Steady Tuesday morning offering from Jason…
Guardian 27,497 / Vlad
Mayday, Mayday, it’s Vlad! Such was my first reaction, but in fact this puzzle turned out to be relatively gentle, though still an enjoyable challenge. Thanks to Vlad. … Read more >>
Guardian Cryptic 27,496 by Chifonie
Apologies for the late and brief blog. Blogging software wasn’t working properly first thing.
Quiptic 963 by Moley
Moley’s turn in the Quiptic slot this week.
Independent 9,842 by Tees
A well-constructed puzzle in the inimitable Tees’ style.
Financial Times 15,845 by MUDD
Lots to enjoy from this puzzle!
Cyclops 623 – Nerve Agent Trespass
Some relatively ‘topical’ subject matter from Cyclops this fortnight… …with a SCHEME of NEUROSCIENTISTS and an IOTA of NERVE AGENT leaving UPTOWN Salisbury needing a good DRY CLEAN! Did anybody TRESPASS on our … Read more >>
Independent on Sunday 1,470 by Punk
Punk? On a Sunday? Not that I’m complaining, but a scroll through the archives suggests that if this has ever happened at all, it hasn’t for a good few years. I don’t see … Read more >>
Azed 2393
I found this generally plain sailing (or at least as much so as Azed ever is), except for the NW corner, which held me up at the end, for no very obvious reason … Read more >>
Everyman 3,732
The puzzle may be found at https://www.theguardian.com/crosswords/everyman/3732.
Independent 9841 by Maize (Saturday Puzzle 28 April 2018)
Two Maize puzzles in a row on my 5-weekly shift – I must have done something good in a previous life… This seemed a little lighter and fluffier than Indy 9811, especially once … Read more >>
Guardian Prize 27,489 / Paul
I knew, of course, that it would be a Paul puzzle, since he had not appeared during the week. I said in the preamble to my last two Prize puzzle blogs, that having … Read more >>
Enigmatic Variations No.1326 – Fashion by Chalicea
‘A speaker and his comment on poor FASHION circle the perimeter. Solvers must make good seven examples within the grid, thus resolving 24 clashes. Definitions and wordplay refer to the poor FASHION, each cell in the completed grid contains just one letter, and Chambers Dictionary (2016) is recommended.’
Guardian Cryptic 27494 Paul
Thanks to Paul for the “doggy” challenge. Definitions are underlined in the clues. Across 8 Bully almost used, oddly, to be the perfect friend? (4,4) SOUL MATE : Anagram of(Bully) [ALMOST + 1st … Read more >>
Independent 9,840 by Phi
Whatever else? Phi has as always produced a pleasant and well-constructed crossword. As tends to be the case with him, everything is perfectly clear afterwards even though the actual method of solution may not have been obvious. Many of these answers can be explained in one simple expression.
Definitions underlined, in maroon. Anagram indicators in italics.