Independent 6640 (Mass)
Initially I thought this was going to be very easy. I got through most of the clues fairly quickly but then got hopelessly stuck on 8 across, 25 across and 24 down, some … Read more >>
Azed 1860
Solving time 47:10, with one clue left (which I eventually got while writing this blog entry). This one was split roughly half and half between entries using familiar vocabulary and those that had … Read more >>
Guardian 24,289 (Sat 19 Jan)/Araucaria – Horseplay
Solving time: Gave up on 10ac and 7dn after 18 mins, with 9dn also wrong. A horsey theme this week, with THE SPORT OF KINGS and HUNTING WITH DOGS forming the outer columns. … Read more >>
Independent and FT Crosswords for new solvers
This post is a short guide to Independent and FT cryptic crosswords for those trying them out in their new free online forms. It’s particularly directed at any US-based solvers who haven’t seen … Read more >>
Independent 6638 / Phi Where was Les SylPHIdes?
Pirouetting into sight today is Phi with a puzzle containing some well-known (and not so well-known) ballets. Solving time: 20 Minutes, (plus a couple of Google checks for titles). Very enjoyable with the … Read more >>
Guardian 24,294, Taupi: Poetic licence
Easier than it looked at first glance. Some nice clues, with concise and convincing surfaces. One or two slightly loose definitions, but I guess you can put that down to 8down! ACROSS: 1. RE(COR)D. … Read more >>
Independent 6633/Nimrod
Having just blogged Nimrod’s Thursday puzzle (6637) I can say that I found this one the easier of the two. I’m not really a big fan of long anagrams and I was lucky … Read more >>
Inquisitor 55 SLOPING OFF by Kea
This was a corker!! I’m still not completely convinced that we’ve got it right, but here goes. The missing letters of the across clues instructed you to “INCLUDE PUNCTUATION” while the down clues … Read more >>
FT 12,674/Bradman
As one has come to expect from Bradman (or any other of his pseuDONyms), flawless technical merit receives a healthy dollop of creative/lateral thinking. ‘Twas ever thus, it seems. Across 10 L(I)LAC – … Read more >>
Independent 6637/Nimrod – Double Trouble
Some clever grid construction here as one phrase appears twice in the grid and there’s a Nina too (see 5a below for an explanation). I found this quite hard going in places – … Read more >>
Guardian 24293 Brummie : Tree or False
As previous discussed, I’m not a nature-boy, but “False Acacia” seems a tad obscure – oh well, thanks for the Botany lesson, Brummie. Otherwise quite a blood-thirsty set of clues todays with some great wordplay. … Read more >>
Independent on Sunday 936 by Quixote (20/01/2008)
Some unusual words made this one a little harder for me than some recently from Quixote. Solving time, 21 mins Notes on some clues below, happy to explain others if asked. * = … Read more >>
Financial Times 12,663 by Cincinnus
A moderately easy and thoroughly splendid offering from Cincinnus this week. It is a bit heavy on double-definition clues but there’s nothing wrong with that especially since only one of them is a … Read more >>
Guardian 24292/Paul – The truth hurts: money talks
A classic Paulene challenge though no Araucarian cross-refs nor complex multi-word anagrams. But still some charming and clever clues… as per usual I always feel entertained and gratified having solved Paul. Lots of … Read more >>
Independent crosswords now online
The cryptic puzzle is here and the concise/simple puzzle is here. Each puzzle is currently a day late – so the one on the website right now is yesterday’s Virgilius. Prize puzzles will be published … Read more >>