Fifteensquared – Page 539 – Never knowingly undersolved

Guardian Cryptic 28,167 by Qaos

Tue June 23, 2020 at 10:31 amTue June 23, 2020 at 3:35 am by PeterO

The puzzle may be found at https://www.theguardian.com/crosswords/cryptic/28167. It’s Qaos, so there must surely be a theme; I could not spot it without a hint from his website – and it turns out that … Read more >>

Quiptic 1075 Hectence

Mon June 22, 2020 at 12:58 pmMon June 22, 2020 at 10:52 am by scchua

Thanks to Hectence. Definitions are underlined in the clues. Across 7 Hard-working policeman’s fired, having concealed information (8) DILIGENT : DI(abbrev. for “Detective Inspector”, a quite senior policeman) + LIT(fired/set on fire) containing(having … Read more >>

Independent 10,512 by Tees

Mon June 22, 2020 at 9:30 am by Quirister

Tees makes his regular appearance in the Monday slot, this time with (I thought) a tougher puzzle than usual. A few references might be unfamiliar to some readers. I wasn’t entirely convinced by … Read more >>

Guardian 28,166 / Pan

Mon June 22, 2020 at 8:52 am by Eileen

It’s me again: it’s been one of those weekends when the daily-advancing weekday schedule coincides with my monthly Saturday blog slot. Pan sets a bit more of a challenge to start the week, … Read more >>

Financial Times 16,509 by SLORMGORM

Mon June 22, 2020 at 8:18 am by Teacow

An excellent start to the week from SLORMGORM… A very enjoyable solve with some great clues. 3d was particularly neat, as was 21a, and the triple definition in 12a made up a lovely … Read more >>

Independent on Sunday 1,582 by Nitsy

Sun July 19, 2020 at 9:22 amSun June 21, 2020 at 11:10 am by Kitty

The puzzle can be found here. Hi all, I hope you are well. I always enjoy puzzles by Nitsy but, as seems to be the case a lot recently, I can’t think … Read more >>

Azed No. 2,505 Plain

Sun June 21, 2020 at 12:05 am by bridgesong

A relatively straightforward plain puzzle this week. It actually took me less time to solve this puzzle than it did to solve the previous day’s prize puzzle in The Guardian (by Enigmatist), but … Read more >>

Everyman 3,844

Sun June 21, 2020 at 10:13 amSun June 21, 2020 at 12:01 am by PeterO

The puzzle may be found at https://www.theguardian.com/crosswords/everyman/3844. Mostly simple basic clue types this week, with 16A FRIAR TUCK being conspicuous as the only real exception. Have we come to expect the ‘primarily’ clue … Read more >>

Independent 10,511 by Bluth

Sat June 20, 2020 at 6:00 am by beermagnet

Better come clean and admit it – I’m a Dave Gorman fan … … ever since I saw his Googlewhack Adventure show at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2003. Early in that show he … Read more >>

Guardian Saturday Puzzle 28,159 / Enigmatist

Sat June 20, 2020 at 8:47 amSat June 20, 2020 at 12:02 am by Eileen

We don’t see Enigmatist very often and, as it happens, I blogged his previous puzzle last November. As most of you agree, I think, embarking on an Enigmatist puzzle is a rather hairy … Read more >>

Enigmatic Variations No.1438 – Understocked by Artix

Sat June 20, 2020 at 6:00 pmSat June 20, 2020 at 12:01 am by Mister Sting

“The left-hand and bottom perimeter cells represent empty supermarket shelves which must be ‘restocked’ (making new words) with the initial letters of the first 12 words of a song. One of its subsequent lyrics explains the specific item that was UNDERSTOCKED. Solvers must write the title below the grid and highlight the two artists (two blocks of cells in straight lines) responsible. Chambers Dictionary (2016) is recommended.”