Ah, a game from Jacques to pass the time on a Sunday. Well, I’m game. What its name? ‘Name Game’. A shame my fame came… ah, phooey. I’ve never been any good at writing these intros.
Guardian Prize Puzzle 26,083 by Araucaria
A varied and entertaining puzzle from Araucaria as always. I thought the quality of the clueing was a little erratic at times, but on the plus-side I learned some interesting new words and … Read more >>
Financial Times 14,453 by Ateles
This new compiler certainly makes you work – please will someone help fill the gaps @ 4 and 7 Across 8 RAIN shower [b]RAIN (boffin topped) 9 ITINERANT migrant … Read more >>
Guardian Cryptic 26088 Otterden
This is the Guardian Cryptic debut, I think, for Otterden, setter in the New Statesman, with a surname meaning an otter’s den. Welcome, and thanks for an enjoyable puzzle, and, not having tried your other crosswords, a … Read more >>
Independent 8434 / Phi
It’s Friday, it’s Phi, so all’s well with the crossword world. Perhaps not Phi’s toughest puzzle, but a pleasant way to the end the week. I can’t see any theme … Read more >>
Financial Times no.14,452 by Bradman
This should have been a lovely puzzle to work through over a cup of coffee in the autumn sunshine… but as the past week has scrambled my brain and left my faculties in … Read more >>
Independent 8,433 by Monk
Monk has as always given us a very enjoyable crossword. There is one about which I’m not all that sure, so if you’re one of those people who came to the blog in … Read more >>
Guardian Cryptic N° 26,087 by Gordius
Not a difficult solve, but not an easy blog, with various quibbles. The puzzle may be found at http://www.theguardian.com/crosswords/cryptic/26087.
Financial Times 14,443 – Crux
Monday Prize Crossword/Oct 14 Enjoyable crossword by Crux who, for me, is in the same league as Falcon/Everyman. That said, while I particularly like Crux’s surfaces I must also admit that Falcon is … Read more >>
Financial Times 14,442 by Mudd
Prize puzzle from the Weekend FT of October 12, 2013 I spent a fair time finishing off this puzzle. The right half seemed easy while the left half harboured some tricky clues, notably … Read more >>
The Sheffield Tap, Saturday 26th October
Two points for those of you who are coming to the John Henderson Big Birthday Bash Part 1: 1. There will be people there who know each other via websites etc, but have … Read more >>
Guardian 26,086 / Paul
Paul continues the good crossword week with another fine puzzle, full of smiles and ‘aha’ moments and some really neat cluing – I really enjoyed it. Many thanks, Paul. Across 1 Step down … Read more >>
Financial Times 14,451 / Cinephile
This must have been my quickest ever solve of a Cinephile puzzle, with three quarters of the grid being filled during my first pass through the clues and the rest during the second. … Read more >>
Independent 8432 / Dac
It’s really difficult to know what to say in the preamble for Dac’s puzzles. They always have smooth surfaces and well-constructed clues but there is rarely anything ‘out of the ordinary’ that demands … Read more >>
Inquisitor 1303: Persuasion by Phi
Preamble: Starting at an unchecked square in the top row, the clockwise perimeter contains a 7-word non-English phrase. Unchecked letters, including corners, rearrange to give I SUB A HAIRCUT. Four clues omit a shared thematic definition. The other 34 clues include a … Read more >>