A pleasant challenge from Wanderer today. Good to see some 15 lettered solutions which are becoming a bit of a rarity. I was held up on 19ac and had to resort to looking up Chambers to get the solve. Hunted for that elusive nina, it remains elusive.
Independent 9,229 / Phi
In customary fashion, Phi brings this week’s suite of mid-week puzzles to an end. This was one of those puzzles where you see that there is one exceedingly long entry – 01/11/20 – … Read more >>
Guardian Cryptic 26,883 by Philistine
Got a bit stuck after a quick start, but nothing too difficult despite a few unusual bits of wordplay. Favourite was 23dn.
Guardian 26,882 – Crucible
I got off to a quick start with this, slowed down a lot in the middle, and then had a sprint to the finish. A bit of a theme based around 5d, and … Read more >>
Independent 9228 / Nestor
Nestor has given us a good puzzle today I got off to a good start in this but gradually slowed down with NAVARINO (22 across), INKS (17 down) and TRANSMUTER … Read more >>
Financial Times 15,229 – Falcon
Monday Prize Crossword / May 2, 2016
Slightly harder than Falcon’s previous puzzle, two weeks ago.
But all fair, and enjoyable.
Financial Times 15,228 by Dogberry
Prize puzzle from the Weekend FT of April 30, 2016
Independent 9,227 by Quixote
The usual very satisfactory crossword from Quixote, despite my misgivings about 22dn. Just as Phi does a crossword for the BBC Music Magazine and so his clues often have musical references, so Quixote is the crossword editor of The Church Times and he tends to use ecclesiastical ideas more often than the average. And it wouldn’t be a Quixote without at least one rare word, possibly two: here they are at 1dn and 20dn.
Guardian Cryptic 26,881 by Brendan
A topical themed offering from Brendan
Financial Times 15,237 by AARDVARK
Another enjoyable Wednesday puzzle, thank you Aardvark.
Inquisitor 1436: My Diet by Gila
Before we start, a brief message from the editor: Hi all, sorry for hijacking the thread. Just to say … 14 across in Samuel’s IQ1437 puzzle, published last Saturday, omitted the word … Read more >>
Independent 9226 / S.park
Another new setter in the Indy or an existing one using a new pseudonym? In view of the overall style, and some of the definitions/wordplay, I don’t think it is the latter. I could … Read more >>
Financial Times 15236 Gaff
(Please click here for this same blog but with a picture quiz added. Please do NOT post hereinbelow any comment relating to the picture quiz. Thank you.) A nice solve, not a write-in, … Read more >>
Financial Times 15236 with Picture Quiz
(Please post comments on ONLY the picture quiz hereinbelow. To post comments on the crossword puzzle, please click here.) A nice solve, not a write-in, even after identifying the birthday boy. Thanks to Gaff. … Read more >>
Guardian Cryptic 26,880 by Boatman
The puzzle may be found at https://www.theguardian.com/crosswords/cryptic/26880.