This week’s puzzle seemed relatively straightforward, with some nice surfaces and only a few notes/questions indicated below.
Observer
Everyman 3,991
The puzzle may be found at https://www.theguardian.com/crosswords/everyman/3991.
Azed No. 2,651 Plain
I struggled with this plain Azed.
Everyman 3,990
Easter Sunday and the Everyman to solve (in the pub)
Azed 2650
Yet another masterclass in the setter’s art. Thanks to Azed. Across 1 AMBUSCADO American rotter appearing in pulpit, delivering surprise attack (9)US CAD in AMBO (a type of pulpit). I originally had … Read more >>
Everyman 3,989/2 April
Another well-constructed puzzle from Everyman for our Sunday morning enjoyment. Abbreviations cd cryptic definition dd double definition cad clue as definition (xxxx)* anagram anagrind = anagram indicator [x] letter(s) removed definitions are underlined … Read more >>
Azed No. 2,649 Plain
I found some of this rather difficult and my apologies, from time to time I’m a bit vague. But I’m sure someone will explain things and then, as always, it will be quite obvious.
Definitions in crimson, underlined. Anagram indicators in italics.
Everyman 3,988
A nice crossword from Everyman. The surfaces are better than they used to be. There seemed to be quite a lot of link-words, something that for some reason doesn’t happen much with the very best setters. The grid below shows the answers where there were initial letters or self-reference. I wasn’t sure whether to highlight 12ac and 20ac, since they are a bit similar.
Definitions in crimson, underlined. Indicators (anagram, juxtaposition, homophone, reversal, etc.) in italics. Link-words in green. Anagrams indicated like this *(anagram) or this (anagram)*.
Azed No. 2,648 Plain
A trickier than usual 13 x 11 grid this week.
Everyman 3,987
The puzzle may be found at https://www.theguardian.com/crosswords/everyman/3987.
Azed 2647
We have a plain puzzle from Azed this week I thought this a puzzle towards the easier end of Azed’s spectrum with quite a few entries that would be … Read more >>
Everyman 3,986
Everyman as per usual
Azed No. 2,646 ‘Cherchez la Femme’ – Competition Puzzle
This is the first ‘Cherchez la Femme’ since Azed 2,515 on August 22, 2020, which was one of the first few Azed puzzles that I ever attempted, and the first Azed “special” that I completed, so it is a particular treat for this to have come up on my turn at the blog.
Everyman 3,985/5 March
Another pleasing and tractable puzzle from Everyman for our Sunday morning entertainment. Abbreviations cd cryptic definition dd double definition cad clue as definition (xxxx)* anagram anagrind = anagram indicator [x] letter(s) removed definitions … Read more >>
Azed No. 2,645 Plain
A typical Azed plain.