Independent 7163/Dac
Smooth and neat as always from Dac. The naturalness of his clues never ceases to amaze me. Across 1 SECOND — 2 defs, pronounced differently 4 A DV(AN CE)D 9 EX POUND 11/12 … Read more >>
Financial Times 13,194 / Neo
The usual collection of clean and interesting clues from Neo. Across 1 ROCHDALE CH (church) +AD (after Christ) reversed, in ROLE. “After Christ” should be read as after birth, not death 6 BUTTON … Read more >>
Independent 7,162/Punk
Definitely one of the toughest Punks we have had for a while I thought, but wonderfully inventive clueing as we’ve come to expect. 14/18 is up there with my favourites of 2009! Across … Read more >>
Guardian 24,817 – Quantum
dd = double definition cd = cryptic definition rev = reversed or reversal ins = insertion cha = charade ha = hidden answer *(fodder) = anagram Surprisingly quite a tame puzzle for a … Read more >>
Guardian 24,816 – Rufus
An exemplary Monday puzzle – no odd constructions but still enough to exercise the grey matter on the commute. Across 8. ON THE HOP. double definition 9. SPEARS. S.(PEAR)S. 10. TEMPTS. TE(MP)ST*. 11. … Read more >>
Independent 7161 by Morph
*=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone, CD=cryptic def, DD=double def Entertaining and tricksy stuff from Morph, if at times a little imprecise. Could Aztec really be described as “disused Mexican” ? And S&M probably involves … Read more >>
Private Eye/Cyclops 400 – 16 years
Number 400 Eh! We only get 26 issues of this esteemed organ each year – if we’re lucky – so I reckon that’s 16 years that Cyclops has been working at the sharp … Read more >>
Reminder
Please do not refer to, or comment on, a prize puzzle until after the closing date for entries.
Everyman 3286
I didn’t really like this one. It’s unfortunate that IOUs was used in a clue to 14 ac and a solution to 2dn. I can’t properly parse 1dn, 16dn is a dreadful clue … Read more >>
Azed 1947 – Spot the Theme
The preamble said that “The twelve unclued answers (a complete set) have something in common”, andwere given their unchecked (and mutually checked) letters. Twleve unclued answers seemed quite a lot but there was … Read more >>
Independent 7154 (Sat 19 Sept) – Tyrus
This was as tough for me as the first couple of Tyrus puzzles I tried in the Independent. I don’t have an accurate timing for it but would guess about 45 minutes until … Read more >>
Beelzebub 1,022 (20/09/09)
I should probably blog these a bit sooner after solving, or at least take notes, since I have scant recollection of actually tackling this one. I do know that I once again managed … Read more >>
Enigmatic Variations 880: Revelations by Kcit
Luckily for me, a fairly straightforward offering from Kcit this week. I got back from golfing hols on Sunday, and everything has bunched up nicely, including some crosswords that need solving and blogging … Read more >>
Guardian 24,809 (Sat 19 Sep)/Paul – Snide remark
Solving time: 7 mins This was my fastest solve of a Saturday puzzle for a while, so must have been easier than usual, even for a non-Araucaria week. Only 20dn (REMARK) caused any … Read more >>
Independent 7159/Phi
This seemed unusually difficult for Phi and one clue completely defeated me. There are a few I’m not sure about, which will I’m sure be rapidly explained here. Across 1 M(US(1)CO LOG)Y 6 … Read more >>