FT

Monday Prize Crossword on 26 October 2009 dd = double definition dud = duplicate definition cd = cryptic definition rev = reversed or reversal ins = insertion cha = charade ha = hidden … Read more >>

It’s been six months to the day since we last saw Io and that is too long. I blogged his last puzzle and my opening comment was “Well, this one was different!” and … Read more >>

Apologies for the lateness of this one–I wrote out the answers thinking I would have time later in the day to fill in the explanations, and in the event I wasn’t able to … Read more >>

A mixed bag. Some easy clues, some not. Some fine clues, a few I have quibbles with or questions about. The NE corner was slow to fall, although after finishing the puzzle I … Read more >>

This one was something of a ripper (see 19D) in terms of trickiness for me.  Probably one of my slowest solves this year.  I found the NE-corner particularly tough to gain a toe-hold … Read more >>

Monday Prize Crossword on 19 October 2009 dd = double definition cd = cryptic definition rev = reversed or reversal ins = insertion cha = charade ha = hidden answer *(fodder) = anagram … Read more >>

Prize puzzle from the Weekend FT of October 17 My favourite of these clues is 9A. Then there are a few that I do not completely understand (3D, 4D, 15D) and one, 4D, … Read more >>

A very enjoyable puzzle from Cinephile today, made easier by the horse racing theme which was fairly simple to determine from the first reference in 9a but as I was doing the clues … Read more >>

I’ve mixed views about this one. For example I liked the anagram indicators ‘snarled’ in 12a and ‘reprise’ in 20d but was unhappy with 22a and 23d as indicated below. I was also … Read more >>

Many witty clues with nice surfaces today. I found this pleasant and not too tough. Favourites: APPENDIX, ACACIA. Across 1 CUT A DASH CUT (canal, as a verb in the wordplay) + D … Read more >>

Much like yesterday, a mish-mash of the hackneyed and the hand-crafted. There seemed to be a plethora of “remove a letter” devices today (e.g. 15A, 24A, 28A, 3D, 22D, 25D). Across 1 OVERWROUGHT … Read more >>

Monday Prize Crossword on 12 October 2009 dd = double definition cd = cryptic definition rev = reversed or reversal ins = insertion cha = charade ha = hidden answer *(fodder) = anagram … Read more >>

Prize puzzle from the Weekend FT of October 10 Cincinnus keeps coming with great clues; witness 1A, 9A, 13A, 2D and 6D. But there is one clue, 11D, whose wordplay I do not … Read more >>

This was one for those who don’t like cryptic definitions (there weren’t any) or double definitions (only one). Some very good surfaces and misdirection but I had a feeling of déjà vu with … Read more >>

As usual with this setter, some nice cryptic definitions.  14dn fooled me for a while, but of course is obvious in retrospect.  It felt to me that this puzzle had a few too … Read more >>