Enigmatic Variations

Enigmatic Variations No.1754 – Block Letters by Nudd

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“Each clue gives an answer of nine letters to be entered clockwise or anticlockwise around the numbered square, starting anywhere and with one letter of the word placed in the central square. The 24 unchecked perimeter/corner letters might give PAN A LATE SOLUTION OF BLOCKS. Several of these can be deduced from entries and the remaining few ambiguities can be resolved by consideration of the familiar pattern of BLOCK LETTERS revealed in the numbered squares.

Chambers Dictionary (2016) is recommended.”

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Enigmatic Variations No. 1750 – Protegees by Vismut

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“Eight across clues have an extra word to be removed before solving; its position in the clue indexes which of its letters to select. When read in clue order these letters might be a description of someone and when unjumbled what they were interested in. A nickname occupies the top row of the grid and the names of the PROTEGEES it refers to run around the rest of the perimeter. The unclued entries should be completed with their study groups, one of which is hanging upside down. Chambers Dictionary (2016) is recommended.”

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Enigmatic Variations 1746 – In Part by Miles

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“For 10 clues the entry is either the answer IN PART or vice versa (five cases of each), and in each of these clues an extra word, to be removed before solving, provides another version of one of these entries. In each of the remaining 24 clues an extra letter, which is not to be entered, is indicated by the wordplay; in clue order, these letters provide a message from which solvers can find a further trio to be written beneath the grid. Chambers Dictionary (2016) is recommended.”

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Enigmatic Variations No.1742 – Prime by Arcadia

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“In the 180° symmetrical grid, two unclued entries (each of 13 letters) give the names of an author and a sequel to their PRIME work. Cells illustrating a counterexample of a PRIME quotation from the work, involving a further unclued entry of four letters, must be highlighted (13 letters, three words). Clues are in normal order, the wordplay in PRIME examples leading to an extra letter, spelling out the name of a charitable trust. In the final grid solvers must change two letters and then highlight the trust’s initials, a novel and a publication (three, four and six letters respectively in straight lines), all of which were PRIME creations of the author. Chambers Dictionary (2016) is recommended.”

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