Hello, lovelies!
Enigmatic Variations
Enigmatic Variations No. 1671: Good Health by Karla
I hope this last blog (for me) of 2024 finds you in GOOD HEALTH…
Enigmatic Variations No.1670 – Loop by Jaques
“Solvers must remove a superfluous word from each of 23 clues before solving. Taking either the first or last letter from these words, in clue order, indicates how to LOOP the remaining answers for entry, resolving any clashes. All entries in the final grid are real words.”
Enigmatic Variations 1669 Strip Tease by Kcit
A complex preamble but not really that complicated. Regular clues numbered and then pairs of regular clues linked together forming a row or column’s entries and insert the appropriate bars – then highlight … Read more >>
Enigmatic Variations No. 1668: The Answer by Ifor
Hi all. What is the answer? That is the question …
Enigmatic Variations No. 1667: Negatives by Stick Insect
I hope I won’t be feeling NEGATIVE about this puzzle from Stick Insect by the end?!…
Enigmatic Variations No.1666 – DROP by proXimal
“All clues are normal, but a letter must DROP out wherever it occurs before entry in each down answer. Dropped letters, in clue order, spell two phrases pinpointing a year when an event befell the unclued entry. In the final grid, the event must be re-enacted by replacing one entry with another leaving empty cells. All entries are real words or names at every stage (ignoring gaps).”
Enigmatic Variations 1665 Untitled by Luxor
A regular alphabetical jigsaw with a title to find from a single letter from each column. Sounds interesting. As with any unnumbered puzzle the key is to solve enough clues to start grid … Read more >>
Enigmatic Variations No. 1664: Downhill by Vagans
Hi everybody, and away we go …
Enigmatic Variations No. 1663: The Right Fit by Piccadilly
Ah, yet another jigsaw EV, albeit one with a piece missing from the middle. Let’s hope I can get the RIGHT FIT of entries in the grid…although the preamble mentions ‘ambiguities’, which may add some jeopardy to proceedings…
Enigmatic Variations No.1662 – Invaders by Vismut
“In ten of the across clues, an incorrect letter has pushed out the correct one; in 17 of the down clues a letter has walked away from the clue. In clue order, these incorrect and missing letters spell out some thematic names. The proliferation, unexpected appearance and (in one case) mutation of INVADERS must be dealt with so that four titular motifs and an associated thematic name can be seen (making new real-word crossing entries, including a city name). Unchecked letters in the perimeter, before any adjustments, might make CHAFF OR IDIOM. Chambers Dictionary (2016) is recommended.”
Enigmatic Variations 1661 Pig Latin by Chalicea
As Autumn descends on us, Chalicea provides some indoor amusement. Extra letters in the wordplay of 27 clues should enable 13ac to be found. And 13ac should enable four statements to be completed … Read more >>
Enigmatic Variations No. 1660: Border Dispute by Arcadia
Hello. Well, that’s one way to resolve a dispute. Unite against a common enemy!
Enigmatic Variations No. 1659: Problem by Eclogue
Ah, Monsieur l’EV Editor, two cartes blanche in as many weeks – you do spoil us! The only PROBLEM is that it is my turn to blog…
Enigmatic Variations No.1658 – Pseudonym by Gaston
“Clues are presented in normal order, but there are nine unclued entries. One is the theme’s creator; the other eight comprise the seven members of a thematic group, with one member covering two entries. Twenty-two clues each contain a single-letter misprint. Read in clue order, the correct letters produce two names; the first eleven (all from across clues) spell out the theme’s central character, thought to be a PSEUDONYM for the eleven-letter second name (all from down clues). Chambers Dictionary (2016) is recommended.”