It’s a Saturday and once again we have a Serpent to blog. It was quite a challenge.
Inquisitor Review of the Year 2019-20
Tour de F__ce
Order has been restored. After 52 arduous legs – up mountains, into space, along rivers and across meadows – rolling along the road into the capital in the whatever-coloured jersey, is … Harribobs.
Guardian Saturday puzzle 28,350 / Brendan
After a fun Capitals Saturday puzzle from Paul last week, an equally fun-filled (for me, at least) offering from Brendan. I don’t think any of the clues here were too difficult but, having … Read more >>
Independent 10,701 by Phi
Our regular Phi-day challenge to keep our brains in practice.
Guardian 28,355 – Paul
Quite a tough one from Paul today, with some devious constructions that had me worried about whether I’d be able to explain everything. A couple of minor quibbles, but otherwise very enjoyable – … Read more >>
Financial Times 16,696 by BRADMAN
A good workout from BRADMAN this Friday. Thanks Don.
Guardian Cryptic 28354 Nutmeg
Thanks to Nutmeg for an enjoyable one. Definitions are underlined in the clues. Across 1. Young Bengal tigers skirting lake? They’re used to exercise (6,5) INDIAN CLUBS : [INDIAN CUBS](possibly tiger youngsters from … Read more >>
Independent 10,700 by Hob
Hob sets today’s challenge – it’s going to be interesting.
Financial Times 16,695 by MOO
My first Moo for a while.
Financial Times 16,685 by Mudd
Non-prize puzzle from the Weekend FT of January 16, 2021 My first-in was 2 but that stood alone for a time as I went on to complete the top-right quadrant then the bottom-right, … Read more >>
Enigmatic Variations No. 1470 – Level Crossing by Hedge-Sparrow
“Two unclued entries, to be completed by solvers, are the site of a LEVEL CROSSING and an (incomplete) inscription commemorating it. Seven answers require a non-standard method of entry (numbers in brackets after clues refer to entry lengths). The missing part of the inscription is represented by modifications applied to six other answers prior to entry (three each of two types). Chambers Dictionary (2016) is recommended; 40 and 1 down are in Collins.”
Financial Times 16,694 by GOZO
An entertaining puzzle from Gozo. Obscure/specialist knowledge is not required today.
Independent 10,699 / Eccles
Eccles has provided a delightful puzzle to entertain us this Wednesday. This has been my favourite puzzle of 2021 so far in terms of entertainment value, for which my thanks go to Eccles. … Read more >>
Guardian Cryptic 28,353 by Qaos
The puzzle may be found at https://www.theguardian.com/crosswords/cryptic/28353. There is a theme – of course, it’s Qaos – but it was entirely unknown to me, until I discovered it on the Qaos website. It … Read more >>
Inquisitor 1682: Switch by Charybdis
First, congratulations to Charybdis, one of my favourite setters, for his prescience in setting a clue concerning K2 which was in the news on the very day that it was published! 8D refers … Read more >>