Independent

I am a fan of complex wordplay rather than cryptic definitions, so I always find Bannsider’s puzzles stimulating .  There were some excellent wordplay examples here – e.g. EGGS BENEDICT although I have some … Read more >>

A tough one today, I found, made even tougher by the relatively low number of checked squares. In fact, the grid looks like there might be a Nina, but I don’t see one. … Read more >>

Dac?! On a Thursday!? After Phi’s unexpected appearance yesterday, I assumed that Dac was probably due a Saturday slot, we’d have a date-related puzzle tomorrow and that today would be the usual Thursday … Read more >>

Phi on a Wednesday indeed. Something is afoot. No doubt Eimi or someone will amuse us on Friday with a theme that we can’t predict. And what Dac is doing I can’t think, … Read more >>

Nestor, Nimrod now Anax. This crossword is a tribute to … … a recently deceased Agony Aunt and writer/broadcaster. Only the one two I can’t really see today! Across 1,26 Farewell – FELL about … Read more >>

*=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone, CD=cryptic def, DD=double def, sp=spoonerism This was a fairly easy Monday morning puzzle with a NINA around the perimeter. I guessed from the mention of FC it was something … Read more >>

This is my first attempt at blogging a Sunday Quixote (well, technically it’s my second due to my mixing up the dates, but that’s another story), so I hope I can do it … Read more >>

A Leo Tolstoy themed puzzle because 20-Nov-2010 was exactly 100 years since the great man’s death. I started the puzzle early on the day and didn’t know this till listening to the Today … Read more >>

Lovely stuff as ever from Phi. Nothing overly difficult here, but great clueing and a fine range of cryptic devices. Across 1 BULLDOG – BULL (nonsense) + DOG (to follow) 5 BITUMEN – … Read more >>

One equals zero? With Nimrod it does. An Ashes inspired crossword, our boys haven’t had the start we might have hoped for alas. There’s a lot of wishful thinking of ducks for the … Read more >>

The usual excellence from Dac today. Such smooth surfaces, and he clues everything so seamlessly and neatly. A couple I don’t understand, but they will no doubt be explained. Across 1 VOCALISTS — (cov{e})rev. … Read more >>

A unusual grid today, and a puzzle consisting of a relatively small number of clues, often for fairly long entries. The reason for this would appear to be the theme, that of the … Read more >>

A pseudonym that I do not recall seeing before.       A pleasing puzzle that I found was very easy by Indy standards, solving time, 13 mins. * = anagram ACROSS 1 SPECTRES     hidden 9 … Read more >>

My first blog against any of Don’s crosswords I believe. He’s said his Quixote persona tries not to be too hard. I do remember a Duck(?) in the saturday magazine involving Pi which … Read more >>

Solving time: 17:13 It was fairly obvious from the grid that a theme was likely here – the puzzle is about Civil Rights in its US meaning, with CIVIL RIGHTS and four associated … Read more >>