Guardian

Solving time: 70 mins, 4 wrong/missing (45dn, 52ac, 33dn, 1ac) After 5 minutes I had solved two clues so was quite pleased to get most of this cracked in an hour, especially since … Read more >>

A devilish theme from Araucaria today, and a puzzle of mixed difficulty, I found, with some rather obscure references. Key: * = anagram dd = double definition < = reverse Across 1. IRREMEDIABLE … Read more >>

Nothing too taxing or controversial here, I think, but the usual good value from Orlando, with some clever surfaces and a few smiles along the way. Across 1   ITHACA: C[irca] [about] in TABITHA … Read more >>

I found this puzzle tough, and didn’t finish it even with both of us working on it. I think that’s just due to a few things we’d never heard of, though. [Links to … Read more >>

dd = double definition cd = cryptic definition rev = reversed or reversal ins = insertion cha = charade ha = hidden answer *(fodder) = anagram I woke up extra early today (something … Read more >>

A well constructed puzzle but sadly not enough meat to keep one occupied for the whole bank holiday – good job I’d not yet tackled the Observer. Not much to say really, some … Read more >>

A very entertaining theme for this prize crossword, and nicely hidden in the relevant surface(s). My only real problem was an explanation for 28ac Across 1. VASECTOMY. V(ery) + A SEC + TOM … Read more >>

Solving and blogging in a rush today – thankfully, I found it fairly easy with the exception of 24ac which I’m unsure on. Liked 4dn. Across 1 MASTERLY (steam)* + RLY 5 PAMPAS … Read more >>

After yesterday’s struggles with Enigmatist, I found this one mostly quite easy, except that 7dn stumped me for ages, and caused some problems with its crossing words too. Some tricky wordplay here, and … Read more >>

OK I have to admit defeat today – I really enjoyed the novelty of the elaborately long down clues but ended up unable to explain 16ac or completely nail 7dn. Across 8. SPACEMAN. … Read more >>

dd = double definition cd = cryptic definition rev = reversed or reversal ins = insertion cha = charade ha = hidden answer *(fodder) = anagram Thank you, Brendan for yet another of … Read more >>

I thought this was easier than normal for a Chifonie puzzle, but a good level of difficulty for a Monday and satisfying to solve. [Links to the puzzle as HTML, PDF and Java … Read more >>

I’m standing in on this puzzle for Rightback, who is away. The 40th anniversary that was celebrated was the Woostock festival, which opened on 15 August 1969. There were also some links to … Read more >>

Having an appalling ignorance of history, I found this difficult, and only worked out the theme after filling the grid and Googling the names. The joke is that CABALLEROs might have been members … Read more >>