It has been SHORTS weather a lot recently – has Piccadilly been putting his(?) knobbly knees on display?!
Enigmatic Variations
Enigmatic Variations No.1430 – Trap by Gaston
“Three pairs of cells are TRAPPED by two symmetrically and thematically placed chains of 11 cells each. All 28 cells must be highlighted in the final grid to illustrate the TRAP. The three unclued entries of a kind are also thematically positioned. Two separate groups of consecutive clues (19 in total) contain a single superfluous letter in their wordplay. Reading these in clue order will give a hint as to where to find details of the TRAP. Chambers Dictionary (2016) is recommended.”
Enigmatic Variations 1429 The Purge by The Ace of Hearts
As the world becomes more and more virtual, The Purge is here to entertain us. Most clues have an extra letter, spelling out a definition, and four require something to be removed before … Read more >>
Enigmatic Variations No. 1428: Vow by Skylark
Hello all. I hope that you and your loved ones are keeping safe and sane and are able to enjoy the Easter weekend. Thanks for this enjoyable puzzle go to Skylark, a new … Read more >>
Enigmatic Variations No. 1427: Omission by Chalicea
Will this be O-MISSION Impossible from Chalicea? I am on a mission to find out…
Enigmatic Variations No.1426 – 55 by Augeus
“The seven unclued entries are the names of an eponymous character whose nickname (55) should be written below the grid. With one exception, all clues contain a superfluous word which should be removed before solving; the initial letters of these words give the character’s location. The normal clue’s number gives the age of the character. Chambers Dictionary (2016) is recommended.”
Enigmatic Variations 1425 Darkest Hour by Stick Insect
Darkest hour !!! How very prophetic. But in crossword terms some extra words to remove, to reveal 3 names, a perimeter quotation to insert and a single normal entry to be amended to … Read more >>
Enigmatic Variations No. 1424: Lending a Hand by Kcit
Hi everyone. I hope you are well. Thanks to Kcit for an enjoyable puzzle which certainly had someThing about it. The preamble reads: The five five-letter across entries in order are the … Read more >>
Enigmatic Variations No. 1423: Dozen by Ifor
My solving notes for DOZEN by Ifor just say ‘bl00dy hard’!… The preamble states that: “A DOZEN clues each contain two or three extra words (not always consecutive, or in thematic order); these … Read more >>
Enigmatic Variations No.1422 – 34 28 24 by Oxymoron
“In ‘34 28 24’, wordplay yielded by clues either includes an extra letter not entered in the grid (16) or ignores a letter in the entered answer (15). In clue order these letters spell out what must appear in the perimeter reading clockwise, starting at cell 31. Chambers Dictionary (2016) is recommended.”
Enigmatic Variations 1421 Keep Trying by Kruger
Keep Trying – interesting title. Several clues with misprints which will explain how to modify some of the answers. I’m sure it will all make sense in the end. And now to state … Read more >>
Enigmatic Variations No. 1420: Trisector by Eclogue
Hello all. Thanks to Eclogue, the STREET, or perhaps TESTER, of this puzzle. The preamble reads: In the completed grid for TRISECTOR, solvers must highlight a writer and the associated thematic pseudonym, … Read more >>
Enigmatic Variations No. 1419: A Letter by Piccadilly
Pick A LETTER, any letter, says Piccadilly – there’s 26 of them to choose from! The (fairly complex) preamble states that: “For each clue, A LETTER must be omitted from the answer wherever … Read more >>
Enigmatic Variations No.1418 – Accident of Birth by Chalicea
“Extra letters produced by the wordplay of every clue, when read in clue order, give a version of a misattributed quotation about an ACCIDENT OF BIRTH and the person to whom it is frequently misattributed. Solvers must resolve ten clashes in the grid by selecting what he is. Chambers Dictionary (2016) is recommended.”
Enigmatic Variations 1417 Time for Action by X-Type
4 unclued entries to determine and a thematic alteration to be applied to a clue in each across row leaving a real word. The downs are all normal Quite a gentle workout, though … Read more >>