This is Norman’s second outing in the Indy and the second puzzle of his that we have blogged..
Financial Times 17672 Flimsy
Thank you to Flimsy. Definitions are underlined in the clues. Across 1. Leaders from Republic of Venezuela, in shock, producing agreement (8) APPROVAL : 1st letters, respectively, of(Leaders from) “Republic of Venezuela” contained … Read more >>
Guardian 29,322 – Tramp
Another great puzzle from Tramp, in the Goldilocks zone of difficulty. The long answer at 8/25/6 took some working out, but it was worth the effort. Thanks to Tramp. Across 1 SCORES … Read more >>
Financial Times 17,671 by GAFF
Gaff starts the week with a bicentennial theme…
Guardian Cryptic 29,321 by Kite
Kite is today's Guardian setter.
Guardian Quiptic 1,267/Chandler
Chandler is in town this week with a Quiptic that I think will please those still new to the Dark Art. Certainly enough straightforward clues to get you a foothold, which I know … Read more >>
Independent 11,668/Filbert
Filbert is quite the regular in the Indy at the moment. He is a setter who can move the difficulty level up and down according to the brief – and the brief for … Read more >>
Financial Times Sunday No.34 – World by Gozo
The first Sunday of the month brings us the regular geographically themed puzzle. Find it to solve online or download and print at ft.com/crossword or via the smartphone app.
Azed No. 2,697 – Plain
A pleasant and not too difficult crossword from Azed. I got into a bit of a mess with the software that produces the blog (which was thrown by the strange enumeration at 1ac), but with some help from the writer of the software and a little fiddling I think it’s now in an acceptable form. Some of the anagram indicators are a bit extreme, but Azed basically allows anything where there is a little bit of jiggling.
Definitions in crimson, underlined; anagram indicators in italics; anagrams indicated *(like this) or (like this)*.
Independent on Sunday 1,775 by Hoskins
It’s Sunday and Hoskins is in the room, expect sex, drugs and rock and roll
Everyman 4,036
When I’m not blogging I sometimes miss The Everyman, but when I did it a week or two ago it seemed to be becoming easier, and I wondered if Alan Connor was deliberately making it so in response to the several remarks that this was no longer an entry-level crossword. However, this one has shown that this is not apparently the case, because I thought this was very tricky and I’m still not sure of the parsing of one or two of the clues. I couldn’t find the usual rhyming pair or much of that type; two answers ended with the same three letters although they didn’t rhyme, and I’ve highlighted them in a rather doubtful grey, not the usual flamboyant colours which announce a discovery.
Definitions in crimson, underlined. Indicators (Hidden, anagrams, homophones, insertion, reversal, etc.) in italics. Anagrams indicated *(like this) or (like this)*. Link-words in green.
Guardian Genius 248 – Picaroon
“Across answers must be entered in a consistent manner, always producing a real word or phrase as the grid entry.” After getting a few downs in the grid it didn’t take me long … Read more >>
Independent No. 11,667 by Bluth
What an absolute treat we’ve all had from Bluth today. Normally I expect some cruciverbal flair from this setter but this was an absolute pleasure. The grid fell relatively easily, with so many … Read more >>
Guardian Saturday Prize Crossword 29,314 by Picaroon (24 February 2024)
I seem to be coinciding with Picaroon every other four weeks in the Prize puzzle slot…not that I’m complaining…
Financial Times 17,664 by Buccaneer
Puzzle from the Weekend FT of February 24, 2024