“Clashes occur in ten cells and must be resolved in a way that many solvers may consider to be INCOMPREHENSIBLE to them. Wordplay in half of the clues yields an extra letter not to be entered in the grid; in clue order, these letters give a further instruction. Numbers in brackets refer to the space available for entries. Chambers Dictionary (2016) is recommended, 12 is in Collins.”
Enigmatic Variations
Enigmatic Variations No. 1461: Key Change by Brock
A key change in 3 cells based on misprints in 7 across clues reveals 2 new items from a list; Change a key word entry to reveal another; A reclassification of one item … Read more >>
Enigmatic Variations No. 1460: A Human Connection by Ranunculus
Hi everyone. I very much enjoyed rising to the challenge and sniffing out the solution to this puzzle. Thanks Ranunculus! The preamble reads: The definitions in nine across and nine down clues … Read more >>
Enigmatic Variations No. 1459: Winning by Ifor
Be careful what you wish for! A couple of EV blogs ago, during ‘gentle September’, I pondered that there might soon be a ‘backlash’ in the form of an ‘impenetrable Ifor’ or a ‘horrible Harribobs’…and along one duly came!
Enigmatic Variations No.1458 – Cover Story by Gaston
“Clues are given in normal order, but there are five unclued thematic entries, one of which must have seven of its cells blacked out in the completed grid; the other four are all of a kind. Solvers must highlight 19 suitably placed cells in the completed grid, thus completing the COVER STORY. Chambers Dictionary (2016) is recommended.”
Enigmatic Variations No. 1457: A Clear Law by Vismut
Autumnal October and Vismut presents a puzzle with only 9 non standard clues. Then a theme to be found based on the missing letters. An associated entry to this to be written below … Read more >>
Enigmatic Variations No. 1456: Villains by Stick Insect
Hi all, and thanks to Stick Insect for a lovely puzzle. The preamble reads: All answers are modified before entry into the grid to agree with a statement by some VILLAINS, which … Read more >>
Enigmatic Variations No. 1455: Golden Oldies by Skylark
GOLDEN OLDIES suggests to me a Sunday afternoon radio show on Local FM with DJs Smashie and Nicey…what does it mean to Skylark?…
Enigmatic Variations No. 1454 – Ramjets by Eclogue
“An extra letter not entered in the grid is generated by wordplay in each clue; read in clue order, the extra letters give three names which will lead solvers to the definition of RAMJETS, the eight unclued entries. Chambers Dictionary (2016) is recommended.”
Enigmatic Variations No. 1453: Four-letter words by Piccadilly
The 3rd of September’s easier clued EV’s is from Piccadilly. All clues are normal, but grid entry requires letter removal and insertion in the perimeter to spell out four-letter words which combine to … Read more >>
Enigmatic Variations No. 1452: Bridges by X-Type
Hello and welcome to you all, with a special welcome if you are a new solver who has been tempted to dip your toes into the wonderful world of the EV. The water … Read more >>
Enigmatic Variations No. 1451: The Beagle Has Landed by Chalicea
As far as we know, the ‘Beagle 2′ Mars rover landed, but never became operational – maybe it got stuck in the caramel layer…and it was named after Darwin’s ship ‘HMS Beagle‘, which landed him safely on many shores…
Enigmatic Variations No. 1450: Matches by Kcit
Matches occur in 6 rows with all clues containing 2 definitions – the ones with clashes only giving the wordplay to the common letters and not the ones that need to be added … Read more >>
Enigmatic Variations No. 1449: Lack of Education by Jaques
The initial grid is suffering from a lack of Education. Sounds familiar when I watch politicians on the news trying to understand simple maths and science. Several answers were too short for the … Read more >>
Enigmatic Variations No. 1448: CITS LPTE by Oxymoron
Hello all. We have another gem from the late Oxymoron, which I very much enjoyed. The preamble reads: 13 thematic answers (10 clued without definitions) appearing in a CITS LPTE are to … Read more >>