A Trivial Pursuit
Another year of superb puzzles passes, time again to look back …
Financial Times 16,361 by ARMONIE
As ever, Armonie delivers a very enjoyable puzzle this morning.
Guardian 28,016 / Vulcan
Back to typical straightforward Monday fare today – thanks, Vulcan. Definitions are underlined in the clues. Across 7 Game one would want to exclude? (8) DRAUGHTS Cryptic definition, alluding to draught excluder 9 … Read more >>
Independent 10,362 by Gila
A solid if unspectacular puzzle with just one Brexit reference to see us into the New Year.
Guardian Quiptic 1,050 – placeholder
This morning’s Guardian Quiptic has not yet appeared on the paper’s website (although the cryptic has). I will be on the case with the blog when it does show its face. Pierre
Everyman 3,819
The Observer crossword from Dec 22, 2019. ‘A festive treat’ from Everyman (see 4d and 9d, and more). Whether it was a real treat, that’s a matter of taste. We (my solving partner … Read more >>
Independent on Sunday 1,557/Kairos
The last IoS offering of 2019 brings us a themed crossword – unusual for this slot, but an entertaining puzzle from Kairos, which required a bit of headscratching in a couple of places. … Read more >>
Independent 10361 by Tyrus (Sat 28-Dec 2019)
Very tricky stuff from Tyrus today. It is no secret that it has a theme – the answer to 23D/8 is referenced in many clues and forms the definition for several. I could … Read more >>
Enigmatic Variations 1413 Not on the Level by Kcit
Alphabetically ordered across clues, normal downs apart from one and then an unknown twist, which affects one of the downs and some of the acrosses. The down that needed amendment is 4dn – … Read more >>
Guardian 28,014 / Picaroon
Picaroon turns up to round off an excellent week of puzzles [we have been spoiled] in characteristically witty style. Many thanks to him. Definitions are underlined in the clues. Across 8 Change popular … Read more >>
Independent 10,360 by Phi
The festivities are over and we have a Phi to amuse us at the end of this week. When 12ac went in we did wonder about a cricket theme but cannot find any … Read more >>
Financial Times 16,359 by WANDERER
A clever puzzle from Wanderer today, bending a single word to maximum effort. Thanks for the treat, Wanderer .
That’s the last blog of the year for me – Wish everyone here and visiting, a phenomenal 2020 up ahead.
Guardian 28,013 / Qaos
For one reason or another the scheduled blogger has not turned up today so I am a last minute stand-in. Qaos always has a theme and today it is 10ac plus the first … Read more >>
Independent 10,359 / Serpent
Serpent has provided the first post-Christmas cruciverbal teaser for anyone sufficiently recovered from yesterday’s excesses to want to give the old grey matter a workout. I think that this was too intensive a … Read more >>
Financial Times 16,358 / Julius
Apologies for the late appearance of this post. Due to the nature of this puzzle, the blogging utility that Grant uses to prepare his blogs would not work. He then had problems with … Read more >>