FT

A relatively straightforward puzzle from Cinephile, and nothing contentious that I can see.  Thank you Cinephile for an enjoyable puzzle. Hold mouse over clue number to see clue. Across 1 LEBANESE BANES (troubles) … Read more >>

One for newcomers to cryptic puzzles today, with nothing particularly difficult nor any rare or unusual answers. I have a minor query regarding part of the wordplay in 18dn but apart from that … Read more >>

I found a lot to admire in this puzzle and a few clues to struggle with. The bottom-right corner was hard to piece together with 20a and 20d eluding me till the very … Read more >>

Apologies for the late appearance of this post but I’ve been out and hadn’t noticed that the scheduled blogger had not turned up.  I’ve got to go out again so this has been … Read more >>

Monday Prize Crossword/Nov 7 Pleasant starter of the week, this Dante.  What struck me was that the clues were shorter than usual. Surfaces were great as ever ….. ….. while my Top 3 … Read more >>

Prize puzzle from the Weekend FT of November 5 Here’s another fine although uncharacteristic puzzle from Cincinnus. I especially like 1A (DICTION), 19A (MOPED), 5D (BATES), 7D (VAGUE) and 17D (APPLIANCE). And I … Read more >>

Good stuff from IO, with some clever and amusing clues. 18,19 was my clear favourite, one of the easier ones but it made me laugh, I thought 15dn was clever too. I can’t get to … Read more >>

As scchua hinted in his blog last week, he is off on a break, so I am blogging in his place during his holiday.  Next week, though, the blogger will be a stand-in … Read more >>

A gentle puzzle with Falcon’s elegant clues and references to a variety of knowledge domains. Smooth anagrams, natural surfaces, nothing too taxing. Across 1 EMBALM M (male) BA (graduate), in ELM (tree) 5 … Read more >>

Oops. Problems here. I’m not sure how it’s come out in the pink paper, but the PDF puzzle I’ve got from the FT website is all to cock: rogue white squares and clues … Read more >>

Monday Prize Crossword/Oct 31 A Crux crossword full of clues that were really on my wavelength. When I showed this puzzle to my PinC (who has never tackled a Crux), she was very … Read more >>

Prize puzzle from the Weekend FT of October 29 I think this is an exceptionally fine Mudd puzzle with many strong clues, my favourites being 1A (SAINT-SAENS), 26A (DUNG), 18D (PRESENT) and 21D … Read more >>

A good crossword from Aardvaark I thought.  Not easy, but everthing is there to be found.  The clues are very solid, no stray words or dubious definitions at all. Aardvark has put in … Read more >>

I found today’s difficult (as any Guardian or Indy cryptic).  Starting was easy enough with the NW quarter quickly filled in, but the other 3 put up quite a struggle.  For some time, … Read more >>

I generally have mixed feelings about Hamilton’s puzzles and this was no different. I like the conversational surface of some clues like 21A, 15D, 19D but wasn’t too happy with a few others … Read more >>