Fifteensquared – Page 501 – Never knowingly undersolved

Independent 10,657 / Radian

Tue December 8, 2020 at 4:19 pmTue December 8, 2020 at 3:12 pm by RatkojaRiku

Today’s puzzle has been set for us by Radian. I found this to be a medium-to-hard puzzle, and I made slower progress through it than at first I expected that I would. I … Read more >>

Inquisitor 1675: Queen of the North by Phi

Fri December 11, 2020 at 2:26 pmTue December 8, 2020 at 10:00 am by kenmac

Queen of the North by Phi Several squares will need to contain multiple letters for the clue answers to fit – solvers should replace these with the same appropriate symbol. The solutions … Read more >>

Financial Times 16,654 by HAMILTON

Tue December 8, 2020 at 9:47 am by Grant Baynham

Hamilton at his most generous. Straightforward and entertaining stuff from my sometime Nemesis. Quirky as ever, but no complaints this morning and some moments of real pleasure. Thanks, Hamilton. ACROSS 1, 8 HELL … Read more >>

Guardian Cryptic 28,311 by Nutmeg

Tue December 8, 2020 at 7:40 am by loonapick

A typical Nutmeg offering this morning. When you see that the setter is Nutmeg, you know what you're going to get – clever clues, neat surfaces and a mental stretching exercise that won't … Read more >>

Guardian Quiptic 1099 Pasquale

Mon December 7, 2020 at 4:06 pmMon December 7, 2020 at 9:43 am by scchua

Thank you to Pasquale. Definitions are underlined in the clues. Across 4. Fellow one met at church in tight garment (6) BODICE : BOD(informal term for a “fellow”/person) + I(Roman numeral for “one”) … Read more >>

Independent 10,656 by Alchemi

Mon December 7, 2020 at 9:00 am by Quirister

Alchemi has brewed up an enjoyable Monday morning challenge: mostly straightforward but with a few tricky bits. Lots of good surfaces and amusing misdirections. I liked the obvious-when-you-see-it 12d and the sneaky cryptic … Read more >>

Financial Times 16,653 by VELIA

Mon December 7, 2020 at 7:04 am by Teacow

VELIA kicks off the week… A pretty straightforward solve this morning, 24d providing the only slight quirk. Rather a lot of “sounds like” type clues I thought. Thanks VELIA! ACROSS 1. Footballers’ kit: … Read more >>

Guardian Cryptic 28,310 by Matilda

Mon December 7, 2020 at 12:07 pmMon December 7, 2020 at 2:18 am by PeterO

The puzzle may be found at https://www.theguardian.com/crosswords/cryptic/28310. Matilda has been gracing the Quiptic and Cryptic slots for eighteen months now, and has been getting plaudits in both; this is no exception. I found … Read more >>

Independent on Sunday 1,606 by Hoskins

Sun December 6, 2020 at 11:06 am by Kitty

The puzzle can be found here. Hello and happy Sunday. Sorry the blog is a little later than usual: real life getting in the way. However much “real life” is happening, Hoskins … Read more >>

Azed No 2,529

Sun December 6, 2020 at 12:05 am by bridgesong

A puzzle with a distinct French character this week. Two French phrases and one word of French extraction as well as some Scottish terms in a generous grid with no fewer than four … Read more >>

Guardian Genius 209 / Paul

Sun December 6, 2020 at 12:05 am by Gaufrid

This month we have another of Paul’s whimsical puzzles with which to do battle. Having read the preamble regarding possible book titles and authors, my first step was to highlight the clue numbers … Read more >>

Everyman 3,868

Sun December 6, 2020 at 12:39 pmSun December 6, 2020 at 12:01 am by PeterO

The puzzle may be found at https://www.theguardian.com/crosswords/everyman/3868. I found this considerably easier than last week’s Everyman, but with rather too many questionable details. ACROSS 1 TRENCH COAT Hector can’t change into outerwear (6,4) … Read more >>

Enigmatic Variations No.1462 – Incomprehensible by Kruger

Sat December 5, 2020 at 1:39 pm by Mister Sting

“Clashes occur in ten cells and must be resolved in a way that many solvers may consider to be INCOMPREHENSIBLE to them. Wordplay in half of the clues yields an extra letter not to be entered in the grid; in clue order, these letters give a further instruction. Numbers in brackets refer to the space available for entries. Chambers Dictionary (2016) is recommended, 12 is in Collins.”

Independent 10,655 by Tyrus

Sat December 5, 2020 at 7:23 pmSat December 5, 2020 at 8:59 am by twencelas

The first Saturday in December, and the virtual advent calendar comprising Independent crosswords brings a puzzle from Tyrus. Sure to pick me up and many others I would think. And it was a … Read more >>

Guardian Saturday Puzzle 28,303 / Paul

Sat December 5, 2020 at 8:39 amSat December 5, 2020 at 12:03 am by Eileen

Paul returns to the Saturday slot after a three-week absence. On my initial skim through the clues, I was rather daunted by the frequency of ‘number’ in often very succinct clues, and so … Read more >>