Independent

I had been expecting a comparatively easy ride today; evidently we have a treat in store on Saturday. Although this took a long time, as Punk’s crosswords always do, it was very good: … Read more >>

Quite a tough puzzle from Merlin and I didn’t manage to finish it, getting stuck on 25 across, 5 across and 8 down. Across 1 Bludgeon: B(l)udge on. 5 Ageism ? Clue was … Read more >>

Theme – explicitly stated – 8 down – for those of us not too familiar with them, friendly clues made them deducible or guessable. Solving time, 31 mins. < = reversed * = … Read more >>

In a comment a few weeks back, Eimi mentioned that his favourite clue of the year so far was in a forthcoming puzzle by Bannsider. Assuming this is that puzzle, then I’m none … Read more >>

I found this a very tough puzzle, esp the lower half but also the long 20-letter phrase in the top half which was new to me.    But I got there in the end … Read more >>

A little harder than usual from Quixote, I found. Solving time, 31 mins. Notes on some clues below – happy to explain others if asked. ACROSS 6 S (last letter of chips) CUP … Read more >>

One of Dac’s easier puzzles I think, but none the worse for that. Consistently excellent clueing as usual. Across 1 DOMINICANS. The islanders and the monks. 9 AMOROSO, which is both a lover … Read more >>

Another thematic tour-de-force from Virgilius; this time almost every clue or answer has a royal flavour to it. Across 8 BALMORALS – which is a type of brimless cap. I think I half-remembered that … Read more >>

Initially I thought this was going to be very easy. I got through most of the clues fairly quickly but then got hopelessly stuck on 8 across, 25 across and 24 down, some … Read more >>

Pirouetting into sight today is Phi with a puzzle containing some well-known (and not so well-known) ballets. Solving time: 20 Minutes, (plus a couple of Google checks for titles). Very enjoyable with the … Read more >>

Having just blogged Nimrod’s Thursday puzzle (6637) I can say that I found this one the easier of the two. I’m not really a big fan of long anagrams and I was lucky … Read more >>

Some clever grid construction here as one phrase appears twice in the grid and there’s a Nina too (see 5a below for an explanation). I found this quite hard going in places – … Read more >>

Some unusual words made this one a little harder for me than some recently from Quixote. Solving time, 21 mins Notes on some clues below, happy to explain others if asked. * = … Read more >>

The cryptic puzzle is here and the concise/simple puzzle is here. Each puzzle is currently a day late – so the one on the website right now is yesterday’s Virgilius. Prize puzzles will be published … Read more >>