Two unclued entries and a mainfestation of this in a number of entries. All words, phrases or proper nouns in the final grid.
Enigmatic Variations
Enigmatic Variations No. 1732: Protection By Check
Hello all. No kitties were harmed in the writing of this blog …
Enigmatic Variations No. 1731: Columns by Chalicea
Chalicea has some ‘inspirational’ COLUMNS for us this week, although my first instinct on hearing the word ‘column’ is to think of data in tables or Excel files…less inspirational than than Doric or Ionic columns, or even well-written newspaper features…
Enigmatic Variations No.1730 – Popular by Skylark
“In each of 17 clues, there is a misprint in the wordplay part; correct letters, in clue order, spell out the first four words of the most POPULAR part of the theme. An extra letter must be removed from every other clue before solving, spelling out an instruction involving 21 cells in two straight lines. Chambers Dictionary (2016) is recommended.”
Enigmatic Variations 1729 Design classic by Pandiculator
A misprint in each clue, four empty cells, an unclued entry and then some artistic rendering. Apologies for the delay in posting – Thursday had it’s moments is all I’ll say. Some tricky … Read more >>
Enigmatic Variations No. 1727: Complete by Stick Insect
This puzzle almost COMPLETEly defeated me – until a PDM at the 11th hour of the 10th day after publication, just before the submission deadline…
Enigmatic Variations No.1726 – Gripping Yarns by Luxor
“Two clues are provided for each of the shaded rows. Solvers must reorder the letters of their answers to give two creatures which might feature in GRIPPING YARNS. These are to be entered consecutively. Solvers must highlight a three-word phrase (13 cells in a straight line) describing the overall theme. Chambers Dictionary (2016) is recommended.”
Enigmatic Variations 1725 10 Across by Raffles
Two clue devices this week. Extra letters in the wordplay and misprints in some definitions. Also 10 unclued entries and a piece of encryption to solve at the end. The gentleman amateur cracksman is our setter – for those who remember the novels by E W Hornung or Anthony Valentine on TV in the early 70s
Enigmatic Variations No. 1724: First or Second by Vismut
Hello, with apologies this blog is a day late.
Enigmatic Variations No. 1723: Order, Order by Kcit
Kcit is calling for ORDER, ORDER in the EV House…we EV solvers can be an unruly lot sometimes…
Enigmatic Variations No.1722 – Observer by Hedge-Sparrow
“Eleven single-letter clashes mark points where a camouflaged OBSERVER infiltrates the grid, passing over wild forest glens. In the initially filled grid, her usual equipment (10) must be used to expose ten symmetrically positioned thematic characters, no longer safe in cave, sadly. All entries in the initially filled and final grids are real terms. Chambers Dictionary (2016) is recommended.”
Enigmatic Variations 1721 At the Bottom of the Grid by Ifor
3 columns of regular down clues that need treatment at the end. Regular across clues and down clues not in the 3 columns have an extra letter to remove before solving. The missing … Read more >>
Enigmatic Variations No. 1720: Failure by Chalicea
Hello all. Well, I know a bit about failure … The preamble: The wordplay in each clue leads to an extra letter in addition to those needed for the answer. Read in … Read more >>