Guardian Genius 113 / Crucible
We hadn’t done a Guardian Genius for a while, but did this one since I was down on the rota for doing a blog post on it. I’m very glad about this in … Read more >>
Azed 2112
The first thing that struck me about this puzzle was the unusually open grid, with wide open unbarred spaces, especially in the NE and SW corners. The two 13-letter across answers have only … Read more >>
Enigmatic Variations 1045: Musical Idol By Lato
The annual-ish EV outing for Lato this week, and no extra/missing letters/words or misprints to look out for. Instead there were just nine unclued entries, each suggested in one of two ways by … Read more >>
Guardian Prize Crossword No 25,802 by Paul
This puzzle kept my solving partner Timon and I pleasantly occupied on a very wet Saturday afternoon, but we couldn’t adequately explain a couple of the clues. I think that I have managed … Read more >>
Independent 8148 (Sat 24-November 2012) Tees
I always like puzzles by Tees and there was plenty to appreciate here: A wide range of clue devices, Offbeat references within suitable surfaces, Cheeky theme. There were a few obscurities that required looking … Read more >>
Financial Times 14,175 by Bradman
Masterly Across 1 ARACHNOPHOBE (like Miss Muffet) (CHA CHA OR IN BOP)* 9 ALOOFLY (keeping apart from) LOO (toilet) in A FLY (insect) 10 RAINBOW (array of colours) … Read more >>
Beelzebub 1186
A real vocabulary enhancer Across 1 Like grapevines, possibly making four figures FRUGIFEROUS (fruit-bearing) (FOUR FIGURES)* 10 Top money secured by expert ACME M (money) in ACE (expert) 11 Horse … Read more >>
Guardian 25,807 – Paul
An absolute delight from Paul today. No theme that I can see, nor even any Paulian smut, just a collection of high-quality clues. I found it quite hard, but with a few easier … Read more >>
Independent 8,153 / Phi
My turn for the Friday slot today, and it was no surprise to find Phi’s latest offering to sink my teeth into. Last time I crossed swords with Phi on a blogging day … Read more >>
Financial Times no.14,174 by Cinephile
My brain isn’t working. Even the Guardian Quick – my customary waker-upper, while the coffee brews – was a struggle this morning. Still, I made it through this sound offering from Cinephile with … Read more >>
Guardian 25,806 / Picaroon
I’m a great fan of Picaroon’s puzzles and there was no disappointment here: lots of witty and ingenious cluing, resulting in quite a bit of head-scratching, not least in the parsing department, followed … Read more >>
Independent 8152 / Klingsor
Klingsor is a fairly regular contributor to the Independent series of daily crosswords. He is known to have a strong interest in Wagner. Today’s reference to Wagner occurred in the clue at 8 … Read more >>
Financial Times 14,165 – Armonie
Monday Prize Crossword/Nov 19 Good to see, once more, another setter than Rufus or Crux on a Monday. Armonie’s puzzles for the FT usually appear on a Tuesday (as do the crosswords by … Read more >>
Financial Times 14,164 by Cincinnus
Prize puzzle from the Weekend FT of November 17, 2012 Here we have another splendid, and fairly easy, Cincinnus. I applaud especially 9A (REVEL), 17A (NOSEBAG), 8A (ABSTAINER) and 18D (GAUCHOS). Across 1. … Read more >>
Financial Times 14,173 by Gozo
A great thematic puzzle from Gozo, a mid-week treat! All the undefined clues are writers. I thought this was a very well executed theme as discovering the theme did not turn the clues … Read more >>