Beelzebub 1,033 (06/12/09)
This was easily the toughest Beelzebub I can remember having come across. A first, unaided session yielded only three or four answers. Reinforcements were called in, and the remainder of the puzzle took … Read more >>
Azed 1959: A bitter-sweet refrain
An Azed of average difficulty this week, I think; I needed a dictionary to check several answers. The words ‘whample’ and ‘sprangle’ were both delightful discoveries. No clue stands out as favourite of … Read more >>
Everyman No. 3298 (Dec. 13th)
I am here as a substitute for the regular blogger. The crossword posed no difficulty but I am unable to explain Clue 16d fully. Season’s Greetings to all readers. Across 1 MARITIME – … Read more >>
Thank You
I would like to say thank you to the Fifteensquared team members who have all taken time out of their busy schedules to post blogs during the past twelve months. I’m sure your … Read more >>
Guardian 24,881 (Sat 12 Dec)/Shed – Crimea river
Solving time: 12 mins I have to take my hat off to Shed for this: most of the puzzle was straightforward (and well-clued) but three answers (MORTAR, SCARFACE and CRIMEA) had me truly … Read more >>
Enigmatic Variations 892: Johannes & Ferencz by Oxymoron
I have no idea what the title means, although it does sound a bit like a Swedish clothing company … or is that Hennes & Mauritz? Each across clue has a misprint, sometimes … Read more >>
Independent 7231 by Morph
No Phi today, maybe he’ll feature on Saturday this week. Instead what I found quite a tough puzzle from Morph esp SE corner. I failed on 24 across, which I understand … Read more >>
Financial Times 13,263 / Styx
A nice puzzle that started comfortably but posed some difficulty at the end, with 6A taking up the max. time and I’m still not sure if it’s right. I enjoyed solving on the … Read more >>
Guardian 24,886 / Brendan
diagacht has web access problems today but has supplied the following analysis without a preamble. Across 8 CALABASH: A LAB (a little dog) in CASH (rhino) 9 HARTE: ART in HE (not sure … Read more >>
Inquisitor 154 – X by Phi
Phi is one of the more prolific setters with his puzzles appearing in a wide range of publications. There is always something different about his puzzles and this was no exception. We were … Read more >>
Independent 7226 by Mass (Sat 12 Dec 2009)
Solving time: about 45 late night minutes Mass has usually been a very difficult setter for me – never quite sure why. I was going to say that this has a lot of … Read more >>
Independent 7,230/Nimrod
Apologies for the brevity/lateness here. Work Xmas party last night, so I solved this one with a belting hangover on the bus 2 hours late for work and am still playing catch-up. Good … Read more >>
Financial Times 13,262/Orense
A bit of a doddle today, but with some fun elements – and a few items that piqued my quibblesome side this morning. Across 9 ORIGINATE – I + GIN (“mother’s ruin”) in … Read more >>
Guardian 24885 / Chifonie
Quite a tough puzzle today, I thought, with a few words I wasn’t familiar with – these were all quite guessable from the clues though. Across 1. PESTERED P = “Penny” + (STEERED)* … Read more >>
Independent on Sunday 1035 by Quixote – 13 Dec 2009
Solving time, 18 mins * = anagram < = reversed ACROSS 7 A L (L ERG) IST 9 ASS ET silly (noun) 11 DEVONSHIRE CREAM (over merchandise)* 12 PURL(O)IN 13 ILL EG AL(Capone) … Read more >>