Independent

Solving time: 12 minutes After yesterday’s tough Nimrod, and a generally tricky week all round in most papers, this made a nice change with a straightforward Phi challenge. 4ac was a bit of  a tease … Read more >>

I found this very tough but a thoroughly enjoyable solve. Lots of great clues (my personal favourite is 12a), and a very clever touch at 19 and 20d. I’m still unsure about 17a, … Read more >>

I found this very tough but fun. There are still a few clues that I don’t fully understand though – 10a, 25a,27a and 18d. There’s also a Valentine’s Day Nina in the unchecked … Read more >>

Not too difficult a puzzle, I thought. Solving time, 15 mins. All the four 15-letter entries were direct anagrams. Notes on some clues below – happy to explain others if asked. ACROSS 1 … Read more >>

As usual from Dac, very efficient pleasant clues with good surfaces. Across 1 dropPED LARge. A well-concealed hidden, which was one of the last I did. 9 A(S)LOPE I think. I only have … Read more >>

Another superb themed puzzle from Virgilius, with the usual crop of outstanding clues, wonderful surface readings and many a smile raised. Solving time: 21 mins. The theme is phrases with the abbreviation PC. … Read more >>

* = anag, < = reversed A solid puzzle by Hypnos – reasonably challenging without being too difficult. I finished it fairly quickly, but there were a couple of clues I didn’t entirely … Read more >>

Across 8 FAST FOOD – I think this could be considered an oxymoron because fasting means not eating at all. 9 NET,(LET)* – “stingy” is made all the more deceiving because of the … Read more >>

I found this easier than usual, solving time 10 mins < = reversed   * = anagram ACROSS 1 SP (A R) RING  PARTNE R   entrap<    r =right 9 SP (L) IT    … Read more >>

Across 1 A BIT OF ALL RIGHT – OK being another word for ALL RIGHT. 8 LET THEM EAT CAKE 9 (SO ONE ENCHAINED)* – CHEESE AND ONION. The capital R in “Rolls” … Read more >>

I found this one fairly straightforward, solving time 15 mins. Notes on some clues below, happy to explain others if asked. * = anagram ACROSS 4 SCR AMBLE Senior Common Room 11 LI … Read more >>

Not too difficult today. Solving time, 16 mins * = anagram ACROSS 10 BUTTONED UP Double definition 11 AN (G) ORA (k) 17 BEST OWER 21 CIVIL (I) TIES I = electric current … Read more >>

I had been expecting a comparatively easy ride today; evidently we have a treat in store on Saturday. Although this took a long time, as Punk’s crosswords always do, it was very good: … Read more >>

Quite a tough puzzle from Merlin and I didn’t manage to finish it, getting stuck on 25 across, 5 across and 8 down. Across 1 Bludgeon: B(l)udge on. 5 Ageism ? Clue was … Read more >>

Theme – explicitly stated – 8 down – for those of us not too familiar with them, friendly clues made them deducible or guessable. Solving time, 31 mins. < = reversed * = … Read more >>