FT

Prize puzzle from the Weekend FT of January 9 I needed a bit of dictionary and Google help to finish this puzzle. And I did not get 20D. I especially like 23A and … Read more >>

I’m not quite sure what to say about this one. I found it hard in places and very easy elsewhere. Some answers were obvious from the enumeration and a few took a while … Read more >>

This was a quick solve, but with some definite pleasures. Neo has a way of cluing three- and four-part charades with economy and style. Across 1 IDIOTIC I’D (Neo had) I (one) OTIC … Read more >>

[Now that the crossword has been uploaded on the site, removing the placeholder and filling in the  analysis.] A fine puzzle from Viking, with intricate wordplay at a few places that needed working … Read more >>

Nothing to frighten the horses here, but there are a couple of clues that just seem flawed or – at best – clumsy to me. I couldn’t help but feel that this was … Read more >>

Monday Prize Crossword on 4 January 2010 No great surprises in this FT week-opener. I simply love 9Down which, in my book, is going to be a classic. ACROSS 1 TREE SURGEONS cd … Read more >>

Prize puzzle from the Weekend FT of January 2nd Here’s another great puzzle from Cincinnus. I especially liked 1A, 29A and 5D. I solved the puzzle fairly quickly except for 19A and 6D … Read more >>

Tricky in places today, particularly the SE corner where there was a less than familiar answer (19dn) and part of the wordplay (idle in 20dn). Fortunately I knew the latter but both answers … Read more >>

A generally entertaining puzzle; I learned a few new words today.  I’m sure I’ve missed the boat entirely on 6 down; any comments are welcome. Across 1 OBSOLESCENT OB (old boy=former pupil) SOLE … Read more >>

Mostly straightforward today with some very easy clues and one or two slightly more tricky ones. I have a couple of minor quibbles (24ac & 8dn) but rather liked 11ac, 12ac, 27ac, 6dn … Read more >>

This was something of a rope-a-dope experience for me, as I played Foreman to Bradman’s Ali. After charging through the first half – thinking the setter to be unusually tame today – I toiled … Read more >>

Christmas Prize Puzzle on 24 December. “Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the grid.  Geographic isometry the Reverend had hid.” Thematic clues are denoted below as “grid entry {correspondingly-clued city/country}”. Of … Read more >>

On the first pass through the clues, with only a few entries in the grid, I thought this one was going to be difficult. On the contrary, it turned out to be quite … Read more >>

Monday Prize Crossword on 28 December 2009 Falcon gave me cause for pause with three new words  I have never heard of. Otherwise, not too difficult for an FT week-opener. ACROSS 1 SUPPER … Read more >>

Happy New Year to all!  Some interesting clues from Jason today, but as usual, I’m afraid, also a few that didn’t quite seem to work.  Across 9 INSTANTER STAN (Laurel of Laurel and … Read more >>