FT

One for the beginners today with generally straightforward wordplay and nothing particularly obscure. A very quick solve for me with 90% of the answers being entered during my first pass through the clues. … Read more >>

My first blog for Gurney. I found this very easy to solve, ideal for a beginner as a start into the world of cryptics (but not equally easy to annotate – the explanations … Read more >>

Took me a little while, this, but that may say more about me than about the puzzle. I had to look up a couple of the trickier words, but the wordplay was mostly … Read more >>

Prize puzzle from the Weekend FT of May 28 More gems from Cincinnus this week. I especially like 1A (APPENDICES), 7A (FADO) and 8D (DETOURS). Then there is one of his brilliant long … Read more >>

A nice crossword today from Gozo with a good range of clues, some quite easy and some more tricky.  Something for everybody I thought.  I also learned quite a few interesting facts researching the solutions for … Read more >>

When I agreed to stand in for scchua I was hoping that I would get a Loroso to blog and I have not been disappointed. As usual with this setter there are some excellent … Read more >>

Falcon’s byline holds the promise of an easy, neat puzzle, and this was no exception. An abundance of anagrams, a wide range of references and simple fun. Across 1 MARGRAVE MA (old lady) … Read more >>

A bit of a mixed bag, this one, I thought. A handful of real 1 Acrosses, but a few charades that seemed to lack inventiveness. Still, I enjoyed it. Rampant sex and Shakespeare … Read more >>

Monday Prize Crossword from May 23 My last blog!  I am pleased that it is Armonie, who has always been one of my favourites.  I have always liked his blend of economy and … Read more >>

Prize puzzle from the Weekend FT of May 21 I have the pleasure and honour of revealing that Gozo constructed this puzzle to mark his daughter’s wedding which took place the same day … Read more >>

Another enjoyable mixed bag from Cinephile.  We get the full range from the sublime (12) and the fiendish (21 ac) to the obscure (10) and just plain rubbish (17, 19).   It was much easier to guess the answers than to … Read more >>

This was quite a challenge, partly I think because I’ve not done any or many Jasons.  After some time, though, things came together, and finally had only one iffy answer.  A 4-letter light … Read more >>

Half of the answers went in very quickly during my first pass through the clues, the other half took somewhat longer due to some intricate wordplay in places. I am unable to fully … Read more >>

Enjoyable one, this, though not too challenging. If I were feeling crotchety, I’d say that a couple of the devices were a little hackneyed – but happily I’m not (today, at least), so … Read more >>