A well-designed Quiptic: the usual tricks for beginners to learn, and nothing too obscure.
Guardian 28,656 – Vulcan
Lots of helpful anagrams and other straightforward constructions here (and not a single cryptic definition), making a puzzle that would be good for “beginners and those in a hurry”, to borrow the Quiptic’s … Read more >>
Financial Times 16,994 by FALCON
It’s been a while since we had a Falcon puzzle on a Monday. Very enjoyable. Thanks to Falcon!
Independent 11,002/Shabbo
Shabbo made his Indy debut on 1 June 2020 and has contributed since to both the daily and Sunday versions. This was very much in line with the previous offerings: tightly clued, one … Read more >>
Private Eye (Cyclops/719) Glorious Misinformation
Happy New Year. A relative gentle start to 2022 for Eye solvers compared to that Christmas monster for which great thanks to mc_rapper67 for the stupendous blog. Top half and many others solved … Read more >>
Everyman 3,926/9 January
Another solid and tractable puzzle from Everyman to accompany my Sunday morning coffee. Abbreviations cd cryptic definition dd double definition cad clue as definition (xxxx)* anagram anagrind = anagram indicator [x] letter(s) removed … Read more >>
Independent on Sunday 1664 Tees
Thank you to Tees. Definitions are underlined in the clues. Across 1. Hit hard — huge anticlimax (6) BATHOS : BAT(to hit, with, well, a bat) + H(abbrev. for “hard”) + OS(abbrev. for … Read more >>
Azed No. 2,587 Plain
A plain offering this week, and not overly difficult. Thank you Azed.
Independent 11,001 by Serpent
A Serpent puzzle to tie us up in knots this Saturday.
Guardian Prize 28,649 by Paul
The first of Paul’s prize puzzles for 2022.
Independent 11,000 / Phi
Since today is Friday, there is no surprise in having Phi’s latest puzzle to grapple with. Incidentally, this is something of a landmark puzzle, being puzzle 11,000 in the Indy series. I found … Read more >>
Guardian 28,654 – Philistine
Good stuff from the Doctor, though I think without any of his trademark “lift and separate” clues. Thanks to Philistine, Across 1 TAILBACK Jam? In tagliatelle? (8)TAIL is hidden BACKwards in tagLIATelle … Read more >>
Financial Times 16,992 by BRADMAN
Friday , and its BRADMAN time, thanks to whom for a gentle tussle.
Guardian Cryptic 28653 Qaos
Thank you to Qaos. Definitions are underlined in the clues. Across 1. Mark with spots led astray installing smartphone program (6) DAPPLE : Anagram of(… astray) LED containing(installing) APP(a computer programme for a … Read more >>
Independent 10999 / Tyrus
Tyrus challenges us this Thursday Tyrus nails his colours to the mast with the clues and entries in this puzzle. However, the puzzle may be a bit tricky for … Read more >>