Independent

Unusual one, this. When I saw the small number of cells around the perimeter and the unusual grid (with 360 degree symmetry, I think), I thought ‘Nina’, but the only one I can … Read more >>

This is the second successive Nimrod puzzle that I have blogged for Saturday Independents, so I guess I knew what to expect in terms of both general knowledge and difficulty. Both were at … Read more >>

*=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone, cd=cryptic definition, dd=double definition. I don't remember seeing a Tees for a little while, and this was characteristically challenging. I thought the surface readings were particularly strong, though unfortunately … Read more >>

I found this easy, solving time 14 mins * = anagram ACROSS 5 CLOT H 7 (l)OVER BO(L)D 10 STO(p) RAGE 11 REGAT T A (Great)* 12 BROT(HER)S IN ARMS (brainstorms)* 13 HO … Read more >>

Smooth and neat as always from Dac. The naturalness of his clues never ceases to amaze me. Across 1 SECOND — 2 defs, pronounced differently 4 A DV(AN CE)D 9 EX POUND 11/12 … Read more >>

Definitely one of the toughest Punks we have had for a while I thought, but wonderfully inventive clueing as we’ve come to expect. 14/18 is up there with my favourites of 2009! Across … Read more >>

*=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone, CD=cryptic def, DD=double def Entertaining and tricksy stuff from Morph, if at times a little imprecise. Could Aztec really be described as “disused Mexican” ? And S&M probably involves … Read more >>

This was as tough for me as the first couple of Tyrus puzzles I tried in the Independent. I don’t have an accurate timing for it but would guess about 45 minutes until … Read more >>

This seemed unusually difficult for Phi and one clue completely defeated me. There are a few I’m not sure about, which will I’m sure be rapidly explained here. Across 1 M(US(1)CO LOG)Y 6 … Read more >>

A nice, tough puzzle from Nestor with some lovely clues. I have to admit I struggled with the NW and SW corners though and there are a few I don’t understand even after … Read more >>

Solving time, 22 mins * = anagram < = reversed ACROSS 6 PENNY-PINCHING D0uble definition 8 GENERA LIST 9 RHEA Hidden 10 BI (ST)RO 11 ELECT RUM 12 RUN (‘extra’ from cricket) 13 … Read more >>

*=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone, cd=cryptic definition, dd=double definition. A few unfamiliar terms for me here, though these were of course offset by the clueing which led the solver unambiguously toward the solutions. Across … Read more >>

Themed as usual by the master. Familiar with both books, so it was quite a quick solve, 17 mins. Great clues as always. * = anagram ACROSS 1 CH (from chess) ARLES ref … Read more >>

*=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone, CD=cryptic def, DD=double def This was an enjoyable puzzle with a good mixture of clues, which I found a little easier than some Monday offerings (possibly because it was … Read more >>

Apologies for the lateness and brevity. Busy day. A fairly stiff challenge today I thought, with the NW corner proving a tough nut to crack. Excellent clueing as always from Phi. Across 1 … Read more >>