Independent 8036/Anax

As usual a nice crossword from Anax, with some excellent clues and what one expects in the way of original ideas for wordplay. The fact that four of the answers have less than … Read more >>

Guardian 25,689 – Rufus

Fairly standard for a Monday Rufus, albeit with a few slightly disappointing cryptic defs today. Across 1 JACKASS =”Fool” JACK=”sailor” + A + SS [steamship] 5 KNUCKLE cryptic def referring to knuckledusters [wiki] … Read more >>

Guardian Quiptic N° 661 by Orlando

I was just about to pick up this puzzle when there was a loud clap of thunder, and my cable went down hard – no internet, phone or TV; and it stayed that way for three hours. Fortunately, Orlando came up with crossword that I could sail through (I do not think I will catch so much flak for saying that this time!), and I hope the blog is up too scratch, if a little rushed. And the internet stayed up, even though thunder continues to rumble around.

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Independent on Sunday 1,168/Poins

A nice Sunday challenge from Poins. I definitely found this tougher than some of his/her weekday puzzles and needed the rain break during the tennis to finish it off. No problems with any … Read more >>

Azed No 2092

I found this on the hard side for a plain Azed, certainly harder than last week’s competition puzzle.  In that puzzle Azed wrote a clue in French; this puzzle also required a knowledge … Read more >>

Everyman 3431/8 July

Another fine puzzle in the Everyman style, with plenty of good surfaces and elegant cluing.  But I found this trickier than normal, with one phrase I had never come across before.     … Read more >>

Financial Times 14,055 by Redshank

Struggled over 23 down having to summon troops for assistance       Across 1 SACRED (devoted to deity) ACRE (area) in SD (South Dakota) 4 VINDALOO (food) V-1 (rocket) (AND)* LOO (convenience) … Read more >>