Crosophile continues to please with some imaginative clues which often succeed in getting away from the standard anagram, charade etc model altogether.
Guardian Quiptic 879 Hectence
A nice and neat and easy enough Quiptic. Thanks to Hectence. Definitions are underlined in the clues. Across 9 Fashionable mink has one consumed with anger (9) INFURIATE : IN(fashionable, as in “the in-crowd”) … Read more >>
Guardian Cryptic 26,993 by Rufus
The puzzle may be found at https://www.theguardian.com/crosswords/cryptic/26993.
Azed 2310
I mostly made quick progress with this, but for some reason ended up havng a lot of trouble with the NE corner. Some of the parsing took a bit of work, but all … Read more >>
Everyman 3,649
The puzzle may be found at https://www.theguardian.com/crosswords/everyman/3649.
Independent on Sunday 1,387 by Hypnos
We see Hypnos a fair bit on Sundays, so it’s easy to take for granted quite how good this setter is. Which I suppose is my long-winded way of saying I enjoyed this … Read more >>
Independent Crossword 9338 by Donk
Autumn is here and a puzzle from Donk to accompany the autumn tints and colourful storms. A really interesting device in today’s puzzle. Not a NINO as such but a word chain. The … Read more >>
Enigmatic Variations 1242 Name of the Game by Chalicea
Extra letters in the wordplay spell out an instruction relating to a game – find its venue, fill in the participants and the Name of the Game. Could this be football related? – … Read more >>
Guardian Prize 26,986 / Paul
Well, I pretty well knew what to expect, after two consecutive Saturdays [unusually] without a Prize Paul and no puzzle from him during the week. So, a Paul puzzle – and, as it soon … Read more >>
Independent 9,337 by Phi
Phi is well up to his usual standard here: all very satisfactory, with a whole lot of good clues that, although sometimes initially incomprehensible, can usually be solved by persevering with the wordplay. I had my doubts about 4dn but Phi wins. Of course.
Definitions underlined and in maroon.
Financial Times 15,347 by WANDERER
An unbelievably devious challenge from WANDERER this Friday. Thanks Wanderer.
Guardian Cryptic 26,991 by Paul
The puzzle may be found at https://www.theguardian.com/crosswords/cryptic/26991.
Guardian 26,990 / Pan
Grrrh! On a busy morning, my laptop turned itself off without warning just as I was finishing the blog and when I plugged in, it had disappeared! I hope I haven’t made too … Read more >>
Financial Times 15,346 by ALBERICH
An excellent puzzle from Alberich
Independent 9338 / Monk
The last Monk puzzle we blogged was back in April. Once we’d sorted out 17d (our LOI) we ended up smiling – always a good way to finish a solve. The grid screamed … Read more >>