Independent 7,390/Dac
Dac’s puzzles are always a pleasure, never a chore. That said, this definitely seemed tougher than usual and I eventually had to admit defeat with a few answers. Ain’t nothing wrong with any … Read more >>
Inquisitor 1130 – The Magnificent Seven by Raich
For me, the theme of this puzzle was very easy to guess. I knew already that Raich was mad enough about football to make regular journeys from Ireland to support Sunderland, and take … Read more >>
Financial Times 13,419 / Cinephile
To be met by one of Cinephile’s long anagrams as the first across clue did not bode well so I started with the downs instead which made life somewhat easier, though the puzzle … Read more >>
Guardian 25,044 – Brendan
Another clever themed puzzle from Brendan, this time based on (mostly elementary) mathematics. Amazingly, just about every clue and answer has mathematical connections – a brilliant feat. Maybe my mathematical background helps, but … Read more >>
Independent 7389/Radian
A very nice offering from Radian. I’m a bit unsure about one or two of the clues, either because I simply don’t understand them or because I have my own doubts about them. … Read more >>
Financial Times 13,418 / Courtier
This is at least the third year running that “Courtier” has posted a puzzle with a timely theme. Presumably it is one of the usual setters using a different pseudonym. Any guesses? I … Read more >>
Guardian 25,043 – Pasquale
Solving this puzzle was pretty routine and amusing, given that The Don is always scrupulously fair. However, writing a blog and explaining each and every wordplay is another thing and took me ages. … Read more >>
Independent 7388 by Eimi
*=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone, CD=cryptic def, DD=double def, sp=spoonerism The web site is still showing Friday’s puzzle – not sure if this is an error or the beginning of a new policy under … Read more >>
Guardian 25,042 / Rufus
A very easy start to the week and one completed rather quickly whilst watching the sun rise on the summer solstice. A typical Rufus with the odd good cd (3dn) and some less so … Read more >>
Private Eye/Cyclops 419 – Big Nancy
I must be getting better at these. Another Eye crossy that was knocked off without raising a sweat. The long giveaway answer gave away lots of crossing letters and everything else slotted in … Read more >>
Azed 1985
The usual pleasurable experience. All the clues are utterly sound and you know you’ll get there in the end, even if the progress is a bit slow. The words are — in this … Read more >>
Everyman 3324
A few slightly more obscure answers and a little fiendish wordplay here and there (8dn in particular) made this one a bit tricky, but hopefully pretty fair. Some lovely surfaces dotted about too. … Read more >>
Guardian 25,035 (Sat 12 June) / Paul
I don’t know what has happened to rightback this week unless he has been drowning his sorrows due to the recent England performances (though England have just beaten the Wallabies 🙂 ). A … Read more >>
Enigmatic Variations 918: Motorworks by Piccadilly
Well, it seems that I’m the blogger that gets saddled with all the EVs involving jumbled entries! There are twenty extra words in clues to be discovered, paired and jumbled to form the … Read more >>
Independent 7,386 by Phi
An enjoyable and fairly challenging Friday Phi. The grid seemed to fill from the bottom up for me, and I was perhaps held up by some unfamiliar terms, for example at 15ac and … Read more >>