Independent on Sunday 1,809/Stamp
I very much enjoyed solving and blogging this Sunday’s Independent puzzle by Stamp. Lots of great surface readings, all clearly clued and with one or two nice twists. I can get on with … Read more >>
Pierre
Independent 11,866/Coot
Coot has the puzzle to start off the Independent crosswording week. All pretty tractable, but with some attractively quirky touches in places. Turns out they may be part of a ghost theme: it’s … Read more >>
Everyman 4,069/13 October
Another pleasing puzzle from Everyman this week. Abbreviations cd cryptic definition dd double definition cad clue as definition (xxxx)* anagram anagrind = anagram indicator [x] letter(s) removed definitions are underlined Across 1 … Read more >>
Guardian Quiptic 1,299/Chandler
A delightful Quiptic from Chandler, with a generous sprinkling of anagrams to get you going and straightforward clueing to help you get near, or over, the finishing line. Bravo to the setter. Abbreviations … Read more >>
Independent 11,848/Twin
I enjoyed solving and blogging this offering from Twin. Easier to solve than parse in a number of places, I would say. Abbreviations cd cryptic definition dd double definition cad clue as definition … Read more >>
Guardian Quiptic 1,297/Picaroon
Picaroon on fine form with this week’s Quiptic. A pleasing and tractable puzzle with some delightful surface readings. Bravo. Abbreviations cd cryptic definition dd double definition cad clue as definition (xxxx)* anagram anagrind … Read more >>
Independent on Sunday 1,805/Filbert
The hard-working Filbert brings us this Sunday’s Independent offering. Filbert is very much the Indy regular these days. I always enjoy his/her puzzles: they can be devious and occasionally left-field, but they are … Read more >>
Everyman 4,065/15 September
Another carefully compiled puzzle from Everyman this week. All the usual elements are there: the primary letters clue, the rhyming couplet, the self-reference. Some original clueing as well in a couple of places, … Read more >>
Guardian Quiptic 1,295/Hectence
Hectence is one of our long-standing Quiptic setters and brings us this Sunday’s offering. First off, it’s a pangram: all 26 letters feature, and this is itself a feature of all Hectence’s Quiptic … Read more >>
Independent 11,830/Italicus
Italicus makes the Monday morning commute to deliver us the Indy crossword. A good example for me of a solid, serious cryptic for a national daily. Abbreviations cd cryptic definition dd double definition … Read more >>
Guardian Quiptic 1,293/Anto
Anto often divides opinion when he is seen in the Quiptic slot. Personally, I found the imprecision in a number of clues a frustration here, since that’s not what you want when you … Read more >>
Independent on Sunday 1,801
The Independent on Sunday puzzle has historically had a reputation for being reasonably gentle, and it often still is. But not this week, for this solver at least. Filbert is currently the most … Read more >>
Everyman 4,061/18 August
Another pleasing and sound cryptic from Everyman. Abbreviations cd cryptic definition dd double definition cad clue as definition (xxxx)* anagram anagrind = anagram indicator [x] letter(s) removed definitions are underlined Across 1 When … Read more >>
Independent 11,812/Coot
Well, that was fun. Hard fun, but fun. I did enjoy the puzzle, mainly for its great surfaces, but it took two goes to finish it off. Some distant, but perfectly fair synonyms … Read more >>
Guardian Quiptic 1,291/Chandler
A carefully constructed Quiptic from Chandler for our Sunday morning entertainment. Hits the spot, I think. Abbreviations cd cryptic definition dd double definition cad clue as definition (xxxx)* anagram anagrind = anagram indicator … Read more >>