Independent 6778 by Hypnos
*=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed Very tough puzzle today from Hypnos. Across 5 Leaflet: I think it’s a soundalike of Leif + Lett. 7 Stir Fry: Stir + fry. 9 Leonardo da Vinci: (on DVD … Read more >>
Guardian 24,434 (Rufus)
Across 7 FLAWLESS: F + LAWLESS 9 E-BOATS: anagram of TO BASE 10 STYE: STYLE less L (Roman numeral) 11 KICKED BACK: The back who was kicked, retaliated 12 CARAFE: A RAF in … Read more >>
Private Eye/Cyclops Crossword 368 – VIP treatment
There seemed to me to be a lot of question mark ended clues this time, at least they were the ones I had most trouble with, probably just me then. In truth this … Read more >>
Azed 1883 – Plain (but perhaps not so plain)
Some nice clues, but – dare I say it – one or two whose surfaces are pretty vacuous. As usual, I’m afraid. Azed has produced some wonderful stuff over the years, but nowadays … Read more >>
Guardian 24,427:Araucaria: just magic!
Another brilliant offering from the maestro; I particularly enjoyed the references to the two very different books which feature in this puzzle. Solving time: about an hour and a half, except for 22 … Read more >>
Financial Times 12,801 – Dante
From FT 23rd June 2008 Common abbreviations used dd = double definition cd = cryptic definition rev = reversed or reversal ins = insertion cha = charade * = anagram Definitely an easy … Read more >>
Independent 6776/Phi
An unusually easy Phi today, it seemed, apart from one or two that I can’t explain properly. Rather more full anagrams than one might expect. Across 7 FORE N SIC – ‘for courts’ … Read more >>
Independent 6771/Nestor (28-06-08)
I found this very easy but very enjoyable, as always from Nestor. Across 1 (BANAL MINUTIAE N)* – UNMAINTAINABLE. Had to UNsomethingABLE really. 11 RE,CU in SQUAT 12 A RANT in TELL,A 17 … Read more >>
Guardian 24432 – Placeholder
Computer failure – will try to post by tonight but if anyone wants to step in with a blog of their own please do.
Inquisitor 78 – Closely Packed by Kea
We were told that the answers to five across clues had to be jumbled before entry. To complicate matters further, we were also told that the letters in these five answers would share … Read more >>
FT 12,810/ Phssthpok
A rare visit to the FT from the intriguingly-named Phssthpok. A well-balanced offering with some nice touches and a gentle smattering of intra-grid cross references. Feels like just the kind of puzzle that … Read more >>
Independent 6775/Nimrod
A bit of a mixed bag this: very tough in places, very easy elsewhere. Still don’t understand 10, 11 and 19 though. Across 1 ERA,SPOT< in TRICES – TRICERATOPSES. I found this very … Read more >>
Independent on Sunday 959 by Quixote (29 June 2008)
I found this quite easy, solving time 14 mins. * = anagram < = reversed ACROSS 8 AT HEIST 9 EP I ZO (Oz<) A Oz = country down under (Australia) 10 OILC … Read more >>
Guardian 24,431/Chifonie
Today it was the bottom right-hand corner that gave me the most trouble, but apart from that I found this one mostly quite easy. A couple of explanations I’m not totally happy with … Read more >>
Financial Times 12,800 by Mudd
The top right corner of this puzzle was hard going for me. I particularly found 11A, 13A and 5D challenging and I do not understand how 8D works. Then I was totally stumped … Read more >>