mc_rapper67 – Page 37 – Fifteensquared

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 >>

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 >>

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 >>

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 >>

Independent 7776 by Bannsider (Saturday Prize Puzzle 17 September 2011)

Sat September 24, 2011 at 12:01 am by mc_rapper67

No fancy themes or ninas/Ninas from Bannsider this week (or, at least, none that I could see) – just an enjoyable mental work-out for a Saturday morning – and a bit of Saturday … Read more >>

Enigmatic Variations No. 981: Pub Crawl by Shark

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

Now I enjoy a good pub crawl, as much as the next (semi-)alcoholic, apart from the inevitable morning after, but I found this one particularly tough going – almost like suffering the hangover whilst you … Read more >>

Independent 7746 by Anax (Saturday Prize Puzzle 13 August 2011)

Sat August 20, 2011 at 7:18 pmSat August 20, 2011 at 12:01 am by mc_rapper67

A veritable tour de force from Anax, on my first opportunity to blog one of his puzzles. After filling in my first five or six solves – including a laugh-out-loud moment with 5D – I twigged … Read more >>

Enigmatic Variations No. 977 – The Red and Whites by Kruger

Sat August 6, 2011 at 7:08 amSat August 6, 2011 at 12:01 am by mc_rapper67

With the new football season only a week or two away, and given the title, and the preamble indicating that 8 answers have to be replaced (substituted?), one could be forgiven for expecting this to be … Read more >>

Independent 7716 by Crosophile (Saturday Prize Puzzle 9 July 2011)

Sat July 16, 2011 at 12:01 am by mc_rapper67

Crosophile is a new name to me – a search of the 15×15 site shows he has a few weekday Independent and Independent on Sunday cryptics under his belt, but I think this is … Read more >>

Enigmatic Variations No. 973 – Shade by Samuel

Sat July 9, 2011 at 12:01 am by mc_rapper67

A double dose of Samuel this week, with the (rather more light-hearted?) Inquisitor 1183 in the Indy on Saturday as well. The preamble here indicated a quotation from extra letters in wordplay, a thematic … Read more >>

Independent 7686 by Nimrod (Saturday Prize Puzzle 4 June 2011)

Sat June 11, 2011 at 8:29 amSat June 11, 2011 at 2:30 am by mc_rapper67

NB. For some reason, this is not the puzzle posted on the Indy website today – which is an old Nimrod…The thematic preamble states: “Nine related answers lack a definition in the clues. … Read more >>

Enigmatic Variations No. 969 – Prestissimo by Samson

Sat June 11, 2011 at 2:30 am by mc_rapper67

What a preamble?! An author and one of his works to be found in the grid. Another thematic phrase to be resolved from clashing entries in the grid. And there’s more… Wow. Educational…eventually…once the … Read more >>

Enigmatic Variations No. 965 – I Cut A Rose by Nutmeg

Sat May 14, 2011 at 7:43 amSat May 14, 2011 at 12:01 am by mc_rapper67

With the preamble to this EV referring to an assertion by an unclued ‘somebody’ in ‘something’, also unclued, and recommending use of a dictionary of quotations, I don’t think it is giving too much … Read more >>

Independent 7656 by Phi (Saturday Prize Puzzle 30 April 2011)

Sat May 7, 2011 at 7:01 amSat May 7, 2011 at 12:01 am by mc_rapper67

Bit of a quick last-minute post, so apologies for any typos or missed nuances. My first Phi blog, and I was a bit wary as I have enjoyed solving/attempting many difficult Independent cryptics and Inquisitors … Read more >>

Enigmatic Variations No. 961 – Whither Goest Thou? by Charybdis

Sat April 16, 2011 at 12:01 am by mc_rapper67

That title, a grid with a big ‘X’ in the middle, and a preamble indicating that there were eight clashing cells, extra letters in word play would lead to instructions, and a ‘route’ to be … Read more >>