A routine plain Azed this week, made a little harder if you were using the online version.
Everyman No. 3,533 (22 June)
The puzzle may be found at http://www.theguardian.com/crosswords/everyman/3533. I got the impression in the last several weeks that Everyman was ratcheting up the difficulty level a notch; butI though this one by comparison a pleasant … Read more >>
Independent on Sunday 1270/Hypnos
Hypnos must be getting fed up with me blogging his IoS puzzles, since this is the third in a row that has come up on my shift. Generally I enjoyed it, and this … Read more >>
Independent Saturday Prize Puzzle 8638 / Tyrus
We enjoyed this challenging puzzle from Tyrus – some very good clues and plenty of crafty misdirection. Was Tyrus anticipating the outcome in Brazil when he wrote the clue for 15ac? 4/25! Let’s … Read more >>
Guardian 26,292 / Paul
There was a lot of fun to be had in this puzzle – a mixture of pretty straightforward clues [eg 12ac, 27ac, 1dn, 17dn], together with a number of anagrams to help things … Read more >>
Enigmatic Variations 1126 Translation by Samson
A puzzle subject to be found and two of his works. Followed by a translation to be found based on extra letters in the wordplay – sounds like fun. And I was as … Read more >>
Independent 8,643 by Phi
Phi’s usual sound and pleasant crossword. I found this slightly harder than usual for him, which explains the rather late posting. Also there were a few parsings which only became clear once I actually wrote up the blog.
All the loose ends round the outside suggest a Nina, but apparently not. No doubt there is something subtle and for me quite undiscoverable.
Definitions underlined. At least so far as I can see.
Financial Times 14,659 by FALCON
I cant say I enjoyed this one much – Falcon probably didnt feel like taxing any of us and made it quite easy. Like several grids I have covered before, this one would be just nice for newbies on the FT get started.
Guardian Cryptic 26297 Philistine
(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.) A slow start, but a quick … Read more >>
Guardian Cryptic 26297 with Picture Quiz
(Please post comments on ONLY the picture quiz hereinbelow. To post comments on the crossword puzzle, please click here.) A slow start, but a quick finish. Thanks to Philistine. Definitions are underlined in … Read more >>
Independent 8642 / Klingsor
A Thursday Klingsor! We anticipated a good challenge and we weren’t disappointed. As expected, some excellent surfaces and well constructed clues – we particularly liked 16d, 23ac and 13ac (our LOI). We’ve looked … Read more >>
Financial Times 14,658 / Artexlen
When I agreed to stand in for Ringo today I was hoping for a puzzle that I could get my teeth into, perhaps a Monk or an Io. It turned out to be … Read more >>
Guardian Cryptic No. 26,296 by Paul
The puzzle may be found at http://www.theguardian.com/crosswords/cryptic/26296. It seemed at first that this was going to be Paul at his easiest – I started at the top a I usually do, and the first … Read more >>
Financial Times 14,649 – Falcon
Monday Prize Crossword/Jun 16 Some Falcon puzzles are easier than others and this one surely was. Definitions are underlined wherever possible and/or appropriate. Across 1 WATER MUSIC Novel collection of orchestral movements (5,5) … Read more >>
Financial Times 14,648 by Rosa Klebb
Prize puzzle from the Weekend FT of June 14, 2014 What a welcome new setter Rosa Klebb is in this space. Her puzzle this time was challenging and satisfying with a number of … Read more >>