Wire provides this Saturday’s challenge.
Guardian Prize 28,829/ Crucible
It’s always good to see Crucible’s name on a puzzle, any day of the week – and it’s a special treat on a Saturday but … … on this occasion, I spoiled it … Read more >>
Independent 11,180 by Phi
A somewhat tricky Phiday challenge, or at least I thought so.
Guardian 28,834 – Nutmeg
I made a bit of a slow start on this, but Nutmeg’s impeccable clues meant that it all came out nicely in the end, despite a few obscurities. Thanks to Nutmeg. Across … Read more >>
Financial Times 17,171 by BRADMAN
A tough Friday challenge from BRADMAN
Guardian Cryptic 28833 Anto
Thank you to Anto. Definitions are underlined in the clues. Across 1. Exercise you must do to get higher with lift (5,2) PRESS UP : Cryptic defn: You must press the “UP” button … Read more >>
Independent 11,179 by Serpent
Serpent provides today’s challenge.
Financial Times 17,170 by GAFF
Gaff is today’s setter.
Financial Times 17,160 by Buccaneer
Non-prize puzzle from the Weekend FT of July 30, 2022
Enigmatic Variations No.1550 – Elementary Solutions by A Few
“Each quadrant represents one of five ELEMENTARY SOLUTIONS; solvers must determine which quadrant each set belongs to. Clues are in normal order within each group. All entries except one at every stage are real words or names. Initial answers may not fit the space allocated. Solvers must highlight four examples of the fifth solution, each spanning two quadrants (16 cells). Chambers Dictionary (2016) is recommended.”
Independent 11,178 / Hoskins
Quite unusually, Hoskins is filling the Wednesday this week. I found this puzzle to be of exactly the right level of difficulty for a mid-week puzzle, i.e. not too stiff a challenge but … Read more >>
Financial Times 17,169 by JULIUS
An alphabetical jigsaw today. You can download the puzzle here… Thank you Julius
Guardian Cryptic 28,832 by Pasquale
The puzzle may be found at https://www.theguardian.com/crosswords/cryptic/28832.
Inquisitor 1762: Square Dance by Serpent
Puzzles where you have to modify all answers before entering them into the grid are not my favourite. It normally means that you have to “cold solve” half the clues before you can make headway. Not my strong suit, but fortunately in Ho I have an ally who is very good at this, so, after some answer swapping, I was able to make some progress. The rubric read:
Independent 11177 / Bluebird
Bluebird challenges Independent solvers today. I last blogged a puzzle by Bluebird when he produced a puzzle dedicated to the setter Klingsor who sadly died recently. I made steady progress … Read more >>