Guardian 24,744 / Rufus
A nice monday puzzle to start off the week. Across 1. OWN GOAL. OWN + GOAL. Own can mean ‘own up’. 5. ILLICIT. IL + LI + C + IT. Lots of roman … Read more >>
Private Eye/Cyclops 394 – Political expenses
Solving this went in waves. A smattering of easy clues were entered quickly (e.g. Louvre, Political Asylum) and I thought it would be an easy solve. Then I came to a halt and … Read more >>
Guardian Genius No. 72 / Araucaria
This was, I think, the hardest Genius puzzle since the Guardian site became freely available. I only managed to solve just over a third of the clues in the first session and then … Read more >>
Everyman 3724
Definitely a bit harder to get going this week. The double definitions seemed to often require very specific knowlege for the second definition, and the two word clues (except 4dn which was my … Read more >>
Beelzebub 1,010 (28/06/09)
*=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone, cd=cryptic definition, dd=double definition. Quite tough going for me this week, and there’s a couple I’m not sure about, as is usually the case! Across 1 PUDDING-TIME – PUDDING … Read more >>
Guardian 24,737 / Araucaria
Something of a treat for me today, to blog an Araucaria prize puzzle [entertaining, as ever] in Rightback’s absence. I can’t even dream of approaching his prodigious solving time – but then I … Read more >>
Independent 7,087/Eimi
An interesting solve. Having got the first 3 down answers immediately, I was convinced that there was probably going to be a perimeter message reading ‘HAVE….’. It wasn’t until I got WOODSTOCK and … Read more >>
Financial Times 13,119 / Bradman
When I see a Bradman puzzle I brace myself for a toughie. This started off smoothly enough on the left but the right half was slow to fall. A few new words for … Read more >>
Enigmatic Variations 868: Excellent! I Cried by Jophu
Nineteen normal clues, with the rest needing one or two added or subtracted letters; that sounded a bit tricky. It proved to be a tougher puzzle than most EVs recently. The NE corner … Read more >>
Guardian 24,742 (Brummie)
Not having a lot of time this morning I was happy that this was rather straightforward. A few clues held me back, 17ac in particular. Also not entirely sure about 22ac. Across 9 … Read more >>
Inquisitor 130 – CINEMA CLASH by Lato
When I see the word ‘Cinema’ in a crossword title I tend to go Ugh! as I am not film literate. However, as is often the case with barred cryptics, the title turned … Read more >>
Independent 7082 by Punk (Sat 27 June)
This puzzle was difficult but entertaining, with themewords at three evels – 23D GOON, the three Goons. at 13, 19, 16D, and characters associated with them at 15, 6 & 2, and 16A … Read more >>
Financial Times 13,118/Viking
I found this a well-balanced and consistent puzzle. Nothing too clever-clever, but plenty of decent clues that seemed more admirable on review (compared to at the moment of solving). If this has been … Read more >>
Independent 7,086 by Phi
*=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone, cd=cryptic definition, dd=double definition. A surprise Thursday Phi, not that I’m complaining, and it seems that many happy returns may be in order, given the Nina across the first … Read more >>
Guardian 24741 / Paul
This was quite a tough puzzle to blog, with lots of intricate wordplay. However, as always with Paul’s excellent puzzles, this was very enteratining and inventive. I’m not quite sure about 2 down, … Read more >>