Beelzebub 1,276

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This all seemed fairly straightforward for the most part, with Chambers just required to wrap up a few loose ends. The bit where I am stumped is 25 down. The initial letter is … Read more >>

HTML Tags in Comments

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The issue that was causing problems when using HTML tags in comments has now been resolved so please ignore my original post (see below) and continue to use them if/when required. ************* Original … Read more >>

Independent 8693 by Commoner

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*=anagram [] = removed e.g. char[m]=char ()=abbreviation e.g. A(mpere)=a Hom. = homophone I’ve not come across Commoner much, although the name sounds familiar (maybe I’m confusing it with Everyman). This was a mostly … Read more >>

Guardian Prize 26,340 / Picaroon

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Now this, from one of my favourite setters, is what I call a Prize puzzle – and I’m not talking about the much-disputed difficulty level. For me, there’s a ‘special’ feel about this: … Read more >>

Independent 8,691 by Phi

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Phi’s usual excellent offering. Most of these clues can be simply parsed, although they were not all that simple to get in the first place.

The radio this morning said that it was Debussy’s birthday, and knowing Phi’s musical leanings I half expected some reference to this, but I can see none. The checkers at the top and bottom might suggest something, but apparently no. My impression is that Phi started off with intentions for them but gave up and produced a ‘normal’ crossword instead. Probably there is something there, although Phi told us recently that his crosswords often contained no Nina.

 

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