Skylark seems to be transporting us to the African continent this week, unless the title is a deliberately cryptic mislead?…
Enigmatic Variations
Enigmatic Variations No.1494 – The North American One by Sea-Kale
“The unclued entry at 6 down (three words) is the title of a version – THE NORTH AMERICAN ONE – of an earlier work. Each of the first three clues is really two clues side by side but not overlapping, leading to the two numbered entries (either may be clued first). Their answers, thematically placed, hint at two opposing groups. The wordplay in 17 of the remaining across clues leads to the answer plus an extra letter not to be entered in the grid. The extra letters spell out the surnames of the two creators of the work. In the completed grid, solvers must highlight the first names of two protagonists and the place they desire. ”
Enigmatic Variations No. 1493 Cell by Oxymoron
A favourite setter of mine, who I have enjoyed many a tussle with over the years. His final EV. Seems a bit pointless to thank someone after they have passed on, but Schadenfreude/ … Read more >>
Enigmatic Variations No. 1492: PTO by Charybdis
Hi everyone, and thanks to Charybdis for a good challenge which I much enjoyed. The preamble reads: Set A clues are arranged in alphabetical order of answers, not all of which enter … Read more >>
Enigmatic Variations No. 1491: Pioneer by Wickball
I blogged Wickball’s most recent EV – EV 1439, back in the depths of the first lockdown – which I introduced as ‘A pretty complicated preamble, and a pretty complicated solve…‘, sentiments I feel the need to repeat here!
Enigmatic Variations No.1490 – BORICAHF by Picadilly
The preamble
“Answers to the four asterisked clues are to be encoded using a Playfair code-square before entry in the grid. The three unclued entries have been encoded using the same code-square, as has BORICAHF. Chambers Dictionary (2016) is recommended. ”
Enigmatic Variations No. 1489 Dating Agency by Ifor
Normal clues, but all 3 and 4 letter entries require amendment before entry. Two names to find (in 22 letters in the same position in 5/6/ letter clues) and finally a thematic replacement … Read more >>
Enigmatic Variations No. 1488: Carbon-Neutral by Kruger
Hi all. This is the second Kruger EV I have encountered and I would be happy to come back for more. The preamble reads: Nine clues each contain a misprint in their … Read more >>
Enigmatic Variations No. 1487: Difference by Chalicea
Chalicea presents us with a poetic theme in DIFFERENCE. Poetry has never really been my thing, but I’ve now had two in a row, after EV 1483 – and this one is bound to be equally educational for me!…
Enigmatic Variations No.1486 – SATISFACTION by proXimal
“All clues are normal, but each of the answers to 43 clues must be entered with a single-letter misprint, always occurring in a cell shared with a crossing entry; in clue order, correct letters spell out a question. Solvers must change the contents of four cells in the grid to demonstrate the answer to SATISFACTION. The grid contains real words at every stage; Chambers Dictionary (2016) is recommended”
Enigmatic Variations No. 1485 Elementary by Opsimath
Spring is here and so is an elementary puzzle from Opsimath. Extra letters in the word play of some clues to spell out two titles. Find the author and the original title of … Read more >>
Enigmatic Variations No. 1484: Herculean task by Check
Hello everyone. EV 1484 – Check. Fun puzzle – Check. Many thanks – Check. 🙂 The preamble reads: Single-letter clashes occur in 13 cells and must be replaced by the same suitably … Read more >>
Enigmatic Variations No. 1483: Mixed Feelings by Stick Insect
The first thing that struck me about this puzzle was the tiny font of the clue numbers in the grid! Just about at the limits of my already-aided eyesight – I suspect some solvers may have struggled to make them out? The second was the 12 x 14 grid…a rare-ish shape…and thirdly the asymmetry of some bars – both maybe suggestive of adaptations to fit in some elaborate thematic material? Will I have MIXED FEELINGS about this puzzle?…
Enigmatic Variations No.1482 – Map by Gaston
“Eight suitably positioned and thematically connected elements are hidden in the completed grid. Five of these are of a kind and should be coloured appropriately (35 cells). Three others (the first and last two on the MAP) should each be highlighted by drawing rectangles round the relevant elements (13 cells in total). Solvers should add to the MAP by finding a ninth element, forever associated with the theme, whose six cells should be coloured brown, including one cell that had been shaded earlier. Apart from one that is L-shaped, all elements are in straight lines. Two answers are abbreviations. ”
Enigmatic Variations No. 1481 M-ND — — by -R–X or MIND THE GAP BY Artix
A deliberately inaccessible preamble this week. I do tend to ignore them until I’ve at least read all the clues – so right up my street. I do think this was solvable without … Read more >>