Enigmatic Variations No. 1148: Paradox by Kruger
The preamble for PARADOX tells us: “In clue order, the second or fifth letters of single extra words in 15 clues give a PARADOX that is epitomised by one of the unclued entries. … Read more >>
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Independent 8764 by Nimrod (Saturday Prize Puzzle 15 November 2014)
Three N-Nestors in a row, and now two N-Nimrods…’N’ for me, ‘N’ for me, they’ve all got it ‘N’ for me!… Another thematic puzzle, but distinctly different to Indy 8734, which had a … Read more >>
Guardian Genius 136 by Puck
For Genius 136, Puck tells us that “Eight solutions include one or more thematic elements that are absent from their clues. Before submitting your completed entry you must make a single numerical adjustment in … Read more >>
Enigmatic Variations No. 1144: Qualification by Nutmeg
As Brad Pitt once said: ‘The first rule of Fight Club is that you do NOT talk about Fight Club.’ Well, to paraphrase…’the first rule of EV Club is that you DO read, re-read … Read more >>
Independent 8734 by Nimrod (Saturday Prize Puzzle 11 October 2014)
A Nimrod-ean master class in cramming connected cryptic content in to a fifteen by fifteen grid – with just a hint of Cyclops-ean, or maybe Paul-esque, schoolboy smut, to generate a little heat … Read more >>
Enigmatic Variations No. 1140: 118 by MynoT
In the week leading up to the Scottish referendum, I took inspiration from the story of Robert the Bruce in his cave with the spider…’if at first you can’t solve the EV, stare at … Read more >>
Independent 8704 by Nestor (Saturday Prize Puzzle 6 Sept 2014)
A third Nestor in a row on my watch … maybe the Indy editor has settled his contributors into a 5-weekly cycle that, coincidentally, matches our Saturday Prize blogging rota? Not that I’m complaining … Read more >>
Enigmatic Variations No. 1136: Journey by Jaguar
Jaguar is offering to take us on a JOURNEY…who knows where we will end up. As it happens, I was away on a family holiday in the South-West that week, and ‘are we … Read more >>
Independent 8674 by Nestor (Saturday Prize Puzzle 2 Aug 2014)
A second Nestor in a row for me, in the 5-weekly blogging cycle, and another pleasant solve with some interesting surface readings… My eye drifted down to the bottom of the grid and … Read more >>
Enigmatic Variations No. 1132: Another Game by Artix
A blank grid with no bars or numbers – and one of the longest preambles for a while…is Artix going to be playing games with our heads? That preamble in full: The two … Read more >>
Enigmatic Variations No. 1128: Unknown Destination by MynoT
Hmmm…if you have an UNKNOWN DESTINATION, it might take a long time to get ‘there’ – and so this proved for your correspondent. Every answer must be entered without one letter – wherever it … Read more >>
Independent 8644 by Nestor (Saturday Prize Puzzle 28 Jun 2014)
A bit of a last minute rush with this, and apologies for maybe not doing it justice. I did the parsing below earlier in the week, but am now in the depths of Swaledale in … Read more >>
Enigmatic Variations No. 1124: Hard Graft by Chalicea
The preamble to ‘HARD GRAFT’ tells us that a ‘6A by 11D’ (both unclued) will appear in the grid (five words) and explain said ‘graft’. In addition, each clue’s wordplay will lead to … Read more >>
Independent 8614 by Tyrus (Saturday Prize Puzzle 24 May 2014)
A good, honest cryptic work-out from Tyrus this week – no fancy themes or Ninas (that I could see, anyway), just a ‘Ronseal’ puzzle – does what it says on the tin… Things proceeded fairly … Read more >>
Everyman 3528 – 18 May 2014
‘Good morning one and all’ is the usual opening from Lorraine, when it is the Trafites’ turn to blog – but this week they are on a well-earned break, and I have the … Read more >>