“Ten answers have been affected by an IT FEATURE and must be amended before entry in one of two ways. For the remaining clues, half contain a superfluous word which must be relocated into one of the clues in the other half before solving. Numbers in brackets refer to entry lengths. Letters in the four shaded cells can be arranged to provide an acronym of the IT FEATURE, which must be written in full below the grid. Chambers Dictionary (2016) is recommended; two answers are abbreviations.”
Mister Sting
Enigmatic Variations No.1438 – Understocked by Artix
“The left-hand and bottom perimeter cells represent empty supermarket shelves which must be ‘restocked’ (making new words) with the initial letters of the first 12 words of a song. One of its subsequent lyrics explains the specific item that was UNDERSTOCKED. Solvers must write the title below the grid and highlight the two artists (two blocks of cells in straight lines) responsible. Chambers Dictionary (2016) is recommended.”
Enigmatic Variations No.1434 – Dark and Stormy by Chalicea
“Single-letter misprints in the definition parts of 18 clues must be corrected before solving. The correct letters, read in order, describe the DARK AND STORMY speaker of the words around the perimeter of the grid, whose name must be highlighted (11 cells). Chambers Dictionary (2016) is recommended.”
Enigmatic Variations No.1430 – Trap by Gaston
“Three pairs of cells are TRAPPED by two symmetrically and thematically placed chains of 11 cells each. All 28 cells must be highlighted in the final grid to illustrate the TRAP. The three unclued entries of a kind are also thematically positioned. Two separate groups of consecutive clues (19 in total) contain a single superfluous letter in their wordplay. Reading these in clue order will give a hint as to where to find details of the TRAP. Chambers Dictionary (2016) is recommended.”
Enigmatic Variations No.1426 – 55 by Augeus
“The seven unclued entries are the names of an eponymous character whose nickname (55) should be written below the grid. With one exception, all clues contain a superfluous word which should be removed before solving; the initial letters of these words give the character’s location. The normal clue’s number gives the age of the character. Chambers Dictionary (2016) is recommended.”
Enigmatic Variations No.1422 – 34 28 24 by Oxymoron
“In ‘34 28 24’, wordplay yielded by clues either includes an extra letter not entered in the grid (16) or ignores a letter in the entered answer (15). In clue order these letters spell out what must appear in the perimeter reading clockwise, starting at cell 31. Chambers Dictionary (2016) is recommended.”
Enigmatic Variations No.1418 – Accident of Birth by Chalicea
“Extra letters produced by the wordplay of every clue, when read in clue order, give a version of a misattributed quotation about an ACCIDENT OF BIRTH and the person to whom it is frequently misattributed. Solvers must resolve ten clashes in the grid by selecting what he is. Chambers Dictionary (2016) is recommended.”
Enigmatic Variations No.1414 – Final Resting Place by Shark
“Several answers are shorter than the available grid length and therefore must be entered with blank cells. In 16 clues, the wordplay leads to the answer with one (and in one case, two) letters short. These suggest what must fill the unclued down entries, forming new words and signifying the FINAL RESTING PLACE. A symmetrical thematic string must be discovered (see 37, unclued) and naturally must move within the completed grid. Chambers Dictionary (2016) is recommended.”
Enigmatic Variations No.1410 – G&T by Xanthippe
“In G&T, clues are given in two groups headed by the two numbered wordplay-only clues. Within each group, the clues are given in the normal order and either the clue (starred), or answer, requires thematic treatment, always involving a single letter. All answers and entries are real words, numbers in brackets refer to entry lengths. Solvers must highlight 11 letters in the completed grid and write two thematic words (10, 8) under the grid. Chambers Dictionary (2016) is recommended.”
Enigmatic Variations No.1406 – Entente by Chalicea
“As a gesture of ENTENTE solvers must 1ac 15 43 28 24 44 and complete the tripartite expression at 17 14 12. Chambers Dictionary (2016) is recommended.”
Enigmatic Variations No.1402 – EL CID by Kruger
“Corrections to single letter misprints in the definitions in 20 clues roughly identify characters who, along with what they are, must be highlighted (29 cells in total) in the completed grid. A further character and the context in which he could be similarly classified must also be highlighted (another 19 cells). Chambers Dictionary (2016) is recommended.”
Enigmatic Variations No.1398 – Five of a Kind by Maranga
“The perimeter comprises FIVE OF A KIND, and the answer to one clue might be found in any of them. Solvers must highlight this entry in an appropriate colour. Unchecked letters in the perimeter could spell MAN GUZZLES BAR CLEAN FOR MONTH. Chambers Dictionary (2016) is recommended.”
Enigmatic Variations No.1394 – Coup de Grace by Gaston
“The unclued entries have been practising for the COUP DE GRACE by removing a thematic group of consecutive letters from eight normally clued entries, always leaving shorter, real words to be entered in the grid. In all other clues, wordplay indicates the answer with an extra letter; in clue order these letters reveal the theme. Solvers should administer the COUP DE GRACE themselves by blacking out two symmetrical groups of six.”
Enigmatic Variations No.1390 – Bolder by Jaques
“In clue order, the first letters of the answers give part of a quotation (in ODQ). Solvers must fit the answers jigsaw-style into the grid, although some are too short for the available space and must be entered with initial blank cells. Where answers begin with the same letter, their clues are presented in conventional order. Having entered the answers, solvers must take the BOLDER choice from the quotation, adapting one entry and completing the
remainder. Finally, solvers must show suitable confidence with their choice by altering three other letters in the grid. Apart from one, which is thematic, all entries in the final grid are real words. Numbers in brackets refer to answer lengths.”
Enigmatic Variations No.1386 – Suitable Powder by Oxymoron
“In SUITABLE POWDER, two letters must be removed from the answers in each row and column and placed at either end of that row/column. All answers are affected and the leftmost/uppermost omitted letters are to be placed in the leftmost/uppermost cell of the column/row. Solvers must complete the grid and highlight a symmetrically disposed representation of the perimeter (6,4). Chambers Dictionary (2016) is recommended.”