Guardian 25,025 – Brummie
Brummie presented yet another very Ximenean puzzle which is not as difficult as one under his other alter ego in the Private Eye. Shorn of risque references, it is not quite as entertaining … Read more >>
Independent 7370 by Hypnos
*=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone, CD=cryptic def, DD=double def, sp=spoonerism A moderately challenging puzzle by Hypnos. There were no real stand-out clues for me but everything was well constructed. One or two of the … Read more >>
Guardian 25,024 – Rufus
Very easy Bank Holiday fare from Rufus today, though with the usual wit and elegant surface readings. Across 1. INCURIOUS INCUR I.O.U.S 6. CAWS [MA]CAWS 8. APERITIF (FIT … Read more >>
AZED No. 1,982 Plain
Nick: Typically nice AZED this week which I feel was a tad more difficult than some weeks. I had to use Brewers Dictionary of Phrase and Fable to confirm 28dn and fully understand … Read more >>
Everyman No. 3321 (23rd May)
Lorraine: Nice easy plod along this week, had to look up 1 down and 7 down to confirm my guesses. Can’t say any one clue was particularly outstanding as I always enjoy all … Read more >>
Guardian 25,017 (Sat 22 May)/Araucaria – A smile a minute
Solving time: 8 mins For Araucaria this was surprisingly straightforward, but that’s probably just as well with a bank holiday special due this week. One of the reasons for the lower-than-average difficulty was … Read more >>
Enigmatic Variations No. 915 For The Books by Charybdis
Well a complex preamble this week – certainly one that won’t make sense till 11 down is derived. On first reading it sounds like a puzzle based upon a literary character. Then there’s an … Read more >>
Independent 7,368/Phi
Good stuff as ever from Phi, and we have a pangram to boot. I was frustratingly defeated by the final two clues though! Across 7 BELLOC – (Alexander Graham) BELL + CO> rev. … Read more >>
Guardian 25,022 / Araucaria
Notes on this crossword below… Across 1. SECULARISATION (LAURA IS)* in SECTION = “part” 9. NAMEPLATE NAME = “Christen” + “South American river” = PLATE; the definition is “in brass at the door” … Read more >>
Financial Times 13,397 / Bradman
Bradman gives us his trademark &lit clues for the long slots and general solid clueing all round. There are some superbly smooth clue surfaces, as in 20A and 9D. A very enjoyable solve. … Read more >>
Financial Times 13,396 / Mudd
A steady and gentle jog-trot today. No brain-busting vocab requirements, and I think the xwd editor was wise to slot this one into a Thursday, rather than the weekend edition (where Mudd’s more … Read more >>
Independent 7,367 by Yorick
Cursory research suggests Yorick to be a new setter for us to lock horns with, though I say that with some caution as we’ve seen familiar setters use unfamiliar pseudonyms in the past. … Read more >>
Independent 7,363 by Scorpion (Saturday Prize Puzzle, 22/05/10)
Whilst I used to be pretty well intimidated by Scorpion puzzles, these days I tend to enjoy them a great deal. This was the expected combination of a fairly stiff challenge and moments … Read more >>
Guardian 25,021 / Shed
Well, Andrew’s observation turned out right again. I’ve looked forward for a long time to blogging my first Shed, especially since his RHOTIC clue last year, and this didn’t disappoint. [There is even … Read more >>
Independent on Sunday 1058 by Quixote 23rd May 2010
Well, this will be appearing on Sloggers and Betters day, so we’re looking forward to putting faces to pseudonyms. Did this relatively quickly, apart from 1 down, which we didn’t figure out until … Read more >>