Never knowingly undersolved
A pleasant surprise to find Brendan’s name on this puzzle, with another ingenious theme, succinctly indicated at 19 ac. I found the solving of this rather easier than usual for a Brendan but … Read more >>
I always approach Gordius with a great deal of trepidation as he makes up for the lack of wit and humour with bits and pieces of obscurity that will tax the most patient … Read more >>
A very pleasant puzzle from Pan, just right for a Quiptic. Most of the definitions given are from Chambers 12th Edition. Most of the standard abbreviations used in the wordplay are shown with … Read more >>
A very quick solve for me today, with Rufus’s characteristic abundance of double and cryptic definitions; and, as far as I can see, one completely non-cryptic definition. Across … Read more >>
For reasons that aren’t quite clear to me, we found this the most difficult prize crossword in a long time! The grid is certainly a tough one, with very few checked first letters, … Read more >>
The crossword may be found at http://www.guardian.co.uk/crosswords/cryptic/26004.
Lots of fun and games today – not all to do with solving / parsing the puzzle! Technical problems at the Guardian made providing the clues for the blog a little more problematic … Read more >>
A nice variety of clueing devices in this puzzle from Picaroon, with some great surface readings, and also a range of levels of difficulty. I got perhaps half a dozen answers on my … Read more >>
Writing this blog made me sea-sick, bobbing along with the waves as Boatman crafted a clutch of clever clues with Dickory Dickory DOCK. The devious devices & cunning conundrums made for a most … Read more >>
Very straightforward from Rufus today. I liked 12ac, 17ac, 8dn and especially 25dn. Across 1 SERVICE cryptic def The start of proceedings on a tennis court. 5 CHABLIS =”Wine” (cash bill)*, minus L=Roman … Read more >>
THe puzzle may be found at http://www.guardian.co.uk/crosswords/quiptic/713.
This is the first outing for Crucible in the prize slot for some while now, although this setter’s puzzles often feature in the Genius series. The feature of this puzzle was the omission … Read more >>
I don’t know how many times I [and others] have described a Gordius puzzle as ‘a mixed bag’. Well, here’s another. Those who found Paul’s puzzle yesterday a bit of a struggle will … Read more >>
No “smut” that I noticed, but the usual quota of witty and well-constructed (though mostly quite easy, I thought) clues. Thanks to Paul Across 1. MATADOR A TAD … Read more >>
The puzzle may be found at http://www.guardian.co.uk/crosswords/cryptic/25996. A puzzle with distinctly straightforward clues, and a theme announced in 21A, of writers.There are so many in the crossword, not all of them very well … Read more >>