Never knowingly undersolved
This puzzle by Crucible used a device also to be found in the previous puzzle in this series by this setter, No 113 in November last year. A number of clues (19 in … Read more >>
A monster preamble this time – and all the excitement associated with a grid of many colours.
What we learn is that the puzzle’s subject plays 4 roles and is known by a particular pseudonym to Enigmatic Variations solvers. These roles and pseudonym are given respectively by corrections to lights and extra letters from subsidiary indications. Further background to the roles is given by 2 normal clues per role. Phew!
What’s this? A compiler I’ve not seen before in the Prize slot. What’s that! Setting the Inquisitor on the same day! This is probably going to be a tough challenge. I got only … Read more >>
A fairly typical Paul, though without some of his customary smut or risqué clues. Solving didn’t take long and I didn’t have to return to any clues to sort out the parsing since … Read more >>
Smashing puzzle from The Don – 28 across brill Across 1 ANARCHIC lacking proper rule A R (king) in AN CHIC (elegant) 6 STROBE is flashy ST (saint) ROBE … Read more >>
A good solid puzzle from Phi today with a number of clues that brought a smile as I solved them or understood more them about as I wrote the blog. … Read more >>
After an unfortunately stormy week in Fifteensquaredland, what a delight to see an Arachne puzzle to restore us to normality. Perhaps not one of her hardest, but no walkover either, and with plenty … Read more >>
This was tough. Without use of the ‘Reveal letter’ button and yes, I must admit, on one or two occasions the ‘Reveal’ button itself, I doubt whether I’d have finished. Even the straightforward … Read more >>
I enjoyed this offering from Gurney. It seemed very fresh; that might be because I don’t blog Gurney’s puzzles very often, or it might simply be because this was a well-thought-out, witty and … Read more >>
Nothing too tricky here, but all very smoothly done. Favourites were 15ac, 3dn and 14dn. Across 1 CURTSY =”Bob” CURT=”brusque” + S[l]Y=”heartlessly cunning” 4 ALCOPOP =”drink” A + COP=”bobby” inside LOP=”dock”=cut the end … Read more >>
Monday Prize Crossword/Jul 22 Elegantly written crossword by Crux. Smooth surfaces as ever with a lot of name-dropping this time, mostly (but not all) referring to Americans. Definitions are underlined wherever possible and/or appropriate. … Read more >>
Prize puzzle from the Weekend FT of July 20, 2013 I rate this a very good puzzle and it took me a good while to complete it. My top clues are 1A (FELT-TIP … Read more >>
Yes, it’s me again. PeeDee has been having internet access problems so I am standing in for him, not that I mind because Monk is one of my favourite setters. Monk invariably has … Read more >>
A bit of head-scratching today and not a nit in sight! There are still a few where we have the odd itch, but – we may be missing something. We hope that someone … Read more >>
The puzzle may be found at http://www.theguardian.com/crosswords/cryptic/26014.