Independent 7001/Dac
Everything typically elegant and natural today. Across 1 FEAT HERB RAINED — One of the signs of a good charade clue is that the long word is split into components that are not … Read more >>
Guardian 24656 / Brendan
A fun puzzle from Brendan with a theme of name changes. I’m afraid I’m not likely to be able to update this post with any corrections until much later today. Across 8. SIDE … Read more >>
Independent 7,000 by Virgilius
*=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone, cd=cryptic definition, dd=double definition. I had noticed that number 7,000 was on its way, and wondered what to expect. What we got was a typically strong Virgilius puzzle, with … Read more >>
Guardian 24,655 – Araucaria
dd = double definition cd = cryptic definition rev = reversed or reversal ins = insertion cha = charade ha = hidden answer *(fodder) = anagram In another private crossword group that I … Read more >>
Financial Times 13,033 / Neo
Although these clues were not difficult, a number of them had admirably smooth surfaces. Dumas and Shakespeare turn up a few different times, but probably not enough to count as a theme. Across … Read more >>
Azed 1921 – Tips for Eightsome Reels
This is one of the easiest of the regular Azed specials for me – even though this explanation may sound complicated. Each answer can be entered in 16 different ways, which sounds difficult. … Read more >>
Independent 6999 by Glow-worm
*=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone, CD=cryptic def I found this a nicely balanced puzzle, challenging without being too difficult and having a good mix of clues. Across 1 Requiescat: (quiet acres)* – quite a … Read more >>
Guardian 24,654 / Rufus
Another gentle start to the week from Rufus, with, typically, perhaps more cryptic [some rather more so than others!] and double definitions than some would like but some clever anagrams and nice surfaces. … Read more >>
Azed 1920 – tough one
An Azed of above-average difficulty this time, with I think what must be a higher-than-usual proportion of rare and obscure words, though in many cases the woprdplay was helpful in leading to the … Read more >>
Guardian 24,647 (Sat 14 Mar)/Araucaria – Twin pity
Solving time: A couple of days (10dn and 14dn wrong). Not in one sitting, I ought to add. In fact two thirds of this came out pretty quickly, but I then hit a … Read more >>
Guardian 24652 – Araucaria
Really struggled with this at first, but almost got there in the end – couldn’t get 7dn without cheating. Not sure I have time now to do all of the clues justice, but … Read more >>
Financial Times 13,030 / Alberich
What can I say!? For me an almost perfect crossword with excellent surfaces for virtually all the clues, a pleasing degree of variety and a good balance between ‘starter’ clues and the more … Read more >>
Beelzebub 995 (15/03/09)
*=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone, cd=cryptic definition, dd=double definition. This was one of my favourite Beelzebubs since I started blogging them here. It was as satisfying as ever, with lots of exciting new words, … Read more >>
Independent 6,997 by Phi
*=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone, cd=cryptic definition, dd=double definition. What a week for us Independent solvers. I’m a little relieved to have drawn the Friday, all things considered. That said, I felt the pressure, … Read more >>
Independent 6992/Nimrod (Prize puzzle 16-03-09)
Across 7/25/4 NINE TILL FIVE – “when on duty” is the def, and “Norma Bolton” is a reference to the clue numbers of those answers – 9d and 5d respectively. 8 (I FOUND … Read more >>