Never knowingly undersolved
Welcome to the new year everyone. Tops and tails has 8 clues with wordplay having an extra letter and these need to be rearranged to show something connecting 6 unclued down answers – … Read more >>
Hi everybody. Stick Insect has given us a game of consequences – the main consequence being some good old groanworthy word-based fun. Thanks Stick Insect! The preamble reads: Entries to six normal … Read more >>
I’ve certainly had plenty of SATISFACTION from 2021’s EV puzzles. Maybe our esteemed EV editor, proXimal, is asking whether you have had SATISFACTION 2?…
“All clues contain a misprint of one letter in the definition part. The correct letters in clue order give two suggestions as to the nature of the twelve unclued entries (the second of these suggestions proceeds to indicate why these particular entries might be BURNED OUT). Chambers Dictionary (2016) is recommended; all entries are real words or phrases.”
21 clues with an extra letter give an example of a false pseudonym. Then four entries to be amended adding a word of four letters to make non-words. these give the real pseudonym … Read more >>
Hello everyone. It’s always good to see a Chalicea puzzle. The preamble to this one reads: The slightly adapted statement at 1a, 42, six words expressing the speaker’s FEAR, was made at … Read more >>
Most EV puzzles involve some sort of DISGUISE, or subterfuge, in the solving process or the end-game…so what is Jaques trying to disguise from us here?…
The preamble
“Three of the unclued perimeter entries each contain one or more thematic members of a group which is celebrating the centenary of its QUEST this year. The fourth perimeter entry reveals (in the country’s language) where the group first met. Eight clues contain an extra word; solvers should extract two consecutive letters from these words, which, read in clue order, will give a reaction (in English) to this first meeting . Solvers must write this reaction under the grid and highlight two parallel chains of cells (15 in total) which reveal the source of the QUEST. Unchecked perimeter letters could spell HALF HELD REGRETS and BOO; Chambers Dictionary (2016) is recommended.”
Vismut this week with misprints in clues spelling out a message to allow two further messages to be read. Then some shading and a curve to be drawn. Sounds interesting and what are … Read more >>
Hello everybody. Thanks to Brock for a great value puzzle. The preamble reads: Solvers are invited to make use of a SPECIAL OFFER. It is valid for wordplay only and is strictly … Read more >>
Vagans seems to be a new setter (or collaboration?) on the block – a quick search of this site shows a single Vagans Inquisitor (1716) back in September this year. So this may be a first ENCOUNTER with Vagans for many EV solvers, your blogger included…
“In 31 clues an extra letter must be removed before solving; in clue order, they apply to one of a pair, as does a phrase in the grid. Solvers must change the phrase to describe the second member of the pair (retaining/creating real-word crossing entries, one confirmed in Collins) and highlight six other words and phrases (47 cells), which also describe the person. Chambers Dictionary (2016) is recommended, 35d is in Collins; one answer is an abbreviation; solvers should consult the original version of the work of CONTRASTS.”
A flow chart from Ifor this week – no bars in the grid initially anyway but seven cells bars need to be added at the end. Misprints in wordplay and definitions give two … Read more >>
Hi everyone. As 2021 rolls towards its end it is becoming more usual to get OUT AND ABOUT. I hope you all manage to keep well. Not much to say this week. All … Read more >>
A challenge of a puzzle from Curmudgeon, to keep solvers busy for the subsequent week-or-so…