“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
Enigmatic Variations 1417 Time for Action by X-Type
4 unclued entries to determine and a thematic alteration to be applied to a clue in each across row leaving a real word. The downs are all normal Quite a gentle workout, though … Read more >>
Enigmatic Variations No. 1416: January Reductions by Vismut
Hi everyone. Well, this was a very different experience to the last Vismut puzzle I solved. Based on that I had been expecting a bit of a struggle, but this one yielded readily … Read more >>
Enigmatic Variations No. 1415: Peace at Cagey’s
‘Twas the season of goodwill when this was published, between Christmas and New Year, when all Cagey craved was a little PEACE and quiet… The preamble states that: ‘A certain group has left … Read more >>
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 1413 Not on the Level by Kcit
Alphabetically ordered across clues, normal downs apart from one and then an unknown twist, which affects one of the downs and some of the acrosses. The down that needed amendment is 4dn – … Read more >>
Enigmatic Variations No. 1412: Line of Flight by Hedge-sparrow
Hello! As this is my last blog before a certain festival (and of the year), I would like to wish you all the very best for the season and for the year ahead. … Read more >>
Enigmatic Variations No. 1411: All Aboard by Gaston
It seems that Gaston has lost a few pieces of his jigsaw in ALL ABOARD – maybe down the back of the sofa, or the dog ate them?… (There does seem to have … Read more >>
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 1409 Only Connect by Ifor
Apologies for the tardiness of this review. Had a little bit of electrical work to do. Which if you have been following the election campaign is about as factual as most of the … Read more >>
Enigmatic Variations No. 1408: En Passant by Jaques
Hello everybody. I remembered very much enjoying the last Jaques puzzle I solved, so I started this one in a good frame of mind. Of course it is an EV, so things can … Read more >>
Enigmatic Variations No. 1407: Oliver by The Ace of Hearts
An educational (for me) solve from the Ace of Hearts this week…will OLIVER leave us asking for more?!… The preamble states that: “In OLIVER, four clues are normal and their answers are associated … Read more >>
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 1405 Association by Piccadilly
Autumn and an association to find – 11 unclued entries which need to associated with a word from a normal clue. The other clues have an extra letter in the wordplay – across … Read more >>
Enigmatic Variations No. 1404: Lady by Vismut
Hi everybody. Thanks to Vismut for a puzzle which I found very tough, but which revealed at the end the story of a remarkable lady, one well worth reading about. The preamble … Read more >>