A satisfying and challenging puzzle from Picaroon for this week’s prize puzzle.
Enigmatic Variations No. 1348: Musical Theme and Variations by Jago
A relatively straightforward preamble this week. In MUSICAL THEME AND VARIATIONS, the THEME (16dn) is a musical work — probably its composer’s best-known piece — and the VARIATIONS are literally based on its … Read more >>
Financial Times 15,975 by WANDERER
Another excellent offering from WANDERER who serves up a delightfully witty and innovatively clued crossward. Liked the nice mix of long and short solutions, as well as a couple of the cluing devices used. Thanks , WANDERER.
Guardian 27,626 / Tramp
Well, I commented yesterday that it had been a great week. Who better than Tramp to round off an excellent run of weekday puzzles? If I’d never done a Tramp puzzle before, my … Read more >>
Independent 9,972 / Phi
It’s Phi-day today, with our regular Friday compiler bringing this week’s set of mid-week puzzles to an end. I found this to be a medium-difficulty puzzle, which I managed to solve and parse … Read more >>
Guardian Cryptic 27,625 by Philistine
Found it tricky to get started, only really getting into it once I got a couple of the longer ones. A lot of nice clues – favourites 10/15, 12ac, 14ac, and 3dn. Thanks to Philistine.
Financial Times 15,974 by NEO
Neo provides us with a fun workout this morning.
Independent 9971 / Serpent
Serpent fills the Thursday slot this week I really enjoyed this puzzle as one I found that gradually unfolded rather than one where there were some early write-ins. For me, … Read more >>
Financial Times 15,964 by Mudd (?)
Prize puzzle from the Weekend FT of September 15, 2018
Financial Times 15,973 by JULIUS
Another good puzzle from Julius, as always. Not as much wit and political satire as we sometimes get but still very enjoyable regardless. Thank you Julius.
Independent 9,970 by Eccles
It seems that Eccles is becoming an increasingly regular setter on Fifteensquared, filling in many of the Wednesday slots that used to be occupied by Dac. Which is appropriate, for he is a good setter, not the hardest, but always challenging enough and pleasant to solve.
Definitions underlined, in maroon. Anagram indicators in italics.
Guardian 27,624 – Arachne
A nice surprise to get an Arachne for my first blog after a couple of weeks away in the Highlands (thanks to Loonapick and Teacow for keeping my seat warm). Lots of fun … Read more >>
Inquisitor 1560: Phase Shift by Phi
The umpteenth Inquisitor from Phi … Preamble: The key phases of the moon here are 1st Quarter, 3rd Quarter and Full. 4-, 8- and 12-letter entries suffer a Phase Shift: the wordplay … Read more >>
Financial Times 15972 Hamilton
Thanks to Hamilton. Definitions are underlined in the clues. Across 1 Cell is helping to get the go-ahead (8) PLATELET : PLATE(a helping of food) + LET(to get the go-ahead;to be allowed to). … Read more >>
Guardian Cryptic 27,623 by Nutmeg
A slightly easier than normal Nutmeg this morning…