Never knowingly undersolved
This started off looking quite tricky, but I was lucky to guess the theme involved in the cross-references at 11a early. This let me fill in quite a lot of the grid, after … Read more >>
This was an enjoyable challenge from Paul, perhaps not his most taxing, but as with his puzzles, I just had to chip away at it. The most difficult task for me was to … Read more >>
The puzzle may be found at http://www.theguardian.com/crosswords/cryptic/26020. Gordius tends to collect some brickbats, but I found this one not too difficult (despite a couple of unfamiliar words), but full of ingenious ideas. Bravo, … Read more >>
We seem to be getting to see Picaroon more frequently, which is more than fine by me. Lots of witty, story-telling surfaces and ingenious constructions, as usual, contributing to a thoroughly enjoyable puzzle. … Read more >>
I enjoyed solving and blogging Hectence’s puzzle this morning, but I fancy the target audience might have found it a bit of a struggle. There were some excellent surfaces, but often, in my … Read more >>
Taking over a new blogging slot is always a little daunting but tempered by the fact it was almost certain to be Rufus today, with any luck I’ve not given too much info … Read more >>
This puzzle by Crucible used a device also to be found in the previous puzzle in this series by this setter, No 113 in November last year. A number of clues (19 in … Read more >>
A fairly typical Paul, though without some of his customary smut or risqué clues. Solving didn’t take long and I didn’t have to return to any clues to sort out the parsing since … Read more >>
After an unfortunately stormy week in Fifteensquaredland, what a delight to see an Arachne puzzle to restore us to normality. Perhaps not one of her hardest, but no walkover either, and with plenty … Read more >>
Nothing too tricky here, but all very smoothly done. Favourites were 15ac, 3dn and 14dn. Across 1 CURTSY =”Bob” CURT=”brusque” + S[l]Y=”heartlessly cunning” 4 ALCOPOP =”drink” A + COP=”bobby” inside LOP=”dock”=cut the end … Read more >>
The puzzle may be found at http://www.theguardian.com/crosswords/cryptic/26014.
Special instructions: In this anniversary puzzle eight solutions are of a kind and not further defined Today’s themed puzzle celebrates the anniversary of the birth of a great industrialist and Puck was able to … Read more >>
A nice ‘n’ easy puzzle, as a Quiptic should be, from a regular Quiptic setter. Thanks to Nutmeg. Definitions are underlined in the clues. [[The pictures at the bottom have unidentified links to … Read more >>
The usual Rufus potpourri of anagrams, double definitions and ‘cryptic’ definitions – some more so than others [one of which I’m not entirely sure of]. Across 1 Where they wash French articles without … Read more >>
I get a slight sinking feeling, when scanning a puzzle before starting to solve it, when I see several long clues, especially when they also turn out to refer to each other. Either … Read more >>