Guardian Quiptic

A grid with a fair number of unchecked first letters, but straightforward clue construction overcame that potential hazard. ACROSS 8 MEMSAHIB Charade of MEMSA – anagram (‘possibly’) of ‘Emmas’ – + HI (‘greeting’) … Read more >>

A pleasing puzzle from Hectence, with a couple of very clever clues as well as some tricky ones. Well, I found them tricky, but that could be because I stayed up far too … Read more >>

An entertaining puzzle from Pan, with some delightful surfaces and a variety of resources. ACROSS 1. ARMISTICE Charade of AR(ab) + I(n) C(harge) in an anagram of *TIMES 6.  CREAM Charade of E(xtasis)=’drug’ … Read more >>

No problems with today’s offering from Arachne.  My favourite clue was 9 across. All definitions given are from Chambers 11th Edition or the Oxford Dictionary of English. Most of the standard abbreviations used … Read more >>

I found this one more difficult than many a Guardian Cryptic. Several of the entries seemed at first to have far too much clue for the answer, which is generally a sign that … Read more >>

Orlando isn’t a regular setter of the Quiptic (this is his first outing this year as far as I can see), but he has produced a most enjoyable and accessible puzzle for us … Read more >>

When I noticed that this puzzle had yet to be reviewed, I put this together hastily.  Several of the clues seemed to have words added solely for the surface reading, and the missing … Read more >>

Another relatively straightforward solve.  I did need the checking letters to get 11 across, an author that I had heard of but was not one that readily came to mind.  Apart from that … Read more >>

I found the bottom half of this puzzle went smoothly, but the top half was more challenging. Most of the clues are of exemplary Ximenean form, with clear dictionary definitions; the relatively few … Read more >>

A straightforward Quiptic this week, with a number of tried and trusted devices, and very few less-known words. A good one for a beginner, my only quibble being 25ac., which I’m not sure … Read more >>

I thought this was a sound puzzle for those at the start of their cryptic solving careers. Some straightforward solves to get you going with some crossing letters, and then the rest falling … Read more >>

A relatively straightforward solve for my first review on this site.  Not one of my favourite puzzles, but only one or two minor niggles. All definitions given are from Chambers 11th Edition.  Most … Read more >>

Mostly straightforward, with a few less usual definitions, and a couple of more elaborate wordplays Across 1 BEEF UP Reversal (‘setback’) of FEE (“what’s earned’) in PUB (‘bar’). 5 AUBRETIA Charade of AUBRE[y] … Read more >>

The third Monday of Fifteensquared’s coverage of the Quiptic, with two super blogs already from Gaufrid and Stella. No pressure, then …   Before his death earlier this year, Rover was a regular setter … Read more >>

This puzzle was on the easy side for Quiptics, with some clever surfaces and a few smiles. I hope to live up to Gaufrid’s brilliant initial blog! ACROSS 1. SERIAL homophone – sounds … Read more >>