Guardian Quiptic 1087 Hectence
Thanks to Hectence for a nicely tuned Quiptic. Definitions are underlined in the clues. Across 1. Very fine biscuit with no excess fat (5-4) WAFER-THIN : WAFER(a thin crispy biscuit) + THIN(with no … Read more >>
Guardian 28,238 – Anto
I haven’t always been a big fan of Anto’s puzzles in the past, but I enjoyed this one: a few slightly quirky moments, but some nice touches as well. Thanks to Anto. … Read more >>
Financial Times 16,581 by MOO
Another Monday MOO to start the week… This is the second MOO I’ve blogged, and, as with the first, it was very enjoyable. The Dolly and Paris references in 10 and 22 took … Read more >>
Independent on Sunday 1,594 by Poins
The puzzle can be found here. Hi all. Thanks to Poins for another enjoyable puzzle to distract us awhile from another impending Monday. My favourite clue was HAIRDO at 25a, with all … Read more >>
Azed No. 2,517 Plain – Competition Puzzle
A grid with an unusual feature for this month’s competition puzzle. The unusual feature is to be seen at 5 and 27 down, where we have five letter words with full checking. Another … Read more >>
Everyman 3,856
The puzzle may be found at https://www.theguardian.com/crosswords/everyman/3856. Another good Everyman crossword, with the usual ‘primarily’ clue, and the pair of 8D INVISIBLE INK and the far-from-invisible 9D SHOCKING PINK. ACROSS 1 GEORGE ELIOT … Read more >>
Independent 10,583 by Punk
There was some 1ac fun to be had today in Punk’s puzzle. As we filled in the grid, it was clear that some answers were anagrams of each other. However, it was only … Read more >>
Guardian Saturday Puzzle 28,231 / Tramp
I found this a quite tough but, as usual with Tramp, enjoyable challenge. One thing that made it hard to get started was the unusual paucity of anagrams, which are always good for … Read more >>
Enigmatic Variations No. 1450: Matches by Kcit
Matches occur in 6 rows with all clues containing 2 definitions – the ones with clashes only giving the wordplay to the common letters and not the ones that need to be added … Read more >>
Financial Times 16,579 by BRADMAN
A BRADMAN offering that I found to be on the difficult end of his spectrum. Thanks BRADMAN, for the robust workout. FF: 8 DD: 9 ACROSS 1 BLACKING Polish bishop not up to … Read more >>
Guardian 28,236 – Picaroon
The four long downs can make this grid rather intimidating, but Picaroon fills and clues it with great style, as usual. Thanks to him for another enjoyable puzzle. … Read more >>
Independent 10,583 by Phi
The usual very neat Friday crossword. There were several about which I was doubtful of the soundness, but my doubts were all settled. Everything was fine so far as I could see. Definitions … Read more >>
Guardian Cryptic 28235 Vlad
Thanks Vlad for the challenge. Definitions are underlined in the clues. Could some of the clues refer to the 2down “fiasco”. Across 1. Sneakily managing to get rid of women’s sport (7) ANGLING … Read more >>
Financial Times 16,578 by BASILISK
A Basilisk toughie… …but then aren’t all Basilisks tough? This took me a while to complete (well over an hour, although that includes parsing, so not as bad as it sounds). As usual … Read more >>
Independent 10,581 by Serpent
Serpent fills the Thursday slot this week – we’re in for a treat. We found this slightly easier than we had expected, given the setter. This may have been because we always expect … Read more >>