Azed 2160

I found this mostly pretty easy, finishing it (so I thought) without aids in about half an hour, greatly helped by getting the long answers at 1a and 1d early on. Writing up … Read more >>

Everyman 3499/27 October

Another well-constructed, accessible puzzle from Everyman.  A couple of clue types that this setter doesn’t often use in today’s offering.         Abbreviations cd  cryptic definition dd  double definition (xxxx)*  anagram … Read more >>

AZED No. 2,159 Plain

Nick:  Very tough cluing this week from Azed. 13ac, 31ac, 4dn, 16dn and 27dn caused me a few moments of head scratching trying to parse the clues correctly.   Finally 18ac was a … Read more >>

AZED No 2,158

In this puzzle, which features a 13 by 11 grid, Azed gives us 3 long answers both across and down.  The puzzle also includes a larger than usual number of 4 letter words, … Read more >>

Azed 2157

17:30 21 October – corrupted data in the file has been removed – the blog now reads correctly. This was a Carte Blanche Competition Puzzle from Azed where solvers were presented with a … Read more >>

Azed 2157 – Closing Date

Due to an error in some editions of the Observer last week, the closing date for entries for this puzzle has been extended by a week. As a result, the relevant blog will … Read more >>

Everyman 3,496 (6/10/13)

Everyman invariably provides a gentle start to a Sunday morning and this was no exception. Many good surfaces and plenty of anagrams and charades which led to a speedy solve. One unfamiliar, for … Read more >>

Azed 2156

I found this somewhat harder than usual fare.  Maybe I was distracted but it took more than a couple of hours to crack. Across 1 APPL(ERING)IE[d] – yes, a type of wormwood I … Read more >>

Everyman 3495/29 September 2013

One or two little niggles when I was writing up the blog, but overall another sound as a pound Sunday puzzle from Everyman.         Abbreviations cd  cryptic definition dd  double … Read more >>

AZED 2,155

As always.  It speaks for itself. I know it isn’t Sunday yet, but there is only just over an hour to go, so there shouldn’t be a problem. There won’t be any mail … Read more >>

Azed 2154

Definitely one from the hard end of the Azed scale. Starting this last Sunday morning, I failed to solve more than a smattering of clues, so I put it aside and didn’t get … Read more >>