The puzzle may be found at http://www.theguardian.com/crosswords/everyman/3537.
Azed 2198/this and this and this and thus
I found this quite hard. Lots of “indirect” clues — where the wordplay requires solving for this. A good example is 33A. Across 1 Twangy instrument I am, bass, kept in box? GU(I’M,B)ARD … Read more >>
Independent on Sunday 1274/Alchemi
I think the kindest thing I can say about this puzzle is that it was not my favourite ever IoS crossword. But much more importantly, what did you think? And can someone explain … Read more >>
Independent 8,662 by Klingsor (Saturday Prize Puzzle, 19/07/14)
This Saturday’s puzzle seemed very difficult at first, though I kept coming back and nibbling away at it and finally managed to finish it unaided by Wednesday or Thursday. Well, I say unaided, … Read more >>
Guardian Prize 26,316 / Crucible
I’m always delighted to see Crucible’s name on a puzzle, especially when I’m down to blog it. I’m always delighted to see Crucible’s name on a puzzle, especially when it’s a Prize. So … Read more >>
Enigmatic Variations 1130 What’s the catch? by Picadilly
What’s the catch? well this week in crosswording terms there are 20 answers to be entered with empty cells. Otherwise straight clues and certainly at the easier end of the EV spectrum with … Read more >>
Independent 8,667 by Phi
As always, a neat and pleasant crossword from Phi, with not a superfluous word so far as I can see (except perhaps in 4dn). I can’t quite see 16dn, but no doubt there will be plenty of suggestions.
Yesterday’s plea for fewer Ninas and more vanilla crosswords seems to have been answered very quickly. But a) if it is Nina-free then this is obviously a coincidence and b) I expect it isn’t really Nina-free. It seldom is with Phi.
Definitions underlined.
Financial Times 14,683 by ALBERICH
A very tough puzzle to round off, what has been a very humbling week for me. Alberich has dished out a true challenge this Friday, thanks to whom for a very intensive workout.
Guardian 26,321 – Tramp
It’s always a pleasure to see Tramp’s name on a puzzle, but I was worried when I found it took me a while to make any progress. Fortunately I managed it in the … Read more >>
Financial Times 14,682 / Aardvark
A decent challenge from Aardvark today with some well disguised definitions and pleasing surfaces, though I do have a slight quibble about part of the wordplay in 1dn. There was one less familiar, or … Read more >>
Independent 8666 / Anax
We should have looked more closely at the number of the puzzle before we started – the last three digits would have warned us of how ‘beastly’ this crossword was to solve (and … Read more >>
Guardian Cryptic 26320 Puck
(Please click here for this same blog but with a picture quiz added. Please do NOT post hereinbelow any comment relating to the picture quiz. Thank you.) There’s a nina in the grid, … Read more >>
Guardian Cryptic 26320 with Picture Quiz
(Please post comments on ONLY the picture quiz hereinbelow. To post comments on the crossword puzzle, please click here.) There’s a nina in the grid, which helped me in solving the last couple … Read more >>
Financial Times 14,673 – Falcon
Monday Prize Crossword/Jul 14 Time for another pleasant and not too demanding Falcon who, quite surprisingly, gave us his first full anagram only at 17d (immediately followed by a second and last one at … Read more >>
Financial Times 14,672 by Magwitch
Prize puzzle from the Weekend FT of July 12, 2014 This was my second Magwitch and I liked it as much as the first. My top clues are 21a (SCAR TISSUE), 3d (CURRY … Read more >>