Independent 10,691 by Klingsor
A trickier than usual Monday puzzle today – as we’d expect from Klingsor, who normally appears later in the week. There are some unusual constructions, including the reverse wordplay of 1a and the … Read more >>
Guardian 28,345 / Carpathian
It’s Carpathian starting the week with an elegant and well-clued puzzle. Some of the definitions are not the first to spring to mind, which, along with smooth surfaces throughout, made the puzzle interesting … Read more >>
Private Eye (Cyclops / 693) Gobby Sort
So, after the exigencies of the Xmas monster, we expect not just return to normal, but a more gentle puzzle to let us get over the new year hangover. What we got was … Read more >>
Financial Times 16,686 by GURNEY
A rare sighting of a Monday morning GURNEY… Quite a mixed bag today, with the excellent 9a (great anagram and surface) and 16a (very clever, though I’ve a suspicion I’ve seen it before), … Read more >>
The New Site Theme
As you will have noticed, Fifteensquared has had a make-over (and not before time, some of you might say!). Apart from the new appearance, with larger font sizes to make reading easier when … Read more >>
Everyman 3,874/10 January
The Everyman is a puzzle that is meant to be easy-end, and tractable enough for newish or less experienced solvers. This particular example was a step – or several steps – too far … Read more >>
Azed No. 2,535 Plain
An uncontroversial (I think) plain Azed this week. There are a couple of hard to classify clues at 16 and 29 and (particularly) 30 across, but otherwise the usual mix of common and … Read more >>
Independent on Sunday 1612 Tees
Thank you to Tees, our regular Sunday setter. Definitions are underlined in the clues. Across 1. Reduce consumption? That’s futile (7) USELESS : [USE LESS](reduce consumption). 5. Man turned right in Bath, finding … Read more >>
Independent 10,690 by Nimrod (Sat 16-Jan 2021)
So here we are again, the calendar has turned and I have landed a Saturday Nimrod When tackling it I didn’t bother to time myself, I knew it would take ages. It definitely … Read more >>
Guardian Prize 28,338 by Pan
So far as I can tell, this is the first time that a puzzle by Pan has featured in the Saturday slot. Normally, Pan’s puzzles appear on a Monday and it cannot be … Read more >>
Independent 10,689 / Phi
Phi is occupying his usual Friday slot today. I found this to be an easier than average puzzle by the standards of Phi in the Indy. Perhaps the solving process was helped by … Read more >>
Guardian 28,343 / Crucible
My apologies for a rather later than usual blog. Yesterday, I had the offer of a Covid vaccination first thing this morning – not to be turned down lightly. Fortunately, the puzzle was … Read more >>
Financial Times 16,684 by GOLIATH
An entertaining treat from GOLIATH this Friday. Thanks G. FF: 9 DD: 8 ACROSS 1 MALICE Michael is heartless, twisted and evil (6) [ MIChAEL (without H – heartless ) ]* – … Read more >>
Guardian Cryptic 28,342 by Nutmeg
Lots of fun clues and nice surfaces, and quite difficult in places. Favourites were 1ac, 9ac, 16ac, 19ac, 25ac, 6dn, 8dn, and 23dn. Many thanks to Nutmeg for the puzzle ACROSS 1 … Read more >>
Financial Times 16,683 by JULIUS
A puzzle for those who like a bit of general knowledge thrown in. For solvers like me who enjoy a bit of general knowledge in their crosswords, this was a great puzzle. None … Read more >>