Financial Times 12,903 – Crux
From Monday Prize Crossword on 20 Oct 2008 dd = double definition cd = cryptic definition rev = reversed or reversal ins = insertion cha = charade ha = hidden answer *(fodder) = … Read more >>
Financial Times 12,902 by Mudd
Prize puzzle from the Weekend FT of 18 October Mudd’s puzzle was the most difficult I have done in a while. I cannot figure out how 11A works. Across 1. BACKHAND – BACK … Read more >>
Financial Times 12,911 by Satori
I cannot say I particularly enjoyed today’s puzzle, partly because there are two clues (1a and 3d) that I can’t fully explain. I will continue to work on these though I am not … Read more >>
Independent 6876 by Dac
Excellent, accessible, puzzle by Dac, as ever. Solving time, 14 mins * = anagram < = reversed ACROSS 1 MAOIST Very good with seamless join at old time/communist O (old) in Siam< t … Read more >>
Today’s Independent – Sub needed
Hi all, Apologies for the short notice, but I’m laid up with a bad cold and am unlikely to be fit for blogging today. If anybody can step in, I’d be much obliged. … Read more >>
Guardian 24,532/Orlando
Quite a gentle one today after Brendan’s toughie on Monday, and maybe it suffers in comparison to Paul’s Beatlefest yesterday, but some nice clues here, though as ever I have a couple of … Read more >>
Independent 6875 by Eimi
A puzzle in Eimi’s very individual style, which I found quite easy – solving time, 15 mins. Quite a few references in clues that I was not personally familiar with, but these did … Read more >>
Guardian 24,531 – Paul
dd = double definition cd = cryptic definition rev = reversed or reversal ins = insertion cha = charade ha = hidden answer *(fodder) = anagram What a nostalgic trip down memory lane … Read more >>
Financial Times 12910 / Jason
I had a slow start but managed to complete the puzzle in reasonable time. Last to fall was top right corner. Clue 17 ac is excellent but some clues (e.g., 4 ac) are … Read more >>
Independent 6874 by Hypnos
*=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone An enjoyable puzzle with nothing very controversial. Only one clue I didn’t entirely follow (19 down). Across 1 Toll: To L[iverpoo]l. 3 Able Seaman: (Same banal)* around e. 9 … Read more >>
Guardian 24,530 – Brendan
Quite tricky for a Monday, in my opinion. A minor theme of -ee suffixes (9A, 12A, 30A, 17D, 18D) and the little square of three-letter words around the centre was quite interesting. Lots … Read more >>
Private Eye/Cyclops 376 – Suckers
Some particularly nice anagram clues this time. Across 7 ROOST ROO,ST 9 SCAPEGOAT S,CAPE,GOAT 10 MASTER-KEY (MEERKAT’S)* Y AInd: screwed Favourite clue: Penetrator of more than one hole, meerkat’s screwed an unknown quantity … Read more >>
Guardian 24,523 (Sat 18 Oct)/Araucaria – Hair apparent
Solving time: 12:56 I probably found this a little easier than usual for Araucaria, until I came to the last three clues (EMBRYO, MULCT and STEEL [BLUE]) which took a fair chunk of … Read more >>
Azed 1899/19th October
A nice crossword from Azed, with several good clues. His grids are always excellent: how he manages to fit in so many long words and avoid using three-letter-words I don’t know. Across 1 STARCH BLOCKER — … Read more >>
Financial Times 12,907 by Viking
It doesn’t look as if Smiffy is going to be able to join us today. He must be otherwise occupied, or his pc has crashed, so here is a brief analysis of today’s … Read more >>