Hello everyone. A cracking puzzle from Luxor!
Enigmatic Variations
Enigmatic Variations No. 1635: Tom’s Problem by Kcit
Not sure who TOM is, but he has a PROBLEM! Can we fix it? Yes we can!…
Enigmatic Variations No.1634 – The Magnificent Seven by Gaston
“Single-letter clashes occur in circled cells; reading in column order, picking one of the letters in each clash will spell out what THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN have in common; the other 14 letters should be entered in the cells. In each clue, the wordplay leads to the answer and a single extra letter; reading in clue order, these letters show how one would access one of the MAGNIFICENT SEVEN using the (appropriately positioned) circled letters. Its creator (4,8) should be written below the grid. One answer is an abbreviation; Chambers Dictionary (2016) is recommended.”
Enigmatic Variations 1633 18dn by BOTOX
What a preamble! With a hint from 18dn – a name around more than half the perimeter – 6 clues with definitions and word play differing by one letter – the six selected … Read more >>
Enigmatic Variations No. 1632: No Brand by Vismut
Hi everybody. Vismut has promised us a puzzle with a tidy finish …
Enigmatic Variations No. 1631: Missing by Eclogue
Eclogue presents some (28) clues with MISSING letters – and several thematic items and a place to deduce…
Enigmatic Variations No.1630 – Mixed Doubles by Ifor
“The answers to each pair of clues sharing a number must be MIXED so as to give the DOUBLES (pairs of names) that form the entry. Remaining across clues each contain a misprint in their definition; correct letters in clue order identify a playwright, one of whose works forms the central column. This work, differently punctuated, is part of a line (in ODQ) by another playwright which describes the shaded region of the grid. Chambers Dictionary (2016) is recommended.”
Enigmatic Variations 1629 Ceaselessly by Curmudgeon
There is a quotation around the perimeter missing ‘Ceaselessly’ and extra letters in down clues give an instruction. A pretty straight forward EV this week – some uncommon words but nothing too difficult … Read more >>
Enigmatic Variations No. 1627: The Missing Link by Gaston
Gaston challenges us to find a MISSING LINK, and to ‘deal with’ a barred-off central cell… The preamble states that: “Answers to eight normal clues have the same consecutive letters (the LINK) removed … Read more >>
Enigmatic Variations No.1626 – Cops by Piccadilly
“Across answers in six alternate rows are to be jumbled thematically before entry in the grid, and down answers in the fourth, sixth, eighth and tenth columns are to be jumbled non-thematically. Reading from top to bottom, left to right, the letters in the circled cells confirm the COPS theme.”
Enigmatic Variations 1625 Rogue by Karla
Well a new setter for me in the EV space. And a complex preamble too. 11 across answers need thematic treatment and the other answers in these rows have a single letter misprint … Read more >>
Enigmatic Variations No. 1624: Shadows by Skylark
Hi everyone. Skylark invites us to play in a world of shadows …
Enigmatic Variations No. 1623: Bus Stop by Chalicea
Chalicea has us waiting at a BUS STOP on New Year’s Eve…will three come along at once?…
Enigmatic Variations No.1622 – The Hater Who Had a Hater by proXimal
“In accordance with the state of the unclued HATER before and after a cryptic HATER, three down clues need a pair of consecutive letters omitted and 12 across clues need a letter to be added before solving; these letters give a source. Solvers must change the HATER to the source of scorn, making a word of a personal message to solvers. Finally, a cryptic HATER should be applied to four down entries to reveal the message (four across entries to be highlighted). All entries are real words or phrases at every stage.”