Guardian Quiptic 668/Orlando
I came off the bench to do a rushed blog for Orlando’s Guardian cryptic puzzle last week, and we come across each other again this morning. I thought this was a nicely constructed … Read more >>
Independent 8077/Quixote
Another pleasing and straightforward Monday crossword from Quixote, which probably would not have detained an experienced solver for long, but which would be perfect for beginning or improving puzzlers. Abbreviations … Read more >>
Guardian Cryptic 25731 Rufus
A standard Rufus, heavy on the cryptic and double (and one double wordplay) definitions, and the odd marine reference. Not everyone’s cuppa (but then what is?). Thanks Rufus, enjoyed this. Definitions are underlined … Read more >>
Private Eye/Cyclops 476 – Moving Glass Top
If I say I only had 5 to go after the “first pass” (all clues attempted) that will make it seem it was a easy Eye crossword or else I was on fire. … Read more >>
Beelzebub 1,173
This felt like a relatively mid-paced week, but a handful took quite some effort to explain. 10ac still has me beaten, so I’ve reproduced the clue in the hope that a passing reader … Read more >>
Independent on Sunday 1,175 by Hypnos
A fairly swift solve this week, although I’m sure I’ve struggled a little with Hypnos in the past. I liked that Hypnos managed to work some quite involved wordplay into several clues, without … Read more >>
AZED No. 2,099 Plain
Nick: Fairly easy Azed this week, 5/10 for me. This was a tale of two halves, the top half going in very quickly, with the bottom half following at a slower (but still quick) … Read more >>
Everyman No. 3438 (26th August)
Lorraine: Good morning to you all, It took me a while to get started on this weeks offering. First two in were 9ac and 14dn. Once I got started everything fell into place. Favourites … Read more >>
Guardian Genius 110 – Picaroon
As the instructions say: “All clues are normal [phew!]. Half of the 28 solutions must be turned round and entered in the grid backwards.” This meant filling in answers in pencil until their … Read more >>
Independent 8070 / Anax (Saturday Prize Crossword 25/08/2012)
We always look forward to tackling Anax puzzles, albeit with a slight sense of trepidation at the devilish nature of his clueing. This lived up to our expectations, and despite some unusual words, … Read more >>
Enigmatic Variations No. 1032: 12 Down by Syd Lexis
This puzzle had what seemed a rather daunting preamble: across entries intersecting the unclued 12D had to lose ‘something’ which could be construed as a ‘mistake’, replaced by a letter to help form 12D, and … Read more >>
Guardian Prize 25,724 by Araucaria
I have been lucky to get to blog yet another Araucaria holiday special – this one is delightful! I was only vaguely familiar with Robert Browning so I enjoyed finding out more. Many of … Read more >>
Guardian 25,729 – Araucaria
Good fun (with a few niggles) from the Guardian’s premier setter. The key answer at 9dn was a write-in, giving away the theme of Prime Ministers (all of the recent ones back to … Read more >>
Financial Times 14,097 by Gurney
Smashing puzzle from Gurney Across 1 CAMSHAFT (engine part) MAC< (Scot returned) SHAFT (small handle) 5 ÉCLAIR (cake) (CAL[o]RIE)* 10 SCAMPER (run) S (second) CAMPER (van) 11 UKRAINE (country) UK … Read more >>
Independent 8075 / Phi
I feel that this was a fairly standard offering from Phi today. No themes, messages, or pangrams that I can see, just a sound national daily crossword puzzle that some solvers can complete … Read more >>