Good stuff from Rufus today, with the usual cryptic/double defs and nautical references. I particularly liked the definitions in 13ac, 25ac, 16dn and 17dn.
Private Eye / Cyclops 525 – Fat Farm Survivor
Enjoyable stuff from Mr C this time. Over half answered on the first pass meant that there were enough crossing letters to facilitate solving those pesky final few tricky clues. Indeed there were some novel clue methods … Read more >>
Beelzebub 1,271
This seemed a very tough week, and it has taken me until today to get things finished off. It didn’t help that the four longer entries put up quite a struggle, which made … Read more >>
Everyman 3,536
The first Everyman I have done in quite some time. This was where I cut my solving teeth a few years ago, and it was fun to go back. If the purpose of … Read more >>
AZED 2,197
How Azed produces these grids I just don’t know. He doesn’t so far as I know use technology but compiles them neatly in an exercise book, something that I would find virtually impossible. He sticks comfortably to the Ximenean advice about unchecked letters in words and both grid and clues are full of words that require a close examination of Chambers. Amazing, week after week.
Definitions underlined.
Independent on Sunday 1273 Raich
(Please click here for this same blog but with a picture quiz added. Please do NOT post hereinbelow any comment relating to the picture quiz. Thank you.) I made things difficult for myself, … Read more >>
Independent on Sunday 1273 with Picture Quiz
(Please post comments on ONLY the picture quiz hereinbelow. To post comments on the crossword puzzle, please click here.) I made things difficult for myself, by missing the theme until I had finished … Read more >>
Enigmatic Variations No. 1129: Bang! by Kcit
A slightly different clueing technique this week. There were several clues comprising two definitions to words which differed by one letter and wordplay to the common letters. A block of cells would provide … Read more >>
Independent 8656 (Sat 12-Jul 2014) eXternal
It’s about a year since eXternal and I first crossed swords over a pencil and a pint, and since then I try to have a go the puzzle when I hear it’s been set … Read more >>
Guardian 26,310 / Philistine
We found this quite hard – generally inventive and enjoyable, although there were a few clues that let it down for me. I’ve mentioned those below, but there were some stand-out excellent clues … Read more >>
Financial Times 14,677 by WANDERER
I found this to be a tough nut to crack from Wanderer. Progress was slow and steady .. and I still couldnt nail a couple of clues in the end without some help.
Independent 8661 / Tees
Well what a ‘tease’ we have had this week. We wondered what was going on when Phi disappeared from his normal Phiday slot and appeared on TEESday instead – sorry TUESday!! There is … Read more >>
Guardian 26,315 by Picaroon
Not easy, even with the (excellent) long clues falling quite early on, and a lot to like. I could mention almost every clue – lots of deceptive surfaces and definitions, and clever little tricks. Top three favourites: 27ac, 4dn and possibly 20dn…
Financial Times no.14,676 by Peto
I found this a mixed bag of the easy-peasy, the puzzling, the hackneyed and the really rather clever. With a couple of movie-stars thrown in. Good stuff.
Guardian 26,314 – Boatman
A strange mixture of clues from Boatman today – some very obvious from either defintion or wordplay, some a lot trickier, an outrageous lift-and-separate that I’m not at all keen on but I’m … Read more >>