/24 can be found here. This post is now closed. New comments can be … Read more >>

Inquisitor 1871: Empty Handed by Check

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Empty Handed by Check

Twenty-five clues contain a misprint in the definition. In clue order, corrections spell two instructions from one unclued entry to the other. Answers to 10 further clues must be thematically altered before entry per a third instruction. In the filled grid, solvers must highlight a target of this instruction (six cells). Numbers in brackets refer to unmodified answer lengths.

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Inquisitor 1863: Pub Quiz by Harribobs

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Pub Quiz by Harribobs

Left and right superscripts indicate the category for across and down entries respectively. Within each category, clues are given in the usual grid order. In four cells answers clash. Solvers must resolve each clash to form a theme word and enter just its first letter, spelling the name of the pub. Winners get a round of drinks.

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Inquisitor 1855: Virtue Rewarded? by Arcadia

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Virtue Rewarded? by Arcadia

Five thematic entries (I to the eponymous V, who must be identified at the foot of the grid) are unclued. Across clues are in alphabetical order of their answers, all bar one requiring thematic transformation before entry. Information in brackets refers first to final grid entries; then to clue answers. Down clues and answers are normal. Clashes occur in four symmetrically placed cells, in which solvers should enter both clashing letters. Arranging them appropriately could loosely enable II to __ __ (4,4) I, while III __ __ (4,4), as tasked by V, despite the attentions of IV. All thematically adjusted entries are unique and in Chambers, though heaven knows why.

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