Observer

Azed 2166

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As Don Manley pointed out in a comment on Nick’s blog last week, Azed’s sound clueing often means that you can often work out what the answer must be from the wordplay, even … Read more >>

AZED No. 2,165 Plain

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Nick:  Fairly straight forward Azed this week. I found nothing too taxing, although there are some gotcha’s unless the clues are parsed correctly. I also correctly guessed the competition phrase in about 60 … Read more >>

AZED 2,164 Playfair

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I admit to a slight feeling of trepidation when I opened my Observer last Sunday and noticed that it was a Playfair puzzle, knowing that it was my turn to blog.  It’s almost … Read more >>

Everyman 3503/November 24

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Another good’un – as always – from Everyman, containing  just one phrase with which I was unfamiliar.  And a small typo in one of the clues.       Abbreviations cd  cryptic definition … Read more >>

Azed 2163

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Azed, as usual, has given us a master class in precise cluing., where it is always clear when  you have derived the right answer from the wordplay.       There weren’t very … Read more >>

Azed 2162

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Not sure how hard this actually was since I solved it over several days in between various meetings.   Found TBRB quite useful — understatement of the year. Across 1 GOSS,I,B – a … Read more >>

AZED 2,161

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The usual very pleasant workout from Azed. I always find that I make steady progress and then reach an impasse, when I simply can’t parse one or two of the clues. But they … Read more >>

Everyman 3500/3 November

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A special edition puzzle from Everyman this week.   Lorraine wasn’t able to blog this one, so you’ll have to put up with me two weeks running.  I’m happy to help, especially since … Read more >>

Azed 2160

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I found this mostly pretty easy, finishing it (so I thought) without aids in about half an hour, greatly helped by getting the long answers at 1a and 1d early on. Writing up … Read more >>

Everyman 3499/27 October

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Another well-constructed, accessible puzzle from Everyman.  A couple of clue types that this setter doesn’t often use in today’s offering.         Abbreviations cd  cryptic definition dd  double definition (xxxx)*  anagram … Read more >>

AZED No. 2,159 Plain

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Nick:  Very tough cluing this week from Azed. 13ac, 31ac, 4dn, 16dn and 27dn caused me a few moments of head scratching trying to parse the clues correctly.   Finally 18ac was a … Read more >>