Guardian 25,684 – Philistine
A very enjoyable and mixed bag of goodies which will challenge you and make you grin at times. Most entertaining … … and I like the way some of the clues are cross-referenced … Read more >>
Guardian Genius 109 – placeholder
I shall be blogging this puzzle once the deadline for submissions has passed. Solvers who are struggling with it may care to note the slight amendment to the enumeration of certain of the … Read more >>
Guardian Quiptic 660/Arachne
A fine Quiptic from Arachne – everything clearly clued, a good range of devices, no obscurities, and some wit thrown in for good measure. I’m sure others will have enjoyed this as much … Read more >>
Independent 8029 by Quixote
*=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone, CD=cryptic def, DD=double def, sp=spoonerism This was just the right level to be fairly challenging to less experienced solvers, although unlikely to cause problems for the more experienced. As … Read more >>
Guardian Cryptic 25683 Rufus
Another Monday Rufus in his standard easy style. Thanks Rufus. Definitions are underlined in the clues. [[Pictures at the bottom have an identified link to the puzzle. As usual, please double-bracket any comment … Read more >>
Private Eye/Cyclops 472 Stylish tyranny
Back to a slightly tougher crossword this time. At least that’s how I found it, both to get started and to find those last pesky couple of answers. I’ll admit after getting started, … Read more >>
Beelzebub 1,165
Pretty much a mid-paced week in terms of difficulty, I think. Lots of unfamiliar terms to work out, so very satisfying to polish off. I think everything made sense, though I’m not 100% … Read more >>
Independent on Sunday 1,167 by Raich
Great stuff as always from Raich. I found a couple of terms slightly unfamiliar, such as at 10ac and 5dn, but in all cases the wordplay was unambiguous. I didn’t spot any themes … Read more >>
Azed 2091/ Plain Competition Puzzle
This was a standard competition puzzle from AZED. None of the entries were particularly difficult to parse. As is the case with many of AZED‘s puzzle there was a determined raid on words … Read more >>
Everyman 3430 – 1 July 2012
The Trafites are on a well-earned holiday this week – I trust I can be a worthy substitute… The nice thing about blogging a puzzle is that one has to spend a bit more … Read more >>
Independent Crossword 8022 by ANAX (Saturday Prize Puzzle 30-06-2012)
So my first blog of an Anax puzzle – should be fun and hopefully have a theme, or even two and a good few chuckles along the way? Indeed it was fun (and … Read more >>
Enigmatic Variations No. 1024: Two Drifters by Nudd
Phew…this was enough to drive a man to drink…(well, this man, anyway)…fiendish preamble, tricky devices and tough clues – with maybe a modicum of encouragement in the definition part of 35A – ‘…this can be resolved‘. … Read more >>
Guardian Prize Puzzle 25,676 by Shed
I liked this very much, some really great clues, so many it would be unfair to pick a favourite. But I will anyway: 26 across it is. On the whole I found this … Read more >>
Financial Times 14,049 by Loroso
This puzzle is witty, delightful and outside any box Across 1 THE RIME OF THE ANCIENT MARINER (IE MERCHANTMAN THEREFORE IN IT)* 12 DWEEB (nerd) D (date) WEE (little) … Read more >>
Guardian 25,681 – Chifonie
This felt a bit harder than a typical Chifonie, as if the clue structures were rather more involved than usual, though looking down the list of explanations there’s actually nothing very complicated. There … Read more >>