“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
Enigmatic Variations 1405 Association by Piccadilly
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
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
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
“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
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
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
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
“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.”
Enigmatic Variations 1397 TT Chapter by Vismut
A misprint in the definitions of each clue. An unclued entry and 23 cells to highlight. Should be fun. My first thought was that this was at the easier end of the difficulty … Read more >>
Enigmatic Variations No. 1396: Up and Down and Round and Round by Ifor
Hi everyone. This week we have a puzzle from Ifor which I much enjoyed, finding it nicely chewy in the clueing and with an endgame that didn’t give up its secrets too easily. … Read more >>
Enigmatic Variations No. 1395: Differences by Dysart
This was nearly a DNF (did not finish) for me – in fact it still may be – and it was certainly an MSD (missed submission deadline), as I didn’t crack the final … Read more >>
Enigmatic Variations No.1394 – Coup de Grace by Gaston
“The unclued entries have been practising for the COUP DE GRACE by removing a thematic group of consecutive letters from eight normally clued entries, always leaving shorter, real words to be entered in the grid. In all other clues, wordplay indicates the answer with an extra letter; in clue order these letters reveal the theme. Solvers should administer the COUP DE GRACE themselves by blacking out two symmetrical groups of six.”
Enigmatic Variations 1393 Missing Person by Chalicea
A single letter missing from downs spelling out an instruction to fill in the unclued entries – a person to be removed and then another one to be highlighted. Quite a few unusual … Read more >>
Enigmatic Variations No. 1392: Name That Tune by X-Type
Hello everyone. I was happy to see a puzzle from a Jaguar (even if this one isn’t one of my cousins!). For me it was very much at the easier end of the … Read more >>