It’s Good Phi-day today.
Enigmatic Variations 1377 by MynoT
Straight clues for a change and the end game is to find a number of thematic items, with the second part to find the part of an entry that is common to them … Read more >>
Guardian 27,794 / Paul
It’s always a pleasure to blog about one of Paul’s crosswords, because they’re always fair and very entertaining – this one was no exception. One thing I particularly liked here is Paul not … Read more >>
Guardian Cryptic 27,799 by Crucible
The puzzle may be found at https://www.theguardian.com/crosswords/cryptic/27799.
Guardian 27,798 / Paul
An entertaining and enjoyable puzzle from Paul, with a few smiles along the way. With my Grammar Police [see yesterday’s Vlad] helmet on, I winced immediately at 1ac but was completely won over … Read more >>
Financial Times 16,145 by WANDERER
One for those who like a bit (a lot?) of general knowledge in their puzzles.
Independent 10,144 / Nimrod
Nimrod has provided the Thursday teaser this week. I didn’t have a lot of time to blog this week, so when I saw that I had a Nimrod first to solve and then … Read more >>
Financial Times 16,135 by Redshank
Prize puzzle from the Weekend FT of March 6, 2019
Financial Times 16,144 by FALCON
Nice and easy, easy and nice. I recommend this to anyone getting started on cryptic puzzles. I enjoyed this: it shows that a puzzle doesn’t have to be hard to be enjoyable. Thanks Falcon.
Guardian Cryptic 27,797 by Vlad
As is often the case with Vlad for me, quite a few answers were guessed first and parsed slowly after. Lots to like, with favourites 18/24, 21ac, 22ac, 1dn, 4dn, 6dn, and 20dn. Thanks to Vlad.
Independent 10143 / Anglio
Thanks to Quinster and Kitty for standing in for me over the last two weeks whilst I went in search of the Northern Lights on the Norwegian coastal ferry from Bergen to Kirkenes … Read more >>
Inquisitor 1589: Pitch Black Desert Area by Wiglaf
Pitch Black Desert Area by Wiglaf Each of four theme words, which have something in common, has two variations connected to it in the same way, though the nature of the connection … Read more >>
Financial Times 16,143 by NEO
A brisk solve with some very nice surfaces.
Independent 10142 by Knut
Excellent crossword today from Knut, which occupied me for quite a while until its secrets were revealed, but that’s just my incompetence: everything was fair and there were plenty of very nice clues.
Definitions underlined, in maroon. Anagram indicators in italics.
Guardian 27,796 – Imogen
A satisfying puzzle from Imogen today; one that seemed impenetrable at first but gradually yielded, with the SW corner holding me up at the end. Thanks to Imogen. TOBY JUG, SQUAB and XYLOPHONE … Read more >>