Independent on Sunday 1469/Peter
A fine puzzle from Peter in the typical IoS style: tractable and with no obscurities. And a result for your blogger this morning too. Abbreviations cd cryptic definition dd double … Read more >>
Pierre
Everyman 3730
Another carefully-crafted puzzle from Everyman with plenty of trademark multi-part clues. Abbreviations cd cryptic definition dd double definition cad clue as definition (xxxx)* anagram anagrind = anagrind indicator [x] … Read more >>
Guardian Quiptic 960/Carpathian
A pleasing mixture of straightforward charades, insertions and anagrams, which hit the Quiptic spot for me. What did you beginners think? Abbreviations cd cryptic definition dd double definition cad … Read more >>
Independent 9818/Tees
A fine holiday Monday offering from Tees, where I’m convinced that there is something going on, but I’m blowed if I know what it is. The grid gives a chance for a message … Read more >>
Guardian Quiptic 958/Pan
Come on, rise and shine. I know you’ve had an hour less in bed, but there’s a Quiptic to be solved and enjoyed. A good one it was too. Abbreviations … Read more >>
Independent on Sunday 1465/Poins
An enjoyable Sunday solve from the Shakespearean one. One or two remote synonyms, I thought, but generally clearly clued. Just a couple where I’m unsure of the exact parsing. Abbreviations … Read more >>
Everyman 3726
Another sound puzzle from Everyman. Of the 28 clues, there was one hidden reversed, one anagram and two dds; the remaining 24 were charades or insertions. A bit of … Read more >>
Guardian Quiptic 956/Moley
A sound Quiptic from Moley to start the week. Plenty of anagrams to get you going, all clearly clued and no obscurities. What a Quiptic should be, in my opinion. What did ‘beginners’ … Read more >>
Independent 9800/Kairos
Congratulations to Kairos. That’s an L of an achievement. A pleasing and well-constructed puzzle for the Monday slot, and one which sees us celebrating Kairos’ fiftieth puzzle (for the Indy, … Read more >>
Guardian Quiptic 954/Anto
It’s fairly well-known that I don’t have a high opinion of Anto as a setter, so here’s a brief blog in order that you can decide what you think. … Read more >>
Independent on Sunday 1461/Poins
Poins in the pulpit this Sunday, with a pleasing puzzle that took a bit of teasing out. It took me a while to pin this one down (and there’s one … Read more >>
Independent 9782/Raich
Eimi made a reappearance in the Indy last week, and now we see a Raich puzzle for the first time for a while in the daily Indy (he has been contributing to the … Read more >>
Everyman 3722
Everyman is such a good choice of cryptic for those new to them, or for those learning the ropes. Always carefully constructed and at a level of difficulty that should encourage people to … Read more >>
Guardian Quiptic 952/Matilda
An entertaining Quiptic from Matilda this morning with a sting in the tail. I solved this with the sense only of ‘this is a good, accessible, Quiptic, I’ll give it … Read more >>
Guardian Quiptic 950/Nutmeg
Nutmeg has been a regular Quiptic setter since the puzzle’s inception eighteen years ago. She has delivered another thoughtful and sound offering for beginners this morning. Abbreviations cd cryptic definition … Read more >>