Fifteensquared – Page 1264 – Never knowingly undersolved

Independent 8023/Punk

Mon July 2, 2012 at 8:44 am by Pierre

Bonjour! Punk and I cross swords again on a Monday – in a friendly sort of way, of course. I loved this one, but I’m not sure everyone will be quite so keen … Read more >>

Guardian 25,677 / Rufus

Mon July 2, 2012 at 7:11 pmMon July 2, 2012 at 8:40 am by Eileen

A typical Monday miscellany of cryptic / double definitions, ingenious anagrams and smooth surfaces from Rufus to start our week. Many thanks to him. [Readers will no doubt be glad to hear this … Read more >>

Bachelor has no place in committed couple (4,3,4)

Mon July 2, 2012 at 8:35 am by jetdoc

Thanks to David H for the clue, the answer to which is Race for Life, which I have already mentioned in my Cyclops blog. Now, with less than a week to go, it’s … Read more >>

Guardian Genius 108 / Brummie

Sun July 1, 2012 at 1:00 am by Gaufrid

So, six clues have the correct wordplay for the grid entry but the definition is that of a word or phrase formed by combining the grid entry with one of the unclued entries. … Read more >>

Independent on Sunday 1166/Tyrus

Sun July 1, 2012 at 12:01 am by Pierre

You know that stuff about buses? You wait ages for one to come along, and then two come one after another? I blogged my first Tyrus when he had the Monday slot a … Read more >>

Everyman N° 3,429 (24 June 2012)

Sun July 1, 2012 at 3:51 amSun July 1, 2012 at 12:01 am by PeterO

This time Everyman’s vocabulary has returned to normal.

Azed 2090/French letters

Sun July 1, 2012 at 6:25 pmSun July 1, 2012 at 12:01 am by ilancaron

A tale of two languages. I think this is one of the rare occasions in which all is understood (famous last words). Much credit is due my new shiny iPad with the Chambers … Read more >>

Guardian Prize 25,670 / Puck

Sat June 30, 2012 at 11:13 amSat June 30, 2012 at 12:02 am by Eileen

Well, I’m certainly not complaining about this Prize puzzle not being challenging enough / being over too quickly! I had all the answers in on Saturday but it took a day or … Read more >>

Independent 8016 by Bannsider (Saturday Prize Puzzle 23 June 2012)

Sat June 30, 2012 at 11:38 amSat June 30, 2012 at 12:01 am by mc_rapper67

It’s Saturday, it’s my turn to blog…and it is yet another Bannsider! Not that I’m complaining – excellent clueing, as usual, although I would say this was possibly at the ‘easier’ end of … Read more >>

Enigmatic Variations No.1023 – Phoenix by Rasputin

Sat June 30, 2012 at 12:00 am by Mister Sting

I’ll get my grumble out of the way first: the crossword editor should be hanged. There were FIVE length errors (46 across and 2, 16, 32, 42 down). These didn’t make solving harder, but such mistakes can do so, and are in any case unacceptably sloppy. Also, 38dn should have been hyphenated, and this did affect the difficulty. Furthermore, speaking of affects, 31ac read ‘AFTER AFFECTS’, rather than ‘AFTEREFFECTS’.

No one who solves the Enigmatic Variations with any regularity will be inclined to the opinion that perhaps the editor had an off day, as errors are far too common. In summary, next time I suggest that the editor uses the time-honoured technique of actually looking at the puzzle. With their eyes.

Independent 8021/Phi

Fri June 29, 2012 at 11:24 am by John

One of those themed crosswords that takes a long time to start if you don’t immediately see the gateway clue (as I have discovered it’s called; in this case 5dn). Then much of … Read more >>

Beelzebub 1164

Fri June 29, 2012 at 9:01 am by Jed

Satisfyingly difficult Across 1 Solo musical performance secured, involving what? SINGLEHANDED (solo) EH (what) in SING (musical performance) LANDED (secured) 10 Cheerfully melodious’ though not initially involving grand composer UNGRAVELY … Read more >>