Enigmatic Variations – Page 33

Enigmatic Variations 1293 Full Marks by Steve

Sat September 9, 2017 at 12:05 am by twencelas

A cryptic preamble this week and no word lengths shown. Though the letters in the ringed cells of the final grid will help to fill in the grid. A real chicken and egg … Read more >>

Enigmatic Variations No. 1292: Yackety-Yack by The Ace of Hearts

Sat September 2, 2017 at 12:00 am by Shenanigans

It didn’t seem that there would be anything too taxing this week: In YACKETY-YACK, from the answer to each clue a letter must be deleted wherever it appears before entry into the grid; … Read more >>

Enigmatic Variations No. 1291: Full Disclosure by Piccadilly

Sat August 26, 2017 at 12:01 am by mc_rapper67

FULL DISCLOSURE is not something we get too much these days, in the age of ‘fake news’ and spin doctors…what is Piccadilly going to disclose to us?… The preamble states that: “The wordplay … Read more >>

Enigmatic Variations No.1290 – Good Auspices by Charybdis

Sat August 19, 2017 at 1:51 pmSat August 19, 2017 at 12:01 am by Mister Sting

‘In GOOD AUSPICES, answers to unclued entries in single-digit positions are thematically related; those at 11 (so they say) belong to a later set. Unchecked and mutually cross-checking letters of these unclued entries could spell WIND IS UP – I HALT DOZINGS. A seven-letter word which might be seen during the transition must be appropriately coloured (in whatever manner), as must two linked identical squares of four cells each. Chambers Dictionary (2016) is recommended.’

Enigmatic Variations 1289 Migration by Gnomie

Sat August 12, 2017 at 12:05 am by twencelas

As July comes to a close – 5 down clues to lose letters and 5 across clues to receive the letters. All real words in the final grid and thematic items – with … Read more >>

Enigmatic Variations No. 1288: The Bigger Picture by Elgar (Updated)

Sat August 5, 2017 at 9:47 pmSat August 5, 2017 at 12:00 am by Shenanigans

I’d been asked a couple of times during July “Are you blogging the EV the day after the Inquisitor No. 1500 celebrations?” “Yes,” said I. “Oh dear!” said they, “It’s a tough one.” … Read more >>

Enigmatic Variations No. 1287: Go For It! by Kruger

Sat July 29, 2017 at 12:01 am by mc_rapper67

Well, on the scale of ‘Fifty Shades of EV’, this was a masochistic 40-plus for your correspondent…Kruger exhorted us to ‘GO FOR IT!’, but I staggered across the line like a marathon runner … Read more >>

Enigmatic Variations No1286 – Resistance by Augeas

Sat July 22, 2017 at 12:01 am by Mister Sting

We have an abundance of instruction this week. All but two clues contain extra words. The first letters of these words (and the numbers of the other two clues) give an instruction. Nine ringed cells give a thematic object and surname.

Enigmatic Variations 1285 Outrageous Simile by Stick Kcit

Sat July 15, 2017 at 12:02 am by twencelas

A wonderfully complex preamble this week. Read once, twice maybe three times? And then start on the clues and hope it all falls into place. The preamble in summary: There are 9 … Read more >>

Enigmatic Variations No. 1284: Team by Chalicea

Sat July 8, 2017 at 7:55 pmSat July 8, 2017 at 12:00 am by Shenanigans

After my last EV slog blog (Mynot’s atomic numbers), hopefully an easier week with Chalicea. The preamble was straightforward, so all boded well: In TEAM, 20ac (two words) in the 27ac was the … Read more >>

Enigmatic Variations No. 1283: Coastline Clashes by Oxymoron

Sat July 1, 2017 at 12:01 am by mc_rapper67

Hmm…what sort of ‘COASTLINE CLASHES’ is Oxymoron testing us with this week? I’m not so good on history, so if it is sea battles I might struggle… The preamble states: “Each of the six … Read more >>

Enigmatic Variations No.1282 – Title Change by Gos

Wed July 19, 2017 at 2:31 pmSat June 24, 2017 at 12:01 am by Mister Sting

“The puzzle’s theme is a work by a well-known British crime writer.” Well, I just read a book by a well-known British crime writer, and I know who I think it is…

Enigmatic Variations 1281 Carte Blanche by Stick Insect

Sat June 17, 2017 at 12:05 am by twencelas

No bars this week. Extra letters in all the clues which spell out a line from a play. The letters within the speaker of this line then need to be highlighted. Sounds amusing. … Read more >>

Enigmatic Variations No. 1280: Occasional Item of Furniture by MynoT

Sat June 10, 2017 at 12:00 am by Shenanigans

All answers in this puzzle needed to be changed thematically before entry, “[w]ith the help of an OCCASIONAL ITEM OF FURNITURE”. (Do you like the way I put square brackets around the initial … Read more >>

Enigmatic Variations No. 1279: Mythological Film Club by Samuel

Sat June 3, 2017 at 12:01 am by mc_rapper67

A cinematic pun-fest from Samuel this week, in MYTHOLOGICAL FILM CLUB… The preamble states that: “In a game of MYTHOLOGICAL FILM CLUB, ten thematic clues each consist of a partial film title which … Read more >>