Enigmatic Variations – Page 25

Enigmatic Variations No. 1412: Line of Flight by Hedge-sparrow

Sat December 21, 2019 at 12:03 am by Kitty

Hello! As this is my last blog before a certain festival (and of the year), I would like to wish you all the very best for the season and for the year ahead. … Read more >>

Enigmatic Variations No. 1411: All Aboard by Gaston

Sat December 14, 2019 at 12:01 am by mc_rapper67

It seems that Gaston has lost a few pieces of his jigsaw in ALL ABOARD – maybe down the back of the sofa, or the dog ate them?… (There does seem to have … Read more >>

Enigmatic Variations No.1410 – G&T by Xanthippe

Sat December 7, 2019 at 4:33 pmSat December 7, 2019 at 12:01 am by Mister Sting

“In G&T, clues are given in two groups headed by the two numbered wordplay-only clues. Within each group, the clues are given in the normal order and either the clue (starred), or answer, requires thematic treatment, always involving a single letter. All answers and entries are real words, numbers in brackets refer to entry lengths. Solvers must highlight 11 letters in the completed grid and write two thematic words (10, 8) under the grid. Chambers Dictionary (2016) is recommended.”

Enigmatic Variations 1409 Only Connect by Ifor

Sat November 30, 2019 at 3:51 pmSat November 30, 2019 at 12:11 am by twencelas

Apologies for the tardiness of this review. Had a little bit of electrical work to do. Which if you have been following the election campaign is about as factual as most of the … Read more >>

Enigmatic Variations No. 1408: En Passant by Jaques

Sat November 23, 2019 at 12:09 am by Kitty

Hello everybody. I remembered very much enjoying the last Jaques puzzle I solved, so I started this one in a good frame of mind. Of course it is an EV, so things can … Read more >>

Enigmatic Variations No. 1407: Oliver by The Ace of Hearts

Sun November 17, 2019 at 12:20 amSat November 16, 2019 at 12:01 am by mc_rapper67

An educational (for me) solve from the Ace of Hearts this week…will OLIVER leave us asking for more?!… The preamble states that: “In OLIVER, four clues are normal and their answers are associated … Read more >>

Enigmatic Variations No.1406 – Entente by Chalicea

Sat November 9, 2019 at 2:13 pmSat November 9, 2019 at 12:01 am by Mister Sting

“As a gesture of ENTENTE solvers must 1ac 15 43 28 24 44 and complete the tripartite expression at 17 14 12. Chambers Dictionary (2016) is recommended.”

Enigmatic Variations 1405 Association by Piccadilly

Sat November 2, 2019 at 12:06 am by twencelas

Autumn and an association to find – 11 unclued entries which need to associated with a word from a normal clue. The other clues have an extra letter in the wordplay – across … Read more >>

Enigmatic Variations No. 1404: Lady by Vismut

Sun October 27, 2019 at 9:59 amSat October 26, 2019 at 7:00 am by Kitty

Hi everybody. Thanks to Vismut for a puzzle which I found very tough, but which revealed at the end the story of a remarkable lady, one well worth reading about. The preamble … Read more >>

Enigmatic Variations No. 1403: Arrival by Kcit

Sat October 19, 2019 at 12:01 am by mc_rapper67

A relatively small 10×10 (or, effectively, 11×11 minus 1) grid for ARRIVAL from Kcit…who is arriving where?… The preamble states that: “The puzzle marks an ARRIVAL. From one answer to a normal clue … Read more >>

Enigmatic Variations No.1402 – EL CID by Kruger

Sat October 12, 2019 at 12:01 am by Mister Sting

“Corrections to single letter misprints in the definitions in 20 clues roughly identify characters who, along with what they are, must be highlighted (29 cells in total) in the completed grid. A further character and the context in which he could be similarly classified must also be highlighted (another 19 cells). Chambers Dictionary (2016) is recommended.”

Enigmatic Variations 1401 Unconventional by Stick Insect

Sat October 5, 2019 at 11:45 am by twencelas

Something unconventional this week which must be deduced – I do like a simple preamble. And whilst not overly difficult, what a marvellous construction. The novelty being that spaces and punctuation filled spaces … Read more >>

Enigmatic Variations No. 1400: Title by Oxymoron

Sat September 28, 2019 at 2:02 amSat September 28, 2019 at 1:30 am by Kitty

Hello everyone. I had never solved an Oxymoron puzzle before, and it was only when writing up the blog that I realised that thanks for this crossword are due to the late, great … Read more >>

Enigmatic Variations No. 1399: They Are What They Are by Artix

Sun September 22, 2019 at 8:02 amSat September 21, 2019 at 12:01 am by mc_rapper67

A classic – and classical – EV from Artix… …with a lot of preamble, and a lot of white space between the clues. The preamble states that: “In THEY ARE WHAT THEY ARE, … Read more >>

Enigmatic Variations No.1398 – Five of a Kind by Maranga

Sat September 14, 2019 at 12:01 am by Mister Sting

“The perimeter comprises FIVE OF A KIND, and the answer to one clue might be found in any of them. Solvers must highlight this entry in an appropriate colour. Unchecked letters in the perimeter could spell MAN GUZZLES BAR CLEAN FOR MONTH. Chambers Dictionary (2016) is recommended.”