Enigmatic Variations – Page 38

Enigmatic Variations No. 1173: 21 7s by Shark

May 23, 2015 at 12:00 am by Shenanigans

This week, there was the second Shark puzzle since the clocks went forward at the end of March. It probably meant that we had a date-related theme in front of us. I’ve had … Read more >>

Enigmatic Variations No. 1172: Time by Augeas

May 16, 2015 at 12:01 am by mc_rapper67

To paraphrase the Monty Python ‘Australian Wine’ sketch (and I may have done this before, so apologies in advance): ‘…this is not a crossword for solving, this is a crossword for laying down … Read more >>

Enigmatic Variations No.1171 – Who Am I? by Ifor

August 1, 2015 at 10:57 amMay 9, 2015 at 12:00 am by Mister Sting

The preamble to WHO AM I? is quite intimidating. There are two verses to be identified. The first explains changes to two groups of three clues each, a phrase to be highlighted, and the answer to the titular question, which is to be written under the grid. The second is given by extra letters in wordplay in 29 clues, and it identifies the number of the single normal clue and the rationale for the removal of the letters. Got that?

Enigmatic Variations 1170 Fallen by Nudd

May 1, 2015 at 10:31 pm by twencelas

How careless of the type setter – 17 clues have words from their definition in the next clue. Five clues both lose and gain a word. The initial letters of the misplaced words … Read more >>

Enigmatic Variations No. 1169: Sentiment by Stick Insect

April 25, 2015 at 6:35 amApril 25, 2015 at 12:00 am by Shenanigans

There have been some fun puzzles from Stick Insect over the last few years, including his recent Listener puzzle, Reductio Ad Absurdum. I was surprised that this solve started off quickly and continued … Read more >>

Enigmatic Variations No. 1168: Call Sign by Shark

April 18, 2015 at 12:01 am by mc_rapper67

In CALL SIGN, Shark offers up: a ‘non-standard’, rectangular grid – 10 x 14; seven unclued entries, all of a kind; no misprints/corrections, just four significant extra words in clues; and finally, some colouring in … Read more >>

Enigmatic Variations No.1167 – Warning by Samuel

April 12, 2015 at 11:15 pmApril 11, 2015 at 12:00 am by Mister Sting

A somewhat unusual set-up: across clues are given in pairs, and the method of entry for four across rows is thematic (whatever that might turn out to mean), with no definition given. Another row is unclued, and must be filled with ‘the reason for the WARNING’. The down clues, meanwhile, are not idle – extra letters from their solutions give ‘the subject of the WARNING’.

Enigmatic Variations 1166 Adventurous Group by Piccadilly

April 4, 2015 at 5:31 pmApril 3, 2015 at 11:38 pm by twencelas

Some normal clues to be jumbled and some clues with additional letters in the wordplay to be entered normally. The extra letters spelling out the adventurous group who are in two symmetrically placed … Read more >>

Enigmatic Variations No. 1165: Way Out by Kea

March 28, 2015 at 12:00 am by Shenanigans

One of my favourite setters this week, and a nice short preamble. Nine answers were connected to their grid entry in some way, with the remaining clues having something restored before solving. 1ac … Read more >>

Enigmatic Variations No. 1164: Greetings by Kruger

March 21, 2015 at 6:39 amMarch 21, 2015 at 12:01 am by mc_rapper67

Kruger sends his ‘GREETINGS’ – will EV solvers return the hand of friendship? I think they should!… I thought this was a wonderful and (eventually) accessible puzzle – bit of a slow burner to … Read more >>

Enigmatic Variations No.1163 – Lucas by MynoT

March 15, 2015 at 11:13 amMarch 14, 2015 at 12:00 am by Mister Sting

I have a soft spot for puzzles such as this that have clues presented in alphabetical order of their answers. Goodness knows why, when I might end up staring at a blank grid! Perhaps its just that the ‘sort and slot’ technique appeals to the same desire for order as jigsaws.

At any rate, ‘Lucas’ could be a number of things. Isn’t George still flogging the dead horse of Star Wars? Maybe it’s related to that.

Enigmatic Variations 1162 Shortfall by Ottorino

March 7, 2015 at 10:35 amMarch 6, 2015 at 11:06 pm by twencelas

6 answers to jumble after completing the grid to complete 2 groups of 3 creative people; 11 letters to be discarded from the definition of 11 clues describe where to put 2 letters … Read more >>

Enigmatic Variations No. 1161: Extremes by Chalicea

March 1, 2015 at 8:30 amFebruary 28, 2015 at 12:00 am by Shenanigans

For the second month in succession, I’m blogging a puzzle with no extra/hidden letters/words or misprints. There were just a couple of unclued entries to find, and they would indicate which twenty-six letters … Read more >>

Enigmatic Variations No. 1160: Around Eve by Nod

February 21, 2015 at 12:01 am by mc_rapper67

A nice short preamble…only 24 clues…this should be a doddle! But hang on, what is going on with the grid? No bars, no grid numbers, except 1-12 along the ‘axes’. No clue enumerations … Read more >>

Enigmatic Variations No.1159 – Offerings by Samson

February 14, 2015 at 12:00 am by Mister Sting

I’m fond of these perimeter-quotation puzzles, although they can make things a little tricky if you can’t get a toe-hold in the centre of the puzzle. However, it’s not clear how much if any of the quotation will survive the dramatic cull proposed in the preamble (we are to delete almost three quarters of the grid once it’s been filled in).