New month, new Punk to do so saddle up…
Independent 8934 / Dac
Sometimes we want a quick solve because we are so short of time but we end up with a real challenge. On other occasions we want to have our minds stretched but we … Read more >>
Independent
Independent 8,933 / Quixote
I was somewhat surprised to find Quixote occupying this week’s Tuesday slot, since he tends not to appear on Tuesdays. However, as we have learnt in the past, such scheduling, far from being … Read more >>
Independent on Sunday 1318/Kairos
Poor Kairos must be getting fed up with seeing my name at the top of the blog for his Sunday Indy crosswords. His puzzles often seem to come around when I’m on duty. … Read more >>
Independent 8925 Sat 23-May-2015 Monk
I was glad when I found it was Monk today as he is one of my favourite setters. But this feeling changed as I discovered how tricky this one was. I had read all the … Read more >>
Independent 8,930 by Phi
The usual excellent production from Phi. My own stupidity resulted in lack of completion — I was looking for ages at 1dn — and in particular Phi has done two things of which I approve: although there are unches all round the edges he never has less than 50% checking, something that the grid makes a bit tricky; and in 12ac he has given us some wordplay. Many setters would have been quite happy with ‘Supporters of bridges’ as a cryptic definition, but not Phi, who gives us two ways into the solution, realising that there is nothing to stop you from having a clever and witty definition in a ‘straight’ clue.
Independent 8929 / Tees
We never know whose puzzle we will have to solve on a Thursday. Certain setters send a shiver down your spine, others raise a smile but we are rarely disappointed. Today it’s Tees’ … Read more >>
Independent 8,928 / Quixote
Quixote is occupying this last Wednesday slot of the month, when Dac typically enjoys a well-earned break. I found this puzzle towards the easy end of the Quixote, and indeed Indy, spectrum. There … Read more >>
Independent 8927 / Raich
I haven’t blogged a Raich puzzle for a while so it was good to see his name against today’s puzzle Raich is a man for a theme and today was … Read more >>
Independent 8926 by Alchemi
A very entertaining and enjoyable puzzle which was accessible but certainly no gimme. There were some excellent clues (10 and 11 were both quite inventive). 27 was really the only clue that required … Read more >>
Independent on Sunday 1317 Hieroglyph
(Please click here for this same blog but with a picture quiz added. Please do NOT post hereinbelow any comment relating to the picture quiz. Thank you.) As commented by Pee Dee last … Read more >>
Independent Crossword 8919 by Nestor (16-05-2015)
A Saturday in May – a tussle with Nestor. Always a taxing time Lots of interesting clues from Nestor. Certainly not a run of the mill crossword – barely a simple clue in … Read more >>
Independent 8924 / Phi
Phi-day again, and the usual well-crafted puzzle. We always look for a theme or nina in Phi’s puzzles, but initially we couldn’t see either in this one. However, Phi is playing … Read more >>
Independent 8,923 / Klingsor
Klingsor has provided us with our cruciverbal workout this Thursday. I thoroughly enjoyed this puzzle, finding it medium-to-hard on the difficulty scale and definitely a puzzle that I had to chip away at, … Read more >>
Independent 8922 / Dac
Dac’s strength lies in his very subtle misdirection through the surface reading of his clues. The wordplay in Dac’s clues is very rarely complex although there were a couple of … Read more >>