Independent 7056 by Nestor
An excellent puzzle from Nestor who I had the pleasure of meeting at Sloggers and Betters 5 in London last week. A bit easier than I expected – in particular I got some … Read more >>
Guardian 24,711 – Quantum
A nice straightforward puzzle today, perhaps a bit more straightforward than most Thursdays. Quite a lot of anagram and straightforward charades. * = anagram “” = homophone < = reversed d.d. = double … Read more >>
Independent on Sunday 1006 by Quixote (24 May 2009)
Solving time, 19 mins. The usual pleasing puzzle. * = anagram < = reversed ACROSS 6 Margaret (D)RABBLE D = daughter 8 N A (S)T IVES 9 ST RAPPER 11 NA (RK) ED … Read more >>
Financial Times 13,079 – Dante
Monday Prize Crossword on 18 May 2009 dd = double definition cd = cryptic definition rev = reversed or reversal ins = insertion cha = charade ha = hidden answer *(fodder) = anagram … Read more >>
Financial Times 13,078 by Cinephile (channeling George Eliot)
Prize puzzle from the Weekend FT of 17 May Cinephile gives us one of his typical themed puzzles, this one touching on the works of George Eliot. Across 1. MY FATHER – FA[cts] … Read more >>
Independent 7,055 by Dac
*=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone, cd=cryptic definition, dd=double definition. A very enjoyable arts/literature themed one from Dac, with the usual rock-solid clueing and some chuckles along the way – 1 ac was a gem. … Read more >>
Guardian 24,710/Paul
A great one from Paul with a theme of drinks, mostly but not all alcoholic. Nothing too difficult in retrospect, but some of the double definitions took a while to work out until … Read more >>
Financial Times 13,087 / Cinephile
It is not often that I would describe a Cinephile puzzle as pedestrian but I’m afraid this one did nothing for me, possibly because the surface of some of the clues made little, … Read more >>
Financial Times 13,086 / Crux
There were plenty of clues to like in this puzzle. A nice job by Crux. Across 1 VIRGINIA CREEPER *(RECEIVING REPAIR) A great example of anagram fodder that fits nicely into the surface … Read more >>
Independent 7,054/Radian
Thankfully not too tricky for the first day back after a long weekend, but a very enjoyable puzzle with an impressive number of “Q”s Across 1 QUACK QUACK – QUACK x 2, ref. … Read more >>
Guardian 24,709 / Gordius
I’m really getting to like Gordius! In the past, I have found him rather lacking in [my sort of] humour but I thought there were some really witty clues here and I enjoyed … Read more >>
Independent 7053 by Tees
*=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone, CD=cryptic def, DD=double def Another very difficult puzzle by Tees. I couldn’t really get going until I looked up the Laurence Sterne wikipedia entry to find the answer to … Read more >>
Guardian 24,708 (Rufus)
It’s Monday and Rufus starts the week off with a fairly straightforward puzzle, although there are one or two tricky lights. Across 9 CASSANDRA: SAND in anagram of CARS 10 ASCOT: (m)ASCOT going … Read more >>
Private Eye/Cyclops 391 – In the catacombs
A particularly enjoyable offering in this issue. Not terribly hard, but with some cracking clues with the kind of surface readings we hope to see, for a laugh. Across 9 OFF-DAYS (DAFFY O … Read more >>
Everyman 3268 – Arts & Literature Special?
A bit easier than the past few weeks, including lots of anagrams, but I hope your knowledge of the arts & literature is up to scratch with 2 plays (12ac, 5dn), a film … Read more >>