Independent

Phi-day is here again…. … and another great puzzle from our regular Friday setter. We always look for a theme in Phi’s puzzles, and we couldn’t help thinking that 1ac/5ac might be the … Read more >>

There is something for everyone in today’s crossword, which has been set by Knut. This medium-difficulty puzzle can best be described as a treasure trove, full of goodies to suit all tastes, from … Read more >>

Eccles makes his regular fortnightly appearance today       One of the features of  Eccles crosswords is the smoothness of the surface of his clues and the misdirection generated by some of … Read more >>

That was a workout. Really hard work at times, and with 34 clues, some of which were uncomfortably long and took ages to parse, the whole thing took me a good while. But … Read more >>

A pleasing puzzle from Vigo this morning in the ‘doesn’t have to be hard to be enjoyable’ category. Brava.   The only other thing to add before I hand over to you is … Read more >>

Thank you to Tees. Definitions are underlined in the clues. Across 1. Direction of take-off in this plane! (8) VERTICAL : Cryptic defn: Reference to a VTOL (vertical take-off and landing) aircraft/plane which … Read more >>

Where does the time go when you are not busy? Once again we have a Saturday puzzle to blog – it only seems a few weeks ago when we blogged the last one. … Read more >>

In familiar fashion, Phi brings this week’s suite of mid-week puzzles to a close. I found this crossword harder than a standard Phi, in part due to the grid and that fact that … Read more >>

We have a puzzle by Serpent on Thursday this week.       If I see Serpent as a setter, I know I’m in for a tricky time.  That’s what I found in … Read more >>

Rodriguez hasn’t appeared since April 2017 and I’d never heard of him or her — must have forgotten. I was expecting a newcomer who was possibly very easy (it being Wednesday), something that … Read more >>

We tend to think of Kairos as an Independent on Sunday setter, but he has appeared more recently in weekday slots, and here he is on a Tuesday – with a theme? Our … Read more >>

This is the first time I’ve blogged a Nitsy puzzle: an enjoyable experience that I hope to repeat. Several clues here remind me of the recent US political impasse, though this may just … Read more >>

Enjoyable as always. A nicely varied selection of words (for those of us that like that sort of thing) but not gratuitously obscure. Thank you Tees.   ACROSS 1 DERONDA Loved returning to … Read more >>

The puzzle can be found here.   Hi all.  A Morph puzzle is always a treat and I thought this was as fun and as elegantly done as usual.  A lovely way to … Read more >>

As ever, we have a puzzle from Phi on a Friday.       A good crossword today, even with a few words that are not that common in everyday vocabulary. QUIETUS (11a) … Read more >>