Never knowingly undersolved
Hi all. We were treated to an EV puzzle of the highest order for a “low” day … The preamble reads: Answers are entered around the appropriate numbered square, clockwise or anticlockwise, … Read more >>
An Eng. Lit. test this week (not my strongest subject at skool), with Chalicea asking us to find two PAINFUL POEMS…probably not limericks then?…
“Each clue contains an extra word that must be removed before solving; selecting either the first or last letter of these words spells an incomplete sentence, while the other letters spell two instructions. Solvers must carry out the two instructions to reveal the SIX THIEVES. Chambers Dictionary (2016) and ODQ are recommended; all entries at all stages are real words or phrases.”
Nothing – interesting title. Some thematic adjustment to answers and highlight the nothing theme and strangely no clue numbers but not a jigsaw. Therein lieth a clue. The thematic device being to remove … Read more >>
Hi everybody. Thanks to Vagans for a puzzle which was enjoyable to solve and gave something to discover at the end – plus a nice cryptic feature in the grid to highlight. … Read more >>
As solvers, we are all striving to reach THE CORRECT SOLUTION – some just for the satisfaction, others for the chance to win the Holy Grail of the EV – a ‘fine Telegraph fountain pen’!
“In 24 clues an extra word must be removed before solving; in clue order, the central letters of these words spell out a creative duo and a cryptically abridged introduction to one of their works. Solvers must reveal the BARE NECESSITIES by deleting the contents of some cells in the final grid to form a thematic shape. Chambers Dictionary (2016) is recommended.”
One of the most complex preambles I can recall reading. Across clues have no numbers and are missing a letter in their wordplay. The missing letters spell out where one might find pine … Read more >>
Hello all. Xanthippe was a setter unfamiliar to me, and I looked forward to dipping my toes into new waters … The preamble reads: In seven across clues a letter must be … Read more >>
A debut EV for Karla, I believe, who according to this site seems to have one Grauniad Genius and one IQ to his name so far…nothing like jumping in at the deep end, eh?!
“In 27 clues an extra letter (always in the wordplay part) must be discarded before solving, thereby completing most of A PROCESS OF ELIMINATION; another to be eliminated must be removed from the grid. The finisher must be revealed by replacing an appropriate word (six cells). The theme must be highlighted in the grid, apart from the 1st, 5th and 14th (last) letters. Finally, the two parts must be linked by adding a bar and then both parts embellished (in the solver’s own style) to depict the finisher. All changes leave real words; Chambers Dictionary (2016) is recommended.”
February and Chalicea provides our neural stimulation. Normal clues apart from some unclued ones (18 led to 1ac and 38) and four unclued needles also to find. Finally a name needs to be … Read more >>
Hi all. It has been nearly two and a half years since I last had the pleasure of blogging an Ifor puzzle (No. 1396: Up and Down and Round and Round) but this … Read more >>
When I discovered that it was a Harribobs EV on my turn to blog, my first instinct was to go and hide behind the sofa…
“The answers to eight normal clues each provide the potential CONSEQUENCES for their respective entries. All other clues must have a letter removed prior to solving (always leaving real words) which, in clue order, provide the thematic reference (as cited in ODQ7). Read in grid order, the circled letters followed by the entry number of one of two thematic entries narrow down the reference material, which is further pinpointed by those two entries, as well as the sum of their entry numbers; the outlier is thematically numbered. Enumerations refer to grid entries. Chambers Dictionary (2016) is recommended.”