Guardian 24,870 / Auster
Posted by Gaufrid on 30th November 2009
We seem to have another case of AWOL so here is a quick analysis of the clues. I will leave it up to others to provide a commentary.
Posted in Guardian | 22 Comments »
Archive for November, 2009
Independent 7215 by Radian
Posted by NealH on 30th November 2009
*=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone, CD=cryptic def, DD=double def, sp=spoonerism
Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in Independent | 39 Comments »
Everyman 3295 (November 22nd)
Posted by The Trafites on 29th November 2009
Lorraine: This week it took me a while to get started!. Having 9 anagrams certainly helped me though, I love anagrams because you know without doubt that you have got the correct solution.
Posted in Everyman | 3 Comments »
Guardian 24,863 (Sat 21 Nov)/Araucaria – Gray area
Posted by rightback on 28th November 2009
Posted in Guardian | 22 Comments »
Enigmatic Variations 889: Indistinguishable by Hugo
Posted by Dave Hennings on 28th November 2009
As far as I can see, Hugo is a new setter, so good luck to him with this puzzle. As far as I’m concerned, he’s off to a good start with lots of things to find: a man, two things he described as ‘indistinguishable’, a title, and a revolutionary concept.
Posted in Enigmatic Variations | 9 Comments »
Guardian 24,868 / Quantum
Posted by Andrew on 27th November 2009
Yet another posthumous Quantum puzzle. Unfortunately I have to say I wasn’t very impressed with it: there are a couple of rather weak cryptic definitions, and other niggles noted below. Apart from that it was reasonably sound, but there was nothing that struck me as particularly exciting. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in Guardian | 15 Comments »
Independent 7208 by Scorpion (Sat 21-Nov 2009)
Posted by beermagnet on 27th November 2009
I found this very hard, as we come to expect from Scorpion.
After I had about 10 answers I came to a complete halt, totally stuck. Restarting the next day I made a significant breakthrough with a few long answers (e.g. 12A, 13D and 18A) that allowed the rest to gradually follow.
Posted in Independent | 4 Comments »
Independent 7213/Phi
Posted by John on 27th November 2009
As usual a pleasing efficient crossword from Phi. Not much to say really — it all fits together very well. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in Independent | 7 Comments »
Inquisitor 151 – Drop by Schadenfreude
Posted by petebiddlecombe on 27th November 2009
Posted in Inquisitor | 8 Comments »
Beelzebub 1,030 (15/11/09)
Posted by Simon Harris on 27th November 2009
A perhaps over-ambitious attempt on my part, to finish this without any kind of research materials. I filled the grid in reasonable time, but it seems I invented a couple of words in the process! SENHORA was particularly elusive, as neither SEN nor HORA was familiar. I had one other careless misspelling, but otherwise a pretty good showing, I think, and a great puzzle as always.
Posted in Beelzebub | No Comments »
Independent 7,212/Tees
Posted by Ali on 26th November 2009
Took me a while to break the back of this one even though I got the long clue at 1/21/4 early doors. There are some good deceptive clues in here and I’ve learnt some new words (always good), though one or two might need explaining!
Posted in Independent | 8 Comments »
Guardian 24,867 / Chifonie
Posted by Eileen on 26th November 2009
This is perhaps [in some ways] a puzzle for those who dislike cryptic definitions – not one in sight, but lots of simple charades, including a couple of rather hackneyed ones and some definitions I’m not very keen on. [I think I've said before that I don't understand why Chifonie is rated on this site as 'hard'.] I shall be going out shortly, until mid-afternoon, when I will respond to any comments / corrections / complaints.
Posted in Guardian | 30 Comments »
Financial Times 13,244/Falcon
Posted by smiffy on 26th November 2009
I found this something of a Jekyll and Hyde puzzle. Plenty of easy, familiar fare but interspered with a smattering of much trickier obscurities. I benefited from a couple of pieces of lucky guesswork at 8D and 20D.
Posted in FT | 2 Comments »
Independent on Sunday 1032 by Quixote – 22 Nov 2009
Posted by nmsindy on 26th November 2009
Posted in Independent | 2 Comments »
Financial Times 13,235 – Cincinnus
Posted by Uncle Yap on 26th November 2009
Monday Prize Crossword on 16 November 2009
dd = double definition
dud = duplicate definition
cd = cryptic definition
rev = reversed or reversal
ins = insertion
cha = charade
ha = hidden answer
*(fodder) = anagram
Posted in FT | 1 Comment »
Financial Times 13,234 by Cinephile
Posted by Pete Maclean on 26th November 2009
Prize puzzle from the Weekend FT of November 14
I can’t say I found this an easy puzzle but I did get it completed fairly quickly. Only clue clue, 13A, strikes me as notable and I can pick minor holes in a few others.
Posted in FT | 1 Comment »
Independent 7211 by Dac
Posted by nmsindy on 25th November 2009
Posted in Independent | 5 Comments »
Financial Times 13,243 / Cinephile
Posted by Gaufrid on 25th November 2009
A themed puzzle revolving around Washington and Berlin. Tricky in places, partly due to the significant number of cryptic definitions. I am not completely sure that I have interpreted 22d correctly so any alternative suggestions would be welcome.
Posted in FT | 4 Comments »
Guardian 24866 / Pasquale
Posted by mhl on 25th November 2009
I found this rather hard work, but with lots of excellent clues – 25 across in particular.
Posted in Guardian | 30 Comments »
Independent 7,210 by Tyrus
Posted by Simon Harris on 24th November 2009
*=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone, cd=cryptic definition, dd=double definition.
Posted in Independent | 18 Comments »
Financial Times 13,242 / Jason
Posted by Agentzero on 24th November 2009
Unfortunately the grid that appeared with this puzzle was incorrect. There are two blacked-out squares that should not have been blacked out: the square between what is given in the grid as 13 across and 14 across, and the square between what is given in the grid as 23 across and 24 across. If these are unblacked and the lights renumbered accordingly, everything makes sense, but I suspect many solvers will have given up and gone on to something else before getting this far.
Posted in FT | 13 Comments »
Guardian 24865 – Gordius
Posted by Uncle Yap on 24th November 2009
dd = double definition
cd = cryptic definition
rev = reversed or reversal
ins = insertion
cha = charade
ha = hidden answer
*(fodder) = anagram
Posted in Guardian | 49 Comments »
Guardian 24,864 – Rufus
Posted by Ciaran McNulty on 23rd November 2009
A decent Monday puzzle with a couple of weakish cryptic definitions. I guess it’s hard to come up with ‘easy’ CDs!
Posted in Guardian | 19 Comments »