Not too challenging but enjoyable.
Guardian 28,674 / Pan
It’s Pan starting the week today. A straightforward puzzle with just a couple of new words for me at 7dn and 27dn. There are some nice surfaces throughout the puzzle. … Read more >>
Guardian Quiptic 1,160/Carpathian
Always a pleasure to solve and blog a Carpathian puzzle. A Quiptic that hits the mark for the target audience, with the bonus of being a pangram. There will be someone out there … Read more >>
Independent 11,020/Bluth
A thoroughly enjoyable romp around the latest political shenanigans with Bluth. Not everyone’s cup of tea, but I loved it; and will warn you here that once Bluth had started to put the … Read more >>
Everyman 3,929
This didn’t seem to me to be so good as some of the recent Everymans: it was sound enough but I think one or two of the surface readings are a bit tortuous, not reading very naturally; and what picture is painted by 12ac or 3dn for example?
Definitions in crimson, underlined. Indicators (anagram, homophone, hidden, juxtaposition etc.) in italics. Link-words in green. Anagrams indicated (like this)* or *(like this).
Guardian Genius 223 by Picaroon
Absolutely no ambiguity about the preamble this month, but a tricky challenge nonetheless.
Independent on Sunday 1,667 by Tees
Straightforward, but not easy. One of those puzzles where everything seems obvious afterwards. Thank you Tees.
Independent 11,019 by Italicus
First time in a Saturday slot for Italicus who is more usually, though rarely, seen on a Monday. So I was expecting something a little less tricky than what I found. I can’t … Read more >>
Guardian Saturday Prize Crossword 28,667 by Paul (29 January 2022)
This is my first ever blog of a Paul Grauniad Cryptic, although I did cover one of his Genius puzzles back in 2018…
Guardian 28,672 / Enigmatist
My apologies for the late (and woefully inadequate) blog – nothing really to do with the fact that it’s an Enigmatist puzzle, when I was quite confidently expecting a Paul, since we haven’t … Read more >>
Independent 11018 / Phi
It’s Friday, so not surprisingly, the Independent puzzle is set by Phi I liked the surfaces of the clues for RADICALISM (11 across) because of its relevance to the entry, … Read more >>
Financial Times 17,010 by BRADMAN
A brisk BRADMAN challenge this Friday.
Independent 11,017 by Serpent
Thursday fun from Serpent.
Financial Times 17,009 by STEERPIKE
Steerpike provides this morning's entertainment
Guardian Cryptic 28,671 by Anto
A pleasant solve with some nice surfaces – my favourites were 1ac, 10ac, 3dn, 5dn, 6dn, and 20dn. Thanks to Anto for the puzzle.