Azed 2033 “Give and take”
I can’t remember Azed using this particular combination of devices before, although he may have done so under a different name. So far as the across clues are concerned, it is known as … Read more >>
Independent on Sunday 1,109 by Hypnos
Another new setter for me as far as blogging is concerned. Hypnos is generally sound and provided a wide array of cryptic devices for quite an entertaining puzzle. ACROSS 1 ROGUE Ins of … Read more >>
Everyman 3372/15 May
A straightforward and soundly-clued Sunday offering from Everyman today. Just right for beginning or improving solvers: I know I would have appreciated and enjoyed this puzzle when I was getting into the dark … Read more >>
Enigmatic Variations 966: Uncomplimentary Remark by Rustic
A fairly straightforward offering from Rustic this week: solve the clues, move a letter to the perimeter and reveal a quotation and the person it describes. Each clue was two clues side by … Read more >>
Independent 7668 Bannsider (Sat 14-May-2011)
First session: 8 answers in 15 mins all below the half-way line. Then I slowed down a bit ( <- understatement alert) This was tough. Tough as any Bannsiders I’ve tackled. But enjoyable … Read more >>
Guardian Prize No 25322 by Araucaria
A delight as ever to tackle another offering from the Master, and this time there is only one clue which, to my mind, offends Ximenean principles (12 across). A couple of other clues … Read more >>
Independent 7,673 / Phi
I enjoyed solving and blogging this one, which used a grid that I hadn’t come across before. Furthermore, it was definitely the first time that I had come across the entry at 3 … Read more >>
Financial Times 13,698 / Bradman
A solid puzzle from Bradman, which was mostly a comfortable solve 3/4th of the way. A hasty wrong answer at 26a kept me stuck in the bottom-right of the puzzle, till I got … Read more >>
Guardian 25,327 / Pasquale
A fairly gentle puzzle from Pasquale to round off a week of good puzzles: nothing too controversial or obscure, I think, with a nice mix of clue types and a few smiles along … Read more >>
Mike Laws
I was very sad to read that Mike Laws, crossword editor for the Inquisitor and a setter under several pseudonyms, passed away last night. Mike commented regularly on this site, particularly in the … Read more >>
Independent 7,672/Tees
Great stuff from the Tees-er. I found this easier than most Thursday Indy offerings, but there was plenty of elegant wordplay and a good selection of the tools of the trade on display. … Read more >>
Guardian 25,326 / Araucaria
This was another eclectic offering from Araucaria, with its mix of literary allusions, foreign language, science and geography, all interwoven with the main theme. We were told that the four entries were unoficially … Read more >>
Financial Times no. 13,697, by Falcon
A bright and breezy puzzle for a bright and breezy morning. Nothing too fiendish: a bucketload of anagrams, plus one outstanding cryptic definition. ACROSS 1. FISH AND CHIPS Anagram of F(ine) spinach dish … Read more >>
Financial Times 13,688 / Crux
Monday Prize Crossword from the FT of Monday May 9 Typically clever stuff from Crux. However, I’m not sure I have all of the wordplay in 16 down. Across 1 BUCHAREST *(A BUTCHER’S) 6 … Read more >>
Financial Times 13,687 by Mudd
Prize puzzle from the Weekend FT of May 7 Here’s a typically strong puzzle from Mudd with a good variety of clues. My faves are 27A (KRAKATOA), 3D (HEADSTONE) and 22D (LATER). Across … Read more >>