Never knowingly undersolved
Quite a straightforward puzzle, with just a little more time required for parsing a couple. Thanks to Pasquale. There is a pair of twin answers which seemed to promise a theme, but it fizzled … Read more >>
The setter of this year’s Guardian Christmas special is Maskarade, who does of course have a hard act to follow, the Christmas slot traditionally being allocated to Araucaria (I was fortunate also to … Read more >>
The puzzle may be found at http://www.theguardian.com/crosswords/cryptic/26146.
A fairly gentle introduction to the New Year from Brummie, with a number of straightforward clues – several of them easy charades – to get / keep you going and a few smiles … Read more >>
A lovely puzzle to end the year on. Lots of great clues, particular favourites were 1d, 22a and 23a. Across 4 Move aimlessly and pick up something useful (6) GADGET =”something useful”. GAD=”Move … Read more >>
Parts of this were certainly very easy but on the whole I thought it was rather hard for a Quiptic – partly because some clues were a bit woolly. Across 1 Tell cockney … Read more >>
The last Rufus of the year, a very quick solve for me, perhaps helped by there being fewer than usual cryptic definitions. I don’t really have anything to add, except thanks to Rufus, … Read more >>
Most very straightforward clueing from Brendan today, which is perhaps welcome in post-Christmas period… …but as we know there’s always a theme in a Brendan puzzle, and it wasn’t obvious this time, at … Read more >>
An easy-going puzzle to accompany your recuperation after the festivities. Thanks to Chifonie. Definitions are underlined in the clues. [[The pictures at the bottom have unidentified links to the puzzle. Please enclose any … Read more >>
An enjoyable puzzle, with, thankfully, nothing too tricky – apart from one bit of parsing, which took me a while – for a busy day. There are quite a few anagrams, which is … Read more >>
We don’t see Beale Quiptics very often. This struck me as a sound puzzle, but there were one or two where it took me some time to see the parsing. … Read more >>
A gentle festive offering from Rufus. Lots of smiles, especially at 12ac, 5dn and 6dn. Across 1 Stocking up time (9) CHRISTMAS Cryptic definition – a time for hanging up stockings 6 Wise … Read more >>
Fine fare from Paul as we have come to expect. A medium level of difficulty and a varied set of clues, nowhere did I get the feeling that Paul is repeating himself. Quite … Read more >>
Not as tricky as Orlando can be, but some lovely cluing – I particularly liked 24ac, 3dn, 16dn and 18dn. Across 1 Everyone in drag is fat (6) TALLOW =”fat”. ALL=”Everyone” in TOW=”drag” … Read more >>
A real crossword-puzzler’s crossword puzzle from Paul today… …celebrating the centenary of (probably) the first published puzzle. I found most of the clueing quite gentle by Paul’s standards, though entertaining as always, but … Read more >>