Guardian 24209/Gordius
Solving time – approx. 35 mins. I managed to find some time at lunchtime to have a look at this, and was pleased to finish it without resorting to a dictionary (with three … Read more >>
Independent 6552 by Virgilius
Themed as almost always from Virgilius: this time fairly clear when looking at clues: 4 (6,3,6) phrases, connected by “and”. Very fast solve for me, 11 mins. * = anagram ACROSS 1 SENATORSHIP … Read more >>
Guardian No 24,208 – Rufus/That’s better…
Didn’t realise it was my turn to do the Grauniad; my apologies for the late post. A nice easy start to the week. I am normally one of Rufus’s harshest critics, but this … Read more >>
Guardian 24,201 (Sat 6 Oct)/Araucaria – Blind man’s pluff
Solving time: 17:17, one mistake (4dn/P) The clues for this puzzle were presented in order of their first letters (specified), with each letter used once (and D and J twice). Probably quite a … Read more >>
Inquisitor 40 – New Broom by Dimitry
Sorry for the late post, but I have to admit that I really struggled with this one, and I haven’t quite finished it, as one of the answers still has me beat. Once … Read more >>
Independent 6551 by Hypnos
This puzzle by one of the occasional setters was a very fast solve for me. Got quite a few answers by seeing definitions. Solving time: 13 mins. * = anagram < = reversed … Read more >>
Azed 1845: Quipsters and quacks
As Azeds go, this was fairly straightforward to solve, and it had the usual quota of delightfully witty clues and elegant surface reading. I wasn’t too sure of all the wordplay, though; perhaps … Read more >>
Independent 6549/Phi
Excellent stuff from Phi. I’m lost on the last one across though. Across 1/10 THE BEST THINGS IN LIFE ARE FREE — double def. — the cryptic definition of the two refers to … Read more >>
Guardian 24,206 – Brendan/Ambiguity
A clever themed crossword which shows the ambiguity of the English language. Most of the across clues and some of the down clues lead to words which have two conflicting definitions. Time taken: … Read more >>
Independent 6544/Nestor
One of the easier puzzles from this usually tough compiler. I filled in a surprising number of answers using definitions and/or checking letters so it was the only when I came to write … Read more >>
Guardian 24205/Gordius – evasive setter
Not for the first time a couple of clues for which I don’t understand the wordplay: e.g 26A, 4A, and a few others in which I can imagine what the answer must be. … Read more >>
Independent 6548 by Mordred
An excellent puzzle from one the Indy’s occasional setters, with a background in the world of advanced puzzles. A mixture of very easy and very hard clues, I found. Excellently crafted with some … Read more >>
Independent on Sunday 921 by Quixote
Fairly straightforward, I found. Solving time: 16 mins. As in recent weeks, will comment on a small number of what seemed the trickier or more interesting clues, but happy to explain any others … Read more >>
Financial Times 12,576 by Cinephile
For the first time since I started blogging I had a clue that I could not solve! See 17 across. There are others that I do not completely understand and a couple that … Read more >>
FT 12,585/Viking
Apologies for the late posting; I ended up putting in a longer than anticipated shift at the salt mines today, so am blogging much later in the day than usual. Nothing too goofy … Read more >>