Financial Times 12,897 – Dante
From Monday Prize Crossword on 13th October 2008 dd = double definition cd = cryptic definition rev = reversed or reversal ins = insertion cha = charade ha = hidden answer *(fodder) = … Read more >>
Financial Times 12,896 by Cincinnus
This is the prize puzzle from the Weekend FT of October 11 I found this Cincinnus a bit tougher than average and was stuck on 14D and 27A for a while. Across 1. … Read more >>
Independent 6870/Dac
Several quite brilliant long anagrams in Dac’s typically excellent crossword today Across 1 POP SHOP — 2 defs 5 B(IOM)ASS 9 NO RM A 10/11 INSPECTOR CLOUSEAU — (counters a US police)* 12 … Read more >>
FINANCIAL TIMES 12,905 by CINEPHILE
An interesting challenge from Cinephile today with the thematic answers all being Italian Renaissance artists. A couple (Lippi and Mantegna) I had not heard of before but these were easy to determine from … Read more >>
Enigmatic Variations
From this week, we shall be blogging the Enigmatic Variations puzzle which appears in the Telegraph. Blogs for puzzles 832 and 833 will appear over the next few days, with 834 appearing the … Read more >>
Guardian 24,526 (Paul)
Some great clues here. Very entertaining but not easy. Across 1 CYBORG: CrY (losing R) + BORG (tennis player) 4,23 CANDLELIGHT: CAN + L (last letter of girL) in DELIGHT 9 TABU: TAB … Read more >>
Independent 6,869/Virgilius – In A State
A nice, relatively gentle puzzle from Virgilius. There’s a mini-theme of people who share their name with US states, one of whom – 8/12A – got the better of me, largely due to … Read more >>
Financial Times 12904 / Phssthpok
I have been blogging every Tuesday since March 2008 but this is the first time I encountered a puzzle by Phssthpok. I enjoyed solving this crossword, which is of average difficulty. At the … Read more >>
Guardian 24,525 – Chifonie
dd = double definition cd = cryptic definition rev = reversed or reversal ins = insertion cha = charade ha = hidden answer *(fodder) = anagram Quite an enjoyable puzzle with some varied … Read more >>
Independent 6868 by Glow-worm
*=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone A fairly straightforward puzzle with just one I didn’t entirely follow (17 down) and one I thought seemed a bit weak (19 across). Across 1 Caterpillar: Cater + pillar … Read more >>
Guardian 24,524/Rufus
No difficulties here, apart from the ones I made for myself by initially guessing SUBSTITUTE for 3dn. A nice gentle start to the week from Rufus. Key: dd = double definition cd = … Read more >>
Azed 1898 – Challenging
Greetings Time for an occasional posting. Quite good fun from Azed this week with several witty clues and the usual smattering of obscure words. ACROSS 1 BUSHWHACKING BUSH + WHACKING (large as in … Read more >>
Guardian 24,517 (Sat 11 Oct)/Paul – Brazil nuts
Solving time: 9:51, with a whopping three mistakes (12ac, 26ac and 3dn). Very much 1-0 to the setter – I fell headlong into a beautifully-laid trap at 12ac (and shot myself in the … Read more >>
FT 12,901/Aardvark
Running slightly late today, so I’ll keep the small-talk to a minimum. If anything is unclear or dubious then please leave a message at the tone…… Across 1 DOS-A-DOS – A phrase that … Read more >>
Independent 6,866/Punk
This was a nice treat as I’m a big fan of Punk and was expecting to see Phi. I only managed a handful of clues in the first run through and worried that … Read more >>