Independent 8196 by Quixote
It’s that Monday morning feeling again today, slightly delayed as I’d forgotten it was my turn….. The usual fine sound stuff from Quixote but I just don’t get 9dn Across: 1 DISTRICT D … Read more >>
Guardian Cryptic 25850 Rufus
The usual Monday fare from Rufus. Not everyone’s cup of tea, as the many cds do not allow the solver to synthesise the answer from scratch, but require one to take a macro view. Thanks … Read more >>
Guardian Quiptic 688/Pan
A bit tricky for a Quiptic, I thought, but perhaps you think differently. Abbreviations cd cryptic definition dd double definition (xxxx)* anagram anagrind = anagram indicator [x] letter(s) removed … Read more >>
Cyclops 486: Hacked off to the back teeth
This was numbered 469 in the magazine, but is correct on the website. Cyclops on pretty good form, I thought — some good clues, of which I particularly like 23a, for its sheer … Read more >>
Beelzebub 1,193
This was a particularly challenging week, I found. In fact it’s rare that I’m completely beaten by a clue even as I blog the puzzle, but two have come along at once. At … Read more >>
Everyman No. 3458 (13th January)
Lorraine: Good morning to you all, I romped through this, this morning, took approximately three quarters of an hour to complete. Some lovely clues, some of which made me smile when I solved them; … Read more >>
Independent on Sunday 1,195 by Crosophile
I must admit to finding this one relatively tough for a Sunday. That isn’t a complaint since it was terribly good, but it did take a little longer than usual and one or … Read more >>
Azed 2119
The usual excellent crossword from Azed and as usual I won’t give detailed descriptions of all the very unusual words, in the knowledge that anyone interested enough in this crossword to look here … Read more >>
Independent 8189 / Morph (Saturday Prize Puzzle 12/01/13)
A good challenge from Morph this week, with the expected standard of well-constructed clues. We were held up for a while in the NW corner until we solved 8ac which included a good … Read more >>
Guardian Prize Puzzle 25,843 by Paul
Enjoyable, inventive, topical and a little cheeky; Paul doing what he does best. I pick 23, 24 and 16 as my favourites. Thank you Paul. Across 1 Boy with great expectations owed extraordinary unknown … Read more >>
Financial Times 14,214 by Orense
Straightforward and enjoyable Across 1 MORASS confused situation OR (men) in MASS (service) 4 EMISSARY government agent E (Spain) MISS (young lady) A R[ac]Y 10 SEPTEMBER 30 days (PEST)* … Read more >>
Guardian 25,848 – Tramp
What a treat to have a Tramp puzzle to blog on this chilly morning. I took a while to get started, not helped by putting in a plausible but wrong answer for 7d, … Read more >>
Independent 8194 / Phi
This was an entertaining puzzle from Phi including some of his regular geographic allusions. Phi is a compiler based in Wellington, New Zealand and often includes flora and fauna native … Read more >>
Independent 8193/Rorschach
A crossword today from Rorschach that I at any rate found particularly hard, not helped by its thrice vanishing into the ether so that I had to restart. Some of the clues are … Read more >>
Guardian 25,847 – Gordius
Found this trickier than usual from Gordius, but very enjoyable. Favourite clues 12ac, 26ac and 1dn. Across 1 MONGREL =”unrefined types” hidden in “aMONG RELatively” 5 KAISER =”emperor” KA (Ford model) + IS … Read more >>