Independent on Sunday 1055 by Quixote 2nd May 2010
An easier solve this week than last, with only 13dn causing any real problems. The anagram was perfectly clear, but it still took a while to figure out what the word was. The … Read more >>
Inquisitor 1123 – Trendier Days by Raich
Raich is a setter with an increasing output. To my knowledge, he has set Independent blocked crosswords, Listeners, Inquisitors and has a blocked crossword in the latest Magpie. I have acted as a … Read more >>
Financial Times 13,369 – Mudd
Monday Prize Crossword on 26 April 2010 A gentle week opener with many different devices and mostly with lovely surface reading. Easy but enjoyable. ACROSS 1 STUBBORN Cha of STUB (dog-end, small piece … Read more >>
Financial Times 13,368
Prize puzzle from the Weekend FT of April 24 Here we have a few rather standard clues (6A, 25A) along with a few gems (10A, 11A and 21D). As usual, I found it … Read more >>
Independent 7,348 by Dac
The usual quality Wednesday puzzle from Dac, if a little tougher than some weeks. I failed at 1ac, at least, though everything else fell into place steadily enough. *=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone, cd=cryptic … Read more >>
Financial Times 13,377 / Aardvark
Some rather tricky wordplay from Aardvark today with quite a few answers being formed from a combination of an anagram and/or parts of words. On the first run through the clues I thought … Read more >>
Guardian 25,002 / Chifonie
This is a fairly typical Chifonie puzzle, largely made up of charades and straightforward insertions. There is one clue that I particularly liked and, I’m afraid, one that, however good the rest of … Read more >>
Independent 7,347/Math
Always a pleasure to land a puzzle by Math, who is one of my favourite setters in the Indy stable. You can always expect some music references and other assorted pop culture, as … Read more >>
Financial Times 13,376 / Armonie
A good puzzle from Armonie. As alwyas, the clues are concise and generally have smooth, natural surface readings. I wasn’t excited about any of the two-word anagrams but I particularly enjoyed 3, 10 and … Read more >>
Guardian 25,001 – Orlando
As usual, a very fair, amusing and not-too-hard offering from Orlando aka Cincinnus, a regular in the FT Saturday spot. A very good morning’s entertainment ACROSS 1 BUCKBOARD Cha of BUCK (American dollar … Read more >>
Independent 7346 by Virgilius
*=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone, CD=cryptic def, DD=double def, sp=spoonerism Another brilliant themed puzzle by Virgilius. The theme was set out in clue 14 (“marginal seats”) and all the words along the perimeter of … Read more >>
Guardian 25,000 – Enigmatist
With no disrespect to Enigmatist, I was surprised to see him as the setter of this momentously-numbered puzzle: like others I was expecting an Araucaria special, or perhaps a Rufus in honour of … Read more >>
Guardian Genius 82, Lavatch: Regression to the mean
An entertaining puzzle from Lavatch — and not too difficult once you spotted what was happening. Where a clash occurred, you needed to 1a,25 — use the letter alphabetically half-way between the two … Read more >>
Beelzebub 1,053 (25/04/10)
Brilliant, finally a whole Beelzebub completed without recourse to references, and in reasonably good time too. Whilst I’d like to think I’m getting better, it seems more likely that this was a relatively … Read more >>
Everyman No. 3317 (25th April)
Lorraine: Nice easy jog along this week, 20 across had me going for a while as I didn’t think of loaded as having lots of money, when I eventually twigged I did laugh … Read more >>