A pleasant start to the week.
Guardian 27,759 – Vulcan
After wrongly predicting a Paul on Friday last week, my psychic powers returned today when they told me I’d be blogging a Vulcan. I’m afraid I can’t summon up much enthusiasm for his … Read more >>
Independent 10,105/Tees
Another Tees puzzle, another Pierre blog. Happy days. I found it a well-constructed and thoughtfully clued puzzle, with some clever double definitions. Abbreviations cd cryptic definition dd double definition … Read more >>
Private Eye (Cyclops/645) Ironic Abyss
Quite a quick solve again. Only half a dozen gaps after the first pass mostly in the top right where 5A Fillip and 11A Scrutineer gave me the most trouble. All the wordplay … Read more >>
Independent on Sunday 1,514 by Raich
The puzzle can be found here. Hello everyone. Thanks to Raich for today’s entertainment, which I found of a nice Sunday level of difficulty. In an enjoyable solve, my favourites were probably … Read more >>
Guardian Genius 188 – Enigmatist
After taking a battering from Vlad in the January Genius, I was hoping for something a little gentler this time, but it was not to be. There are no special instructions for this … Read more >>
Everyman 3,776
The puzzle may be found at https://www.theguardian.com/crosswords/everyman/3776.
AZED 2,437 – Plain
The most reliable setter there is. Thank you Azed.
Independent 10,104 by Dalibor
Another Dalibor this Saturday
Guardian Prize 27,752 / Paul
Paul has had a bit of a delve into his box of tricks for this week’s Prize puzzle. I found this rather slow going at first, with nothing entered in the bottom half … Read more >>
Enigmatic Variations No.1370 – Quotation by Gos
“The theme of the puzzle is a well-known final comment, subsequently much quoted (although rarely in full). After completion of the grid the contents of 11 cells must be erased (always leaving real words) and one circled letter replaced, to reveal the encompassing QUOTATION (10 words). The 12 circled letters can then be arranged to form the speaker’s surname, which must be written below the grid. Chambers Dictionary (2016) is recommended, but does not contain 20ac (which can be confirmed in ODE) or 10dn.”
Independent 10,103 by Phi
What one always experiences with Phi: a slow start, but then after a while everything runs smoothly, with a whole lot of good clues whose explanation is fairly straighforward and one wonders why they ever presented any difficulties.
Definitions in maroon, underlined. Anagram indicators in italics.
Financial Times 16,104 by BRADMAN
Thanks to BRADMAN today, for dishing out a puzzle on the easier side of his offerings. I have a couple of queries on parsings which perhaps someone can throw light on.
Guardian 27,757 – Maskarade
I was confidently expecting a Paul puzzle this morning, so it was a surprise to see Maskarade, who appears only rarely outside the bank holiday specials. In general I found this one pretty … Read more >>
Guardian Cryptic 27756 Picaroon
Perhaps it’s because I haven’t done a Picaroon for some time, but it took me some time to get going. Thanks to Picaroon for the workout. Definitions are underlined in the clues. Across … Read more >>