Enigmatic Variations No. 1096: Demand by Samuel
The preamble to DEMAND tells us that ‘the hunt is on’ for the unclued 14D. In 34 clues an extra letter in the wordplay will give us a ‘group’ met on the way, … Read more >>
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Guardian Genius 124 by Picaroon
The preamble, or ‘Special Instructions’, as the Genius calls them, tell us to resolve one clash in each across solution, working out which of the clashing pair ‘best fits’ the grid. These corrected … Read more >>
Enigmatic Variations No. 1092: Burnt Offering by Mynot
Hmmm…a ‘burnt offering’…not quite the 5th of November, so unlikely to be Guy Fawkes…the (reasonably brief) preamble tells us that in ‘most’ clues the wordplay will lead to an extra letter, which will … Read more >>
Independent 8435 by Anax (Saturday Prize Puzzle 26 October 2013)
Remember, remember, the 26th of October…unfortunately I wasn’t able to make it up to the Northern S&B get-together last weekend…but will Anax have remembered?… Not just any old S&B get-together, but a celebration … Read more >>
Enigmatic Variations No. 1088: Aarrgghh by Samuel
Well, belay there ye landlubbers – Cap’n Samuel has a piratical offering in celebration of ‘International Speak Like A Pirate Day‘ (an event which, I have to admit, had passed me by until I set … Read more >>
Independent 8405 by Morph (Saturday Prize Puzzle 21 September 2013)
A nicely accessible (at least for a prize puzzle?) offering from Morph, with some hidden fun and games which nearly eluded me… …as did the parsing of 22A…oh, and part of 12A. Maybe … Read more >>
Enigmatic Variations No. 1084: Means by Chalicea
What does it all ‘mean’? Do I have the ‘means’ to solve this puzzle? The preamble is fairly clear to start with – 1A and 41A are thematic, with 41A being a description of … Read more >>
Independent 8375 by Bannsider (Saturday Prize Puzzle 17 August 2013)
The rota has given me a second Bannsider Saturday Prize puzzle in a row and, while not quite as intractable as Indy 8345, it was another tough mental workout…as one might expect. No particular themes … Read more >>
Enigmatic Variations No. 1080: ATOL by Owzat
In ‘ATOL’, the preamble tells us that a ‘specific’ 10D of nine letters is formed by the addition of seven letters to answers to seven clues which are not ‘fully clued’. Each addition … Read more >>
Independent 8345 by Bannsider (Saturday Prize Puzzle 13 July 2013)
Phew! What a scorcher…and I don’t mean the actual summer heatwave we are enjoying (enduring?) here in the UK, I mean the tough mental workout this week, from a man at the top … Read more >>
Enigmatic Variations No. 1076: Equivalence by Samuel
All the hallmarks of a classic EV in the preamble: misprints in the definitions of fourteen clues leading to a ‘suggestion’ as to how to enter eight answers ‘thematically’ – with three other … Read more >>
Independent 8315 by Monk (Saturday Prize Puzzle 8 June 2013)
An enjoyable prize puzzle from Monk – with an interesting twist, or two… Apologies but a manic week and two blogs to complete tonight mean this will have to be quick. I started … Read more >>
Enigmatic Variations No. 1072: Companions by Wiglaf
I found this puzzle quite challenging, partly due to a gap in my cultural references, which will be revealed – although I suspect many people who don’t have this gap may have got … Read more >>
Independent 8309 by Punk (Saturday Prize Puzzle 1 June 2013)
A bonus blog for me – covering for Bert & Joyce, who are no doubt on some well-earned R&R… An interesting and enjoyable challenge from Punk this week. No obvious theme or Nina … Read more >>
Enigmatic Variations No. 1068: Bargain by Nutmeg
Some sad news to report first – which I don’t think has been mentioned on this site yet – is that the preamble to EV1069, published on Sun 5 May informs us that James Leonard, … Read more >>