Azed gives us these every five years or so. The last (clue-setting competition one, anyway) was in October 2011. So far as I know it is his own idea and must be absolute hell to set. In case you didn’t see the preamble in the paper here it is: ‘Each clue contains a one-word definition of the word required at the number where it stands, but belongs as a whole to a word of the same length elsewhere….’ and he goes on to give some very helpful advice on how to go about solving such a puzzle.
Azed
Azed 2304
This was my quickest Azed solve for quite a while: I found I’d written in 13 answers after my first pass though the clues, and most of the rest followed easily (albeit with … Read more >>
AZED 2,303 Plain
Another excellent rummage through Chambers. Thank you AZED.
AZED 2,302
A harder than usual plain puzzle this week, with some knowledge of both French and German of assistance.
Azed 2301
A plain Azed puzzle this week with the usual mix of obscure words, Scottish words and everyday words. We also needed a bit of French. There were a couple of … Read more >>
AZED 2,300/mishmash
Surprisingly easy — managed most of the puzzle while watching a replay of Germany/Italy. Probably had to make more trips to the chamberpot than to Chambers. Obviously I was distracted since more than a few sloppy parses pointed out by kind commentators!
AZED 2,299
As always Azed provides a masterclass in clueing: not always the most riveting surfaces or constructions, but everything utterly sound.
Definitions underlined and in maroon.
Azed 2298 ‘Dry Soldier’
I have a vague feeling that Azed has done a special of this kind before, but I could be wrong. (In case anyone hasn’t spotted it, the title “Dry Soldier” is an anagram … Read more >>
AZED 2,297
I enjoyed this very much. Not too hard but with plenty of opportunity to browse through Chambers looking for interesting words. Thank you AZED.
AZED 2,296
A 13 by 11 grid this week for the competition puzzle.
Azed 2295
A plain Azed puzzle this time generating the usual challenges. There were three compound anagram clues this week (13 across [NIKAU], 34 across [REDD] and 21 down [EJECTA]. They are … Read more >>
Azed 2294 / normal service has resumed…
A rather tough puzzle that I just spent 2 hours solving in the lounge at Heathrow. On a hand-drawn grid. Not a pretty picture. I thought this was rather difficult and I think … Read more >>
AZED 2,293
Nothing really to say. The usual excellent display of sound clue-setting from Azed. I can’t understand what is given in the paper and on the site as 33ac but is really 35ac, but no doubt someone will explain.
Definitions underlined and in maroon.
Azed 2292
This puzzle seems to have a higher-than-usual proportion of unfamiliar words, in both answers and wordplay, which probably explains why I found it quite hard. But soundly clued as always, and satisfying to … Read more >>
AZED 2,291
I have not done a Printer’s Devilry before. I like it, great fun!