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mc_rapper67

Enigmatic Variations No. 1016: Sentry Duties by Mynot

Sat May 12, 2012 at 12:01 am by mc_rapper67

A short preamble instructs solvers to consider ‘SENTRY DUTIES’ in ‘thematically treating’ 12 answers before entry, to create new words. So far so good. But then we are told: ‘How the remaining answers … Read more >>

Categories Enigmatic Variations

Independent 7956 by Monk (Saturday Prize Puzzle 14 April 2012)

Sat April 21, 2012 at 12:01 am by mc_rapper67

A nice ‘straightforward’ puzzle here from Monk, with no obvious thematic links or complications, but some lovely surface readings, especially the two long across clues. I originally found myself wondering if this was ‘difficult’ enough … Read more >>

Categories Independent 7 Comments

Enigmatic Variations No. 1,012: Drab Cops by Nudd

Sat April 14, 2012 at 12:01 am by mc_rapper67

A cryptic title, hinting maybe at Columbo, with his dour demeanour and down-at-heel dress sense? The preamble tells us to find a horizontally-symmetrical four word quotation, and twelve answers needing some sort of adjustment … Read more >>

Categories Enigmatic Variations 3 Comments

Independent 7926 by Anax (Saturday Prize Puzzle 10 March 2012)

Sat March 17, 2012 at 5:25 pmSat March 17, 2012 at 12:02 am by mc_rapper67

Nothing fancy (that I could see, anyway) from Anax here, in terms of thematics, ninas, etc. – which is quite rare in a Saturday prize Indy, recently. Just a nice, enjoyable cryptic workout. There … Read more >>

Categories Independent 10 Comments

Enigmatic Variations No. 1,008: Sarnies by Syd Lexis

Sat March 17, 2012 at 12:01 am by mc_rapper67

Food for thought this week, with SARNIES on the menu from Syd Lexis. Not much else to chew on for starters – with an unnumbered and only partially-barred grid…but at least Across and Down … Read more >>

Categories Enigmatic Variations

Enigmatic Variations No. 1,004: A Trip Out by Warbler

Sat February 18, 2012 at 12:01 am by mc_rapper67

What delights does Warbler have in store for us with A TRIP OUT? A magical mystery tour? A druggy ‘trip’? Or maybe a wildlife safari – is that ‘OUT’ an anagrind, with TAPIR as A … Read more >>

Categories Enigmatic Variations 4 Comments

Independent 7896 by Nimrod (Saturday Prize Puzzle 4 February 2012)

Sat February 11, 2012 at 12:26 pmSat February 11, 2012 at 12:01 am by mc_rapper67

What the Hell?! I know it is a Nimrod, but I didn’t expect the Spanish Inquisition!… A veritable tour-de-force from a master of the dark arts of cruciverbalism…a multi-layered thematic (and anniversarial?) puzzle to fry the mind, … Read more >>

Categories Independent 10 Comments

Enigmatic Variations No. 1,000: Dollars Also by Rustic

Sat January 21, 2012 at 12:01 am by mc_rapper67

In a blaze of publicity, celebration, and razz-a-ma-tazz, the likes of which have not been seen since the Y2K celebrations of 1999/2000, the EV series has reached its own millennial milestone…congratulations to all … Read more >>

Categories Enigmatic Variations 4 Comments

Independent 7866 by Eimi (Saturday Prize Puzzle 31 December 2011)

Sat January 7, 2012 at 2:14 pmSat January 7, 2012 at 12:01 am by mc_rapper67

A pleasant puzzle to round the year off – with a number of clue readings and answers nodding respectfully to the date, and a lovely clue at 18D, which I am considering adopting … Read more >>

Categories Independent 7 Comments

Enigmatic Variations No. 997: Sol by Kruger

Sat December 31, 2011 at 4:06 pmSat December 31, 2011 at 12:01 am by mc_rapper67

A shorter (and less complicated!) preamble than some recent EVs – each clue giving an extra letter, which would spell out an instruction to apply to all answers before entry. I was lucky enough … Read more >>

Categories Enigmatic Variations 6 Comments

Independent 7836 by Nimrod (Saturday Prize Puzzle 26 November 2011)

Sat December 3, 2011 at 12:01 am by mc_rapper67

Six pairs of linked clues, all with a common reference to ’20 in 5’…we’re off into thematic territory – and there is something here that rings a bell… The logical thing to do … Read more >>

Categories Independent 7 Comments

Enigmatic Variations No. 993: Mind the Gap by Ifor

Sat November 26, 2011 at 4:46 pmSat November 26, 2011 at 12:01 am by mc_rapper67

For a long while, the ‘gap’ causing the most problems for me with this puzzle was the one between my ears… I can just about get my head round those ‘alphabetical jigsaws’, like … Read more >>

Categories Enigmatic Variations 3 Comments

Independent 7806 by Morph (Saturday Prize Puzzle 22 October 2011)

Sun October 30, 2011 at 11:45 pmSat October 29, 2011 at 12:01 am by mc_rapper67

This was just a masterpiece of a straight good-old fashioned cryptic crossword puzzle – no themes, ninas, linked clues – just some wonderful surface readings, diversions, and plenty of self-contained ‘stories within clues’. … Read more >>

Categories Independent 11 Comments

Enigmatic Variations No. 989: Problem by Samuel

Sat October 29, 2011 at 12:01 am by mc_rapper67

This was a rather fun, um, ‘probléme’ to solve, and I can only say, erm, ‘bon mots’ about it. The preamble refers to six thematic, undefined answers which, combined with a quotation made up … Read more >>

Categories Enigmatic Variations

Enigmatic Variations No. 985: Choice by Raich

Sat October 1, 2011 at 12:01 am by mc_rapper67

The preamble refers to a quotation which links the three unclued entries – indicating one as being a choice between the other two. The speaker is hidden in the grid, and extra letters … Read more >>

Categories Enigmatic Variations
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