Another “constrained” puzzle, where Gemelo has enforced a rule that makes the setting harder for himself without making the solver’s job harder (or easier)…
Observer
Everyman 4,138
Puzzle published on 8 February – pdf available here
Gemelo No. 23 – plain
Gemelo has again produced a nice crossword with some very good clues. I don’t think there will be any problem with his taking over fully from Azed in due course.
My guess is that anyone who does these crosswords will have a copy of Chambers to hand and so won’t need everything to be spelled out. In the parsing I have confined myself to explaining when the wordplay is not immediately clear.
Definitions in crimson, underlined. Anagrams indicated *(like this) or (like this)*
Everyman 4,137/1 February
Another pleasing puzzle from Everyman for our Sunday morning entertainment.
Azed and the future
Bridgesong has the honour of blogging the last Azed monthly competition puzzle. Please take a moment to read his review in the following blog:
Azed No. 2,776 – the end of an era
This is the first Azed puzzle to appear since the announcement last week of his retirement from the monthly clue-writing competition.
Everyman 4,136
The usual trademarks of Everyman are in this crossword, which was largely good I think and the one or two places where I am in doubt may be down to me not to Everyman.
Definitions in crimson, underlined. Indicators (homophone, hidden, containment, anagram, juxtaposition, etc) in italics. Anagrams indicated *(like this) or (like this)*. Link-words in green.
Gemelo 22
Gemelo is settling down into an Observer routine and I am getting onto his wavelength a bit more.
Azed Filming
We are making a special video about the Azed crossword to be screened at the puzzle centenary event on 19th March, and we would love for you to be part of it.
Gemelo No. 21 – Half & Half
This is the first Gemelo “special” that calls upon the solver to manipulate the solutions in some unconventional fashion. The puzzle opens with these instructions:
Everyman 4,135
The puzzle may be found at https://observer.co.uk/puzzles/everyman/article/everyman-no-4135 in the interactive form, or at https://cdn.slowdownwiseup.co.uk/media/documents/obs.everyman.20260118.pdf as a pdf.
Everyman 4,134, 11 January 2026
An enjoyable challenge from Everyman, which can be found here.
Gemelo No. 20 – plain
I found this one on the tougher side.
Everyman 4,133/4 January
A sound and pleasing puzzle from Everyman, with all the usual trademark inclusions.