Independent

*=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone Across 1 Bored: ore in BD. 4 Games: Gas around ME. 9 Itchy: [T]itchy. 10 Solitaire: So I lit a [f]ire. 11 Scrabble: (BB + arcs)< + le. 13 … Read more >>

Excellent puzzle from Phi, thought it was going to be relatively easy when I got both 14-letter entries on first run through, but I found it was tricky in both SW and particularly … Read more >>

An enjoyable solve, this – very tough in places, easier in others. Not sure about the wordplay in 14 and I’m not confident I’ve got the right answer at 19 either. The grid … Read more >>

Into the New Year that should see No 1000 in this series. Solving time, 17 mins, if I have solved it – some doubts that I’ll know for sure about only when solution … Read more >>

*=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone, cd=cryptic definition, dd=double definition. Quite good fun this one, with enough food and drink references to consitute a theme, I should imagine. Other than that, not much to remark … Read more >>

Quick one from me today as I’m hella busy. Enjoyed this, though one or two may need explaining. Across 1 HAMLET – HAM,LET 4 HISPANIC – (CHAP IS IN)* 8 AMULET – A,MULE,T[-ethered] … Read more >>

A typically excellent crossword from Virgilius to start the new year.  The two themes — anagrams of colours and some other pairs of anagrams — are no doubt related in some very clever … Read more >>

*=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone I found this surprisingly easy, given it was littered with the sort of clues that I normally struggle with (e.g. double definitions involving the names of celebrities). Most of … Read more >>

There’s a partial “12 Days of Christmas” theme, here with 7, 26,27, 3, and 6 appearing in the grid. It seems a bit odd to have an incomplete theme like this, which makes … Read more >>

A typically nice Phi. I have one or two quibbles with, or at any rate misgivings about, some of the punctuation, but no doubt all will be explained. I’m off for the weekend … Read more >>

Solving time, just under 15 mins * = anagram ACROSS 9 CH (A PAT) I 10 RECLAIM (I’m clear)* 11 (t)ISSUE 12 RETURN KEY    On a typewriter 13 TWO-SEATER  w in (estate or)* … Read more >>

*=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone, cd=cryptic definition, dd=double definition. The New Year presents us with an enjoyable puzzle from a less regular setter. There’s some really good clueing in there, and while there were … Read more >>

New Year’s Eve puzzle by Dac (appeared in the paper but not on the website apparently).   Solving time, 28 mins. * = anagram  < = reversed ACROSS 1 RING OUT T(HE) OLD   “Wring … Read more >>

The Indy under its editor, Eimi, who took over early in 2006, continued in 2008 its pattern of puzzles, many of which have themes and/or Ninas.  A Nina is a hidden message in  … Read more >>

Good stuff from Glow-Worm, whose recent Listener puzzle is still on my to-do pile. There’s a mini theme here, with 4 answers contaning the word PLUS and a further reference at 1A. I … Read more >>