Guardian Genius 190 by Puck
There is usually a reason why we get a month or so to solve a Genius, but I managed to get onto Puck’s wavelength and completed this in ‘double’-quick time, as I waited … Read more >>
mc_rapper67
Enigmatic Variations No. 1379: Scarcity by Cagey
This was a pretty tough workout from Cagey, who seems to be a new name (or amalgam?) on the block… The (rather long and complicated) preamble states that: “ In SCARCITY, the wordplay … Read more >>
Cyclops 648 – Sinister Adversary
Cyclops is as Cyclops does – some fun with surface readings, some usual targets, and maybe just a tad too much Trump(?)… Some ancient history at 21D – Archimedes’ supposed EUREKA ‘ejaculation’ in … Read more >>
Independent 10,140 by Tyrus (Saturday Puzzle 13 April 2019)
A tough workout from Tyrus – on the first pass I only had 5 solved… …and not too many more after a couple more passes. I gradually wheedled my way into the puzzle … Read more >>
Enigmatic Variations No. 1375: Ciao by Eclogue
Not so much ‘CIAO’ as nearly ‘Goodnight from me…’, Two Ronnies-style… …,after my recent DNF with EV1374 from Ranunculus, and several failures-to-finish recent IQs and Listeners…maybe my superpowers are on the wane… The … Read more >>
Cyclops 646 – Bad Will Tactic
A nice, solid Cyclops-ean puzzle – nothing too mind-boggling, with some smooth surface reads and interesting clueing along the way… in these not-quite-nearly-maybe Br-exit/Brit-in times, there is plenty to reflect the mood… BAD … Read more >>
Independent 10,110 by Serpent (Saturday Puzzle 9 March 2019)
Hmmm…the ssslippery Sssserpent on a Ssssaturday…there is usually a twisssst in the tail ssssomewhere…and that puzzle number looks suspiciously binary… I have been caught out many a time by Serpent and his various … Read more >>
Enigmatic Variations No. 1371: Yesterday’s Papers by Ifor
It is an old cliché that ‘today’s newspaper is tomorrow’s fish’n’chip wrapper’, although in these days of elf’n’safety you are more likely to get a waxy paper container printed to look like a … Read more >>
Cyclops 644 – Bereft Proposal
I couldn’t scientifically or statistically tell you if this was a below/above average or completely typical Cyclops…but I know a man who could…(see below) In fact I have to admit I solved and … Read more >>
Enigmatic Variations No. 1367: On The Dot by Chalicea
If ON THE DOT was by Harribobs, I would be expecting a fiendishly complicated join-the-dots endgame, in the shape of maybe an echidna, or Estonia…but this is by Chalicea, and she is usually a bit … Read more >>
Independent 10,080 by Nimrod (Saturday Puzzle 2 February 2019)
OK – it’s a Nimrod – and it has five 15-letter solutions, two 12s, two 11s and a couple of 10s…stiff upper lip and press on… Rather than attacking the 3s and 4s, … Read more >>
Cyclops 642 – Hard? Don’t Hold Your Breath
After the fun-and-games of the wonderful Xmas special, we are back to ‘normal’ Cyclops… …with lots of Brexit-ian parallels that can be drawn – politicians are CHEWING THE CUD this weekend, before more CHEAP … Read more >>
Enigmatic Variations No. 1363: A Sought-after State by Hillbilly
I think this is a debut EV from Hillbilly – given that I can’t find any previous offerings on this site – so welcome, and what kind of ‘state’ are we seeking?… The … Read more >>
Independent 10,050 by Wire (Saturday Puzzle 29 December 2018)
Friends, Romans, Crossword-men (and women), lend me your beers…I come to praise Wire, not to bury him… I think this my first Wire solve/blog – and most enjoyable it was too. A veritable … Read more >>
Enigmatic Variations No. 1359: Tug of War by Chalicea
The last Chalicea puzzle I solved was the wonderful WWI/Armistice tribute IQ 1568 (Such Delight), and now we have a TUG OF WAR…what has made Mme Chalicea so bellicose recently…?! The (brief) preamble … Read more >>