There’s only a short preamble this time. There are, we are told, ten answers which are to be modified. The remark about the lengths of grid entries implies that these may involve the addition or removal or letters. But the pressing question is, as always, which letters?
Enigmatic Variations
Enigmatic Variations No 1098 Find and replace by Poat
A new setter for me to blog, but not a new setter. Poat’s puzzles tends to lie at the harder end of the spectrum – all seems so simple 16 clues with words … Read more >>
Enigmatic Variations No. 1097: Distortion by Stick Insect
A smaller than normal 10×10 grid this week, so do I expect easier than normal clues or a toughie? I wasn’t really expecting the theme of this puzzle this week, but assumed that … Read more >>
Enigmatic Variations No. 1096: Demand by Samuel
The preamble to DEMAND tells us that ‘the hunt is on’ for the unclued 14D. In 34 clues an extra letter in the wordplay will give us a ‘group’ met on the way, … Read more >>
Enigmatic Variations No.1095 – And finally… by Artix
A monster preamble this week. Also, so far as I am aware, a new setter for the EVs. Having so recently dodged a rather tough Ivor puzzle, I’m a little nervous about this unknown quantity. Who will have the last laugh?
Enigmatic Variations 1094 Riddle in Eight Parts by Jaguar
An EV from Jaguar, a second for me to blog – 3 different groups of seven to wade through. 7 unclued of a theme, 7 clues with misprints which can spell out theme … Read more >>
Enigmatic Variations No. 1093: Phenytoins by Ifor
This week it’s another chance to blog one of my favourite setters. Here, we had to change the appearance of ten answers with nine clues containing a word or phrase which would help … Read more >>
Enigmatic Variations No. 1092: Burnt Offering by Mynot
Hmmm…a ‘burnt offering’…not quite the 5th of November, so unlikely to be Guy Fawkes…the (reasonably brief) preamble tells us that in ‘most’ clues the wordplay will lead to an extra letter, which will … Read more >>
Enigmatic Variations No.1091 – Name Game by Jacques
Ah, a game from Jacques to pass the time on a Sunday. Well, I’m game. What its name? ‘Name Game’. A shame my fame came… ah, phooey. I’ve never been any good at writing these intros.
Enigmatic Variations 1090 With the Beatles by Salamanca
Some transformation of answers in this week’s offering from Salamanca and a connection with John, Paul, George and Ringo perhaps. So what cunning device has Salamanca employed to transform the answers. It took … Read more >>
Enigmatic Variations 1089: Choreography by Kea
Kea’s puzzles are normally at the trickier end of the spectrum, certainly those in the Listener series. Time would tell whether I was in for a hard time this week or not. My … Read more >>
Enigmatic Variations No. 1088: Aarrgghh by Samuel
Well, belay there ye landlubbers – Cap’n Samuel has a piratical offering in celebration of ‘International Speak Like A Pirate Day‘ (an event which, I have to admit, had passed me by until I set … Read more >>
Enigmatic Variations No.1087 – Ambiguities by Piccadilly
I am reliably informed that the word ‘ambiguity’ comes from the Latin ambi-, eaning both ways, and agere, meaning to drive. Will this puzzle take the easy road or will it drive the solver crazy?
Enigmatic Variations 1086 Dance with Two Cheats by Shark
This week – extra letters in the wordplay spelling out a line form a verse and its source. Two further lines from the verse then must be applied to the completed grid to … Read more >>
Enigmatic Variations 1085: Unreliable by Kcit
A seemingly straightforward puzzle from Kcit this week. There were only four misplaced clues to identify, each lacking a common definition. The absence of misprints and missing/extra letters in clues made it a … Read more >>