Observer

Everyman 4,028

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The standard of these clues seems to me to be pretty high nowadays. Where I take issue with Everyman is in his use of question marks: he doesn’t always use them when he should, and he sometimes uses them pointlessly. There are several clues where the answer is a complete anagram of words in the clue. Very clever, but is the device overused? 3dn and 12dn are I think the pair, in that one begins with ‘Old’ and the other with ‘New’. 1dn is the self-referential clue and 22dn is the first letters clue.

Definitions underlined in crimson. Indicators (hidden, homophone, anagram, reversal etc.) in italics. Anagrams shown (like this)* or *(like this) [yes you’re right of course, Tony Collman@27]. Link-words in green.

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Azed 2689

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This is the final Azed of 2023 with the usual mix of known and lesser know entries.       I know this blog precedes the blog for the Spoonerism Competition Puzzle Azed 2688, … Read more >>

Everyman 4,025/10 December

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Nothing to frighten the horses here, I would say. Which is as it should be. Abbreviations cd cryptic definition dd double definition cad clue as definition (xxxx)* anagram anagrind = anagram indicator [x] … Read more >>

Azed 2686

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For grid-spotters, this one is slightly unusual in having 90-degree rotational symmetry, though that doesn’t seem to have any special significance. Just another quality puzzle from the master. Thanks to Azed. Across 1 … Read more >>

Azed No. 2,685 Plain- Competition Puzzle

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I was relieved that this was just a ‘plain’ Azed crossword, because his specials often take ages. In the event it was one of his easier ones I thought. All made sense and I felt as if everything was parsed OK. You may have different opinions. It seemed there were quite a lot of anagrams: I counted ten clues in which there were whole or part anagrams. Some of the definitions are a bit dense, but will be there in Chambers.

Definitions in crimson, underlined. Anagram indicators shown like (this)* or *(this).

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Everyman 4,024

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As always seems to be the case this is well-constructed and there are no criticisms really. The usual things are there — the first letters clue, the rhyming pair, the self-reference. My moan at 6dn about the fact that it’s a CD is a voice crying in the wilderness: lots of people, including some good setters, like them.

Definitions in crimson, underlined. Indicators (anagram, homophone, juxtaposition, hidden, etc) in italics. Anagram indicators shown like *(this) or (this)*, link-words in green.

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Azed 2683

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We have a standard crossword from Azed this week.       For me, this was a puzzle of two halves.  I made good progress on the right hand side but struggled quite … Read more >>

Everyman 4,021/12 November

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All the usual fun of the fair again with Everyman this week: the rhyming couplets, the initial letters clue, and the self-reference.   Abbreviations cd cryptic definition dd double definition cad clue as … Read more >>