Puzzles 1524 – 1575
Guardian Quiptic 946/Carpathian
Bonne Année et Bonne Santé! There, that’s my allocation of exclamation marks for 2018 used up. Now onto the first Quiptic of 2018 (or is it?) This puzzle appears on the Guardian … Read more >>
Independent 9740 / Maize
It is not often that you get clue numbers over 40 in a 15×15 blocked grid so something must be going on. It certainly is! Simply a-Maize-ing, the Indy brings in the New … Read more >>
Another year …
Twelve months have passed and again we come to the end of another year so it is time for me to offer my thanks to everyone on the Fifteensquared team for the sterling … Read more >>
Everyman 3,715
A real treat this week for the many fans of Everyman [that includes me].
Not just this ‘regular’ crossword – which was as ever safe and sound – but a delightful Jumbo as a generous extra.
Independent on Sunday 1453/Morph
So farewell, then, 2017 … as E J Thribb would say. And on the last day of the year, Morph is saying farewell to a number of people who died … Read more >>
Jumbo Everyman Christmas Crossword
Well this came as a bit of a surprise, I wasn’t expecting a jumbo today. It’s just as well that I have plenty of time to spare having got all the household chores … Read more >>
Guardian Genius no. 174 / Soup – December 2017
The Instructions: In each clue the wordplay indicates an extra letter, not required for its solution. These extras letters in clue order spell out an instruction as to how a number of solutions … Read more >>
Independent 9739 / Anglio
Another no-show by the scheduled blogger so another simple analysis of the clues, with no commentary due to time constraints. Sorry! . Across 8 Foul shot’s over line, tennis officials maintained – one … Read more >>
Enigmatic Variations 1309 Most Suitable by Kruger
Sixteen additional words in clues to be removed and 10 answers requiring treatment before grid entry. But no clue as to that treatment until the 16 are found and their first or last … Read more >>
Inquisitor Review of 2016-17 by Nimrod
Linking Themes I’m reliably informed that, due to popular demand, Base is planning a second Inquisitor contribution themed around the TV quiz show Only Connect (see IQ1460: PW RBS). That will be wonderful … Read more >>
Financial Times 15,743 by REDSHANK
9An excellent puzzle from Redshank to round up my 2017 blogging efforts. I did this in a hurry so please excuse the brevity. Thanks to Geoff for the help where required. Would have loved to do more justice to this crossword.
Independent 9738 / Phi
Phi’s back to Phiday this week! At first sight, we couldn’t find a theme or nina, but then Joyce noticed that Phi’s challenge in this puzzle was to mirror … Read more >>
Guardian Cryptic 27,392 by Crucible
Some lovely clues – my favourites were 29ac, 9dn and 15dn. Thanks Crucible.
Independent 9,737 / Knut
Knut has provided today’s lexical challenge in which there is nothing Christmassy but which is nonetheless a real treat. It was only when I had almost finished this puzzle that I realised that … Read more >>