Phi is back in his usual Friday role after brief excursions to Saturday and Tuesday. I thought this was probably about right for a Friday: in other words, not easy.
Financial Times 16,791 by BUCCANEER
A super puzzle from BUCCANEER to liven up my Friday.
Independent 10,796 by Tees
Another Tees to tease us this Thursday.
Financial Times 16,790 by LEONIDAS
Leonidas steps up to the plate this morning.
Guardian Cryptic 28,450 by Maskarade
The puzzle may be found at https://www.theguardian.com/crosswords/cryptic/28450.
Financial Times 16,780 by Mudd
Non-prize puzzle from the Weekend FT of May 8, 2021
Enigmatic Variations No.1486 – SATISFACTION by proXimal
“All clues are normal, but each of the answers to 43 clues must be entered with a single-letter misprint, always occurring in a cell shared with a crossing entry; in clue order, correct letters spell out a question. Solvers must change the contents of four cells in the grid to demonstrate the answer to SATISFACTION. The grid contains real words at every stage; Chambers Dictionary (2016) is recommended”
Independent 10,795 / eXternal
This week’s Wednesday slot has been occupied by eXternal. It is a good long while since I have blogged one of his puzzles, I have to say. I thoroughly enjoyed this puzzle, which … Read more >>
Guardian 28,449 / Pasquale
Pasquale sets the mid-week challenge, with a good variety of clue types and only one (for me) unfamiliar word at 1dn. I found this rather gentler than Pasquale can be, although I need … Read more >>
Financial Times 16,789 by GOZO
A themed puzzle from Gozo this week. A little specialist knowledge is required, but by no means experts only. Thank you Gozo.
Inquisitor 1698: Spooky Manifestations by Kruger
Kruger is one of our regular setters. Hard but fair is his normal offering, so I look forward to this one. Clues are given in alphabetical order of their answers which must be … Read more >>
Independent 10794 / Filbert
Filbert has set Tuesday’s puzzle. The Independent puzzle on a Tuesday usually has a theme. Today the theme is focused on Russia and events (real and fictional) that took place … Read more >>
Guardian Cryptic 28,448 by Philistine
Really enjoyed this – plenty of smiles along the way, and some penny drop moments of parsing at the end. Favourites were 20ac, 25ac, 2dn, 7dn/8dn, 16dn, 22dn, and 23dn/5ac. Thanks to Philistine
Financial Times 16,788 by AARDVARK
Hard graft for a Tuesday, I thought.
Guardian Quiptic 1,122/Hectence
Another delightful puzzle from Hectence, who is one of the original group of setters of the Quiptic (she perhaps won’t thank me for reminding her that when her first Quiptic appeared, IT geeks … Read more >>