Great stuff from Paul…
Guardian
Quiptic 777 by Beale
The mysterious Beale returns to the Quiptic slot this week with an enjoyable puzzle that may cause a little head-scratching in places.
I say ‘mysterious’ because the profile on the Guardian site informs us only that ‘Beale is a crossword setter’. The Crossword Who’s Who on the Best for Puzzles site is similarly coy, telling us only that ‘Beale is a setter of Quiptic crosswords’. I never came top of my class at school but I think I knew that already. Perhaps Quiptic regulars know more.
Guardian 26,383 – Rufus
Only two cryptic definitions today, but seven doubles (though in several of those the two definitions are very closely related), together with mostly very straightforward clues of other types, suitable for those who … Read more >>
Genius 135 / Crucible
The preamble told us that all solutions are thematic, wholly or in part. All clues contain normal definitions but, with 18 of them, the wordplay ignores the thematic element. I … Read more >>
Guardian Prize Puzzle 26,376 by Philistine
A tougher than usual challenge this week, on a theme which was unfamiliar to me.
Guardian 26,381 – Picaroon
A very entertaining puzzle from Picaroon, where I realised early on what was happening in 10 across (after getting 23/12), but that didn’t make the other thematic phrases any easier to solve. I … Read more >>
Guardian Cryptic 26380 Paul
(Please click here for this same blog but with a picture quiz added. Please do NOT post hereinbelow any comment relating to the picture quiz. Thank you.) As I usually find with Paul, … Read more >>
Guardian 26,379 by Pasquale
The puzzle may be found at http://www.theguardian.com/crosswords/cryptic/26379
Guardian 26,378 / Shed
A welcome return appearance from Shed. I was lucky enough to blog his last puzzle, a couple of months ago, and said then that we don’t see enough of him. There’s lots of … Read more >>
Guardian Quiptic 776/Moley
An unexceptionable Quiptic from Moley this morning. Which is what Quiptics are meant to be. Plenty of anagrams to get you going, and generally clear cluing otherwise. A good number of clues with … Read more >>
Guardian 26,377 by Rufus
Nothing too tricksy from Rufus, but lots of fun…
Guardian Prize Puzzle 26,370 by Paul
Harder than usual for Paul, it took me a long while to get going on this one – until the theme was uncovered. A typically inventive and varied puzzle from Paul, and (mostly) very entertaining.
Guardian 26,375 by Paul
Got into this quickly…
Guardian 26,374 – Chifonie
A typically straightforward puzzle from Chifone, with the usual preponderance of charades. Perhaps a couple of slightly obscure answers, but nothing to delay regular solvers for long. … Read more >>