Guardian Genius 84: elastic despair
This month’s theme involved removing words from a number of across clues and then putting anagrams of them in some of the down clues. Two further unclued entries were to be found by … Read more >>
Independent 7,401 by Math
An all-too-rare visit from Math today. I’m not sure if the date carries some significance, but there’s a strong theme here, based around 1/4 and of course 4dn. I must admit I missed … Read more >>
Guardian 25055 – Orlando
A very good morning’s worth of entertainment. Orlando employed some tongue-in-cheek devices which got me laughing ACROSS 9 AT LEISURE Former British Prime Minister, Clement ATTLEE (1883-1967) minus T&E -> ATLE + I … Read more >>
Financial Times 13,430 / Phssthpok
I thought this was an excellent puzzle, with a lot of inventive wordplay. Across 1 PLUMBAGO P (power) LUMBAGO (backache) 6 MERLIN R[ight], L[eft] (both sides) + I (one) in MEN (people) 9 … Read more >>
Guardian 25,054 / Rufus
After a break last week, Rufus returns to his Monday slot with a puzzle that is typical beginners’/beginning of the week fare. A gentle stroll with nothing too taxing for those who have … Read more >>
Independent 7400 by Mordred
*=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone, CD=cryptic def, DD=double def, sp=spoonerism More football here, with a couple of former players appearing as a NINA along the edges. Not being a big football fan, I’m not … Read more >>
Private Eye/Cyclops 420 – Three Eds
… are better, maybe. Maybe Edward Woodward would have had something to say about that, if he was foreward. The three Eds here are the ubiquitous Editor, one Miliband, and the inevitable Balls. … Read more >>
Azed 1987: Between overs…
While many of you were watching England’s unfortunate demise in South Africa last Sunday, I was sitting on the top deck of an almost deserted Lord’s pavilion, watching a T20 match between the … Read more >>
Everyman 3326
I have to say I didn’t really enjoy this one. Compared to the tight cluing of the best Everymans (Everymen?) this seemed to be quite sloppy in places. For example, 5dn is a … Read more >>
Beelzebub 1,062 (27/06/10)
Despite a good crop of longer entries, I seemed to find Beelzebub relatively straightforward this week, making my way through unaided, with just the one slip at 5dn. *=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone, cd=cryptic … Read more >>
Enigmatic Variations No.920 – Find The Lady by Nutmeg
Bonjour! Un petit peu less ceremony with this one – just ten ‘thematically entered’ answers and four unclued entries. Still, there’s some grid highlighting to be done, which always gives one a pleasant … Read more >>
Guardian 25,047 (Sat 26 Jun)/Gordius – Don’t panic
Solving time: 6 mins Unless I’m getting my compilers confused (quite possible) I found this much easier than most Gordius puzzles – there were a couple of straightforward long anagrams which helped early … Read more >>
Independent7398/Phi
Rather a strong crossword from Phi today. Everything seems to be soundly and well clued, and the one or two that as usual I can’t understand will I’m sure be perfectly well explained … Read more >>
Financial Times 13,427 / Bradman
An enjoyable puzzle with many nice clues (14D, 17D, for example), but I missed something outstanding (like a memorable &lit) as there usually is in Bradman’s puzzles. Across 1 CROSBY CROS[s] (sorry, reduced) … Read more >>
Guardian 25,052 – Crucible
A topical tennis theme from Crucible, who also covered the Snooker World championships in two out of six previous Guardian puzzles. Plenty of clever cluing, especially 29,12. Across 9 OPERA-GOER =”Met fan”, referring … Read more >>