A simple enough preamble introduces ‘Small Change’. All clues have an extra letter in their subsidiary indication, and these letters spell out an instruction. All well and good, but will the small change prove to be a big headache?
Financial Times 14072 by Orense
Don’t know what’s happened to the expected blogger yesterday, but seeing as it still hasn’t appeared today, as I’m often in as the standby blogger, here’s my take on it. Nothing overly tricky … Read more >>
Guardian 25,705 – Chifonie
After an interesting and challenging week of puzzles we are back to rather more standard territory today. This is very much in Chifonie’s style, with a lot of charades (ten of them) and … Read more >>
Financial Times 14,073 by Falcon
Fair fare from Falcon Across 1 EMPIRE change first letter from UMPIRE (judge) 4 DARINGLY (with boldness) RING (jewellery) in (LADY)* 9 ERNST Max (artist) N (name) in ERST (long … Read more >>
Independent 8051 / Phi
Today’s offering from Phi was good solid national daily crossword fare. I cannot see any theme nor can I see any hidden message in the grid. There were a couple … Read more >>
Independent 8050/Monk
A good crossword from Monk today. I don’t know if I’m getting better at his crosswords (doubtful really) or if he’s becoming a bit kinder. Certainly there used to be a time when … Read more >>
Guardian 25,704 – Puck
Was slightly underwhelmed by a straightforward start full of anagrams and hidden clues, then worked out the theme and smiled through the rest of the puzzle. Favourite clues 26ac and 20dn. Not too … Read more >>
Financial Times 14,063 – Crux
Monday Prize Crossword/Jul 13 Another elegantly clued puzzle by Crux which, in case one still wants to give it a go, can be found here. While there was nothing too difficult, I really … Read more >>
Financial Times 14,062 by Cinephile
Prize puzzle from the Weekend FT of July 21, 2012 Some people may not be thrilled but I was happy to come across a Cinephile puzzle for the first time in a while. … Read more >>
Financial Times 14,071 by Monk
A difficult but very rewarding puzzle. Monk at his best. I really enjoyed this, a good stiff challenge. I did go astray a couple of times. Having spotted X, Y and Z etc … Read more >>
Independent 8049 / Dac
Our turn for another Dac to blog so no complaints about the surface reading of the clues! A good solid enjoyable puzzle as far as we were concerned with a touch of nostalgia … Read more >>
Guardian Cryptic N° 25,703 by Boatman
Boatman can come up with some tough puzzles; I found this one easier than some of his, but by no means a pushover.
Inquisitor 1239: MP’s Fancy by Samuel
Four members of a thematic group can be identified in the completed grid by amending the contents of one unchecked cell in each of four entries, one of which so it contains two … Read more >>
Financial Times 14070 Neo
One can depend on Neo to provide a (not overly) challenging and enjoyable puzzle. A few uncommon words/meanings, but not ungettable, with confirmation from the referrences. Thanks Neo. Definitions are underlined in the … Read more >>
Independent 8,048 / Eimi
I haven’t blogged an Eimi puzzle for a while, apart from the joint effort from him and Nimrod to mark the publication of the 8,000th Independent crossword, so I attacked this one with … Read more >>