Pierre – Page 52 – Fifteensquared

Guardian Quiptic 820/Orlando

Mon August 3, 2015 at 11:03 amMon August 3, 2015 at 6:58 am by Pierre

We’ve not seen Orlando in the Quiptic for ages, but this is a very welcome return visit. Immaculately clued and perfect for this slot. Abbreviations cd cryptic definition dd double … Read more >>

Independent 8980/mystery setter (update: it’s Raich)

Mon July 27, 2015 at 10:32 amMon July 27, 2015 at 7:30 am by Pierre

Bonjour! Not quite sure what’s occurring here, because in the online version it was unnumbered and the compiler wasn’t shown. So I hope I’ve blogged the right puzzle on the right day. A … Read more >>

Independent on Sunday 1326/Commoner

Sun July 26, 2015 at 12:01 am by Pierre

I did enjoy this one, but there was some stuff in it which was certainly tricky for an IoS puzzle. Which is blogger-speak for ‘I can’t parse one or two’. … Read more >>

Independent 8974/eXternal

Mon July 20, 2015 at 7:30 am by Pierre

A sound, workmanlike puzzle from eXternal. And I don’t mean to damn with faint praise when I say that. It was hard, though. The idea of the Monday Indy being the ‘easy’ one … Read more >>

Guardian Quiptic 818/Moley

Mon July 20, 2015 at 7:16 am by Pierre

Moley has produced a fine Quiptic for us this morning. Plenty of Easy Annies to get us going, then the rest clearly clued with some lovely surfaces. And as we have remarked many … Read more >>

Everyman 3587/5 July

Sun July 12, 2015 at 12:01 am by Pierre

It’s been a couple of months now since a new compiler took over the Everyman slot, so it’s probably time to stop comparing the current setter with the previous incumbent. I’ve blogged this … Read more >>

Guardian Quiptic 816/Beale

Mon July 6, 2015 at 9:38 am by Pierre

Goodness, it’s many a moon since we last saw a Quiptic from Beale. Perhaps the editor was tidying out his filing cabinet and found this one at the back. I found it hard. … Read more >>

Guardian Cryptic 26,614/Nutmeg

Fri July 3, 2015 at 4:23 pm by Pierre

Here’s a brief blog (what do you mean, thank goodness for that) of today’s Nutmeg. Good puzzle, but more Quiptic-like than Cryptic-like. But listen, it’s a good puzzle: just enjoy it. … Read more >>

Independent 8956/Raich

Mon June 29, 2015 at 7:30 am by Pierre

A sound Monday puzzle in the usual Raich style. Several that I found difficult to parse, and one I can’t parse at all. Abbreviations cd cryptic definition dd double definition … Read more >>

Independent on Sunday 1322/Crosophile

Sun June 28, 2015 at 12:01 am by Pierre

Don’t quite know what to make of this one. Certainly more difficult than the usual IoS offering. There’s one I can’t quite see. Abbreviations cd cryptic definition dd double definition (xxxx)* … Read more >>

Guardian Quiptic 814/Pan

Mon June 22, 2015 at 9:10 am by Pierre

I enjoyed this one, as I usually do with a Pan puzzle. What did you think? My objective for today is to get a lurker to make his or her first comment, since … Read more >>

Independent on Sunday 1321/Commoner

Sun June 21, 2015 at 12:01 am by Pierre

An unexceptionable puzzle from Commoner. And that’s meant as praise, because the IoS is meant to be an accessible prize crossword where lesser mortals can have a go at winning. Just one this … Read more >>

Everyman 3583/7 June

Sun June 14, 2015 at 12:01 am by Pierre

I’m still getting used to the style of our new Everyman setter. It’s certainly taking me a lot longer to solve Everyman these days, so I would surmise that the difficulty level has … Read more >>

Guardian Quiptic 812/Moley

Mon June 8, 2015 at 9:21 am by Pierre

Moley has transformed herself into Mary Poppins this morning. If you talk to setters, they will say that compiling ‘easy’ puzzles is actually the hardest thing to do, because you’ve almost got … Read more >>

Independent 8938/eXternal

Mon June 8, 2015 at 7:30 am by Pierre

A good puzzle from eXternal to start the Indy week. His cluing style can be rather involved, and since I am a fan of concision, he’s probably never going to be my favourite … Read more >>