A quick check – no, this isn’t the Grauniad, so that probably isn’t just a typo in CRASSWORD…
Enigmatic Variations
Enigmatic Variations No.1706 – Impact by Ifor
“Four horizontal bars have been omitted from the two central columns. Having filled the grid, solvers must highlight a pair of words in the outer two columns that describe an action, and show its IMPACT on the grid by moving a thematic block of cells within the central columns, displacing another block and creating five new down entries, no two of which have the same length, to be delineated by adding four bars. The thematic block must also be highlighted. Clues to the 17 across entries that are unchanged each contain a letter to be dropped to enable solving. In clue order these letters spell a thematic name.
“All changes to grid and clues create new words, including one proper name in the grid.”
Enigmatic Variations 1705 Oath by Shark
Misprints in 19 clues lead to three parts of an oath – seven members of this organisation then fill the perimeter. Two members are missing and one is hiding in plain sight and … Read more >>
Enigmatic Variations No. 1704: Alchemy by Miles
Hello all. I can accurately say this was the best puzzle I have done by Miles!
Enigmatic Variations No. 1703 – Opening by Gaston
The solver is always looking for an OPENING to find their way into a puzzle, but here the finding of an OPENING seems to be the endgame of the puzzle as well…
Enigmatic Variations No. 1702 – Low Rider by Kolya
“Four notable examples of a LOW RIDER are given by initial letters of single redundant words in each across clue in alphabetical order of their answers. A thematic quotation and its originator runs clockwise around the perimeter starting at the top left cell. Solvers must highlight the LOW RIDER (nine contiguous cells) in the final grid, at a stretch illustrating one of the four examples in motion.
Chambers Dictionary (2016) is recommended.”
Enigmatic Variations 1701 Odd Couples by Luxor
Relatively simple instructions this week. Six definitions in across clues moved to down clues and vice versa. These make pairs of entries to be highlighted in different colours. About half a dozen clues … Read more >>
Enigmatic Variations No. 1700: One Hundred With Seven Inside by proXimal
Hi everyone. Thanks to proXimal for a puzzle I really enjoyed getting my teeth into.
Enigmatic Variations No. 1699: Busy Bees by Skylark
There was a double-Skylark the weekend before last, with a puzzle in the IQ series, as well as this pre-septemdecim-centennial-th* EV…she has been a BUSY BEE!
Enigmatic Variations No.1698 – Blanks by Eclogue
“Wordplay in each clue which does not involve theme-words or their variations generates an extra letter read in clue order, these provide a description of a text and its often repeated word. The completion of the unclued BLANKS must be deduced. Chambers Dictionary (2016) is recommended.”
Enigmatic Variations 1697 The Name of the Game II by Ranunculus
As we approach the summer we have the Name of the game II – a sequel to The name of the game. A perimeter to fill with a quotation and 12 missing letters in clues that enable its author to be found. The quotation then needs to be extended over itself.
Enigmatic Variations No. 1696: Airy by Chalicea
Hi everybody. A bright and breezy one from Chalicea, who is always a breath of fresh air!
Enigmatic Variations No. 1695: Responsible by Kruger
This week Kruger presents us with a jigsaw, which we have to fill in a RESPONSIBLE way…
Enigmatic Variations No.1694 – Final Scene by Kcit
“The grid represents the situation approaching halfway through the FINAL SCENE of an opera. Six entries (none of them words) are formed from clue answers by a representation of the events of the scene.
Enigmatic Variations 1693 Press Release by Vagans
Two unclued entries, eight consisting only of wordplay and the rest having additional letters in the clues to be removed. The extra letters spell out a consumer of product whose letters need to … Read more >>