Cyclops 656 – Posh Schemer
I’m not sure if Cyclops is saying a not-too-fond ‘Farewell’ to TMay, or offering a Churchillian ‘Welcome’ to BoJo – or both – in this puzzle. Quite a few aggressive gestures – TWO-FINGER … Read more >>
mc_rapper67
Independent 10,230 by Hoskins (Saturday Puzzle 27 July 2019)
An entertaining puzzle from Hoskins, with some nice surface reads and some good timing (or judicious editing?) regarding comings-and-goings at No 10 this week… My first solving note was a capitalised ‘HARSH!’ next … Read more >>
Enigmatic Variations No. 1391: Cary by The Ace of Hearts
I am familiar with ‘The Ace of Hearts’ from his(?) devious circular Listener puzzles, but a search of this site shows a few recent EVs and IQs, several of which I think I … Read more >>
Cyclops 654 – Born Leader – In Error
Cyclops taking his usual side-swipes at the establishment, with a spoonful of smuttery and cultural zeitgeist… The big ticket clue is a nice composite anagram, incorporating DISCOURAGEMENT into NON-DISCLOSURE AGREEMENT – OK Harvey … Read more >>
Enigmatic Variations No. 1387: Wonderful Ghoul by Kcit
I thought this was a ‘blinking’ hard puzzle from Kcit (aka Phi)…educational and challenging…just how I like ’em… The preamble states that: “Wordplay in eleven clues varies from the entered answer by one … Read more >>
Independent 10,200 by Klingsor (Saturday Puzzle 22 June 2019)
Two Saturday Klingsors in a row for me, after his ton-up Indy 10,170 five weeks ago… …and, as always, a pleasure to solve and blog, although no theme-ette or Nina this time, unless … Read more >>
Cyclops 652 – Bicycle Charlatan
I found this much harder than many recent Cyclops puzzles… …it took several passes and an educated guess at an unknown (to me) person at 23A before I got my LOI – BICYCLE … Read more >>
Enigmatic Variations No. 1383: One Down by Ifor
Some tricky (and educational) stuff from Ifor this week, which kept me going right to the submission deadline… The preamble states that: “16 clues contain a thematic item as an extra word. The … Read more >>
Independent 10,170 by Klingsor (Saturday Puzzle 18 May 2019)
Apologies again for the late posting – an enjoyable (and significant?) puzzle from Klingsor today… I woke up a tad worse for wear this morning, after celebrating cycling coast-to-coast across Lancashire and Yorkshire … Read more >>
Cyclops 650 – Difficult Island
Some traditional establishment targets, some smutty references…it is a Cyclops, it does what it says on the tin… The surface readings at 8A and 11A don’t bear too much thinking, and 10A is … Read more >>
Guardian Genius 190 by Puck
There is usually a reason why we get a month or so to solve a Genius, but I managed to get onto Puck’s wavelength and completed this in ‘double’-quick time, as I waited … Read more >>
Enigmatic Variations No. 1379: Scarcity by Cagey
This was a pretty tough workout from Cagey, who seems to be a new name (or amalgam?) on the block… The (rather long and complicated) preamble states that: “ In SCARCITY, the wordplay … Read more >>
Cyclops 648 – Sinister Adversary
Cyclops is as Cyclops does – some fun with surface readings, some usual targets, and maybe just a tad too much Trump(?)… Some ancient history at 21D – Archimedes’ supposed EUREKA ‘ejaculation’ in … Read more >>
Independent 10,140 by Tyrus (Saturday Puzzle 13 April 2019)
A tough workout from Tyrus – on the first pass I only had 5 solved… …and not too many more after a couple more passes. I gradually wheedled my way into the puzzle … Read more >>
Enigmatic Variations No. 1375: Ciao by Eclogue
Not so much ‘CIAO’ as nearly ‘Goodnight from me…’, Two Ronnies-style… …,after my recent DNF with EV1374 from Ranunculus, and several failures-to-finish recent IQs and Listeners…maybe my superpowers are on the wane… The … Read more >>