Financial Times 14,389 – Dante
Monday Prize Crossword/Aug 12 A typical Dante crossword that was, of course, no match for the two FT puzzles that followed (Redshank, Loroso) as far as difficulty is concerned. Yet, it took me … Read more >>
Financial Times 14,388 by Mudd
Prize puzzle from the Weekend FT of August 10, 2013 I found this Mudd puzzle moderately easy and very good. My favourite clues are 10A (FACE CARD) and the brilliant 17D (FORTY-FIVE). ACROSS … Read more >>
Financial Times 14397 by Monk
Typically tough crossword from Monk, obscure words and devious constructions. There are still two solutions I cannot fathom, so any help appreciated. We have to sets of anagrams in this puzzle: BEAST, ABETS,BATES,BASTE … Read more >>
Guardian 26,032 – Paul
Some tough cluing here, I struggled after getting the long 19d solution almost immediately. Favourites were 11ac, 22ac, 16dn and the groan-worthy 8dn. edited, thanks to cholecyst and Eileen Across 1 TESTIS =”ball” … Read more >>
Independent 8,378 / Dac
It’s Wednesday today, so time for my weekly dose of Dac. I thought I was going to race through this one, and indeed I did speed through the first two thirds; the final … Read more >>
Inquisitor 1294: Barriers by Samuel
A long preamble but, as Nimrod indicated in his paragraph on “The regulars”, this was a mild offering from Samuel. Across clues with extra letters, plus seven wordplay-only surnames. Normal Down clues. The … Read more >>
Financial Times 14396 Jason
A not-too-difficult one from Jason, with some nice misdirections. Thanks to Jason. Definitions are underlined in the clues. [[The pictures at the bottom have unidentified links to the puzzle. Please enclose any comments … Read more >>
Guardian 26,031 – Crucible
A very nice puzzle from Crucible, the clues teeming with musical references. Not all the clues require musical knowledge, but it would certainly help in a few, and there are a couple of … Read more >>
Independent 8377 / Kairos
Kairos has set a number of Independent on Sunday crosswords, but I think this is his first appearance in the daily paper. This puzzle took me back to my childhood with … Read more >>
Guardian Quiptic 718 / Moley
Moley once again hits the right level for a Quiptic, but I found one or two of the clues to be a bit disappointing Most of the definitions given are from Chambers 12th … Read more >>
Guardian 26,030 by Rufus
It’s monday, it’s Rufus, you know what you’re getting. Usual mix of mostly double and cryptic definitions with the odd googly thrown in, this took me longer than eXternal in the Indy. Across … Read more >>
Independent 8376 by eXternal
Back after a week away for a firework competition in Plymouth, this is a personal milestone of my 100th blog. Not eXternal at his hardest I thought, but need a little help on … Read more >>
Private Eye / Cyclops 501 – Oh Dearie Me
More Cryptic Defs (CDs) in the clues than usual this time. Across 1 THROWS UP Worth getting pissed on drink? Proves otherwise, maybe (6,2) WORTH* AInd: getting pissed, SUP drink. Def. is semi-&Lit. … Read more >>
Beelzebub 1,223
A reasonably smooth solve this week, perhaps due to some relatively uncomplicated wordplay in parts, and generally more accessible vocabulary than some weeks. Still there were a few to check in Chambers, and … Read more >>
Everyman No. 3488 (11th August)
Lorraine: Good morning to you all. Yet another wonderful Sunday morning solve, the only problem is that I did not get to solve it until Wednesday morning due to work 🙁 I counted 6 … Read more >>