beermagnet – Page 19 – Fifteensquared

Independent 8835 (Sat 7th Feb 2015) Jambazi

Sat February 14, 2015 at 12:01 am by beermagnet

Jambazi (a.k.a. Tramp) is one of my favourite setters and one I’d like to see more of in both the Indy and the G. He is known for hard puzzles, and if I … Read more >>

Private Eye/Cyclops 539 Stopcock dictatorship

Mon February 2, 2015 at 12:02 am by beermagnet

This was a solid Eye crossword which had me getting many answers quite quickly but having to stretch to get those last few, particularly in the top right corner. Across 1 ABSCESS Miley’s arse … Read more >>

Independent 8805 (Sat 3rd January 2015) Tyrus

Sat January 10, 2015 at 10:57 amSat January 10, 2015 at 12:01 am by beermagnet

As is usual from Tyrus this was a pretty hard puzzle. Maybe not as hard as 8776 back in November which had me terribly stuck, but at the start of this one … Read more >>

Private Eye/Cyclops 537 Xmas Special Look-a-likey

Fri January 9, 2015 at 11:57 pmMon January 5, 2015 at 12:01 am by beermagnet

The usual massive festive grid with a hark-back to some feature or other from the Eye from the previous year – this time, lookalikes. Also, the traditional massive prize for one lucky solver: £250 prize. … Read more >>

Private Eye / Cyclops 535 Bare cheeks

Mon December 8, 2014 at 7:11 amMon December 8, 2014 at 12:01 am by beermagnet

One of those weekends where I found myself tackling the Eye crossword just after struggling with Cyclops’ alter ego Brummie in the Guardian. So by comparison this seemed easier than expected. More than … Read more >>

Independent 8776 (Sat 29th November 2014) Tyrus

Sun December 7, 2014 at 11:19 amSat December 6, 2014 at 12:01 am by beermagnet

My goodness I found this hard. I started OK with 7 answers in, plus 2 tentative, on the first pass. Then I ground to a stutter and had to leave it for the … Read more >>

Private Eye / Cyclops 533 Ukip Calypso

Mon November 10, 2014 at 12:01 am by beermagnet

Took a while to get going on this puzzle. I didn’t solve any till getting IDYLL at 26 from the obvious definition. Successful solving needed crossing letters to aid the brain cells. Once a … Read more >>

Independent 8746 (Sat 25th Oct 2014) Jambazi

Sun November 2, 2014 at 7:38 amSat November 1, 2014 at 12:01 am by beermagnet

If there’s one thing that is notable about a Jambazi puzzle, it is that every clue surface reading makes sense, but not necessarily one that helps solve the clue much… … which is why … Read more >>

Private Eye / Cyclops 531 Unshaven Oddment

Fri October 17, 2014 at 3:44 pmMon October 13, 2014 at 12:01 am by beermagnet

I had the impression this was Cyclops coasting along. Yes, there were a couple of references to a recent political event – the Scottish Referendum – but nothing that could be classed as … Read more >>

Independent 8716 (Sat 20-Sep 2014) Alchemi

Sat September 27, 2014 at 12:01 am by beermagnet

Alchemi gives us a fun, themed puzzle on the easy side for a Prize crossword – if you knew the subject. Happily I did. The theme is Kenneth More (3D) and five of … Read more >>

Private Eye / Cyclops 529 Stuffed octopus

Mon September 15, 2014 at 12:01 am by beermagnet

One of those solves where half the grid was filled on the first pass, and for a change there wasn’t anything hugely troubling at the end. The last couple took a bit of thought but … Read more >>

Independent 8686 (Sat 16-Aug 2014) Nimrod

Sat August 23, 2014 at 12:01 am by beermagnet

I made some notes when I solved this: First pass of the clues – 10 minutes – 1 answered (18D – 2nd to last clue read) One. That’s all. It’s Nimrod. Oh dear. … Read more >>

Private Eye / Cyclops 527 Pub Crawl Purge

Fri August 22, 2014 at 10:47 pmMon August 18, 2014 at 12:01 am by beermagnet

This crossword must be on the easy side of average for an Eye crossword because I completed it at one sitting with only 8 left to go after the “all clues read” first … Read more >>

Private Eye / Cyclops 525 – Fat Farm Survivor

Mon July 21, 2014 at 1:32 pmMon July 21, 2014 at 12:01 am by beermagnet

Enjoyable stuff from Mr C this time. Over half answered on the first pass meant that there were enough crossing letters to facilitate solving those pesky final few tricky clues. Indeed there were some novel clue methods … Read more >>

Independent 8656 (Sat 12-Jul 2014) eXternal

Sat July 19, 2014 at 4:09 pmSat July 19, 2014 at 12:01 am by beermagnet

It’s about a year since eXternal and I first crossed swords over a pencil and a pint, and since then I try to have a go the puzzle when I hear it’s been set … Read more >>