Fifteensquared – Page 1252 – Never knowingly undersolved

Guardian 25,774 – Bonxie

Tue October 23, 2012 at 2:17 am by Uncle Yap

Quite a delightful morning exercise which did not trouble me at all except 23A but help was very quickly forthcoming. Many creative definitions which added spice to the clues. Place cursor over clue … Read more >>

Guardian 25,773 / Rufus

Mon October 22, 2012 at 9:05 am by Eileen

I’m surprised to find that it’s almost four months since I blogged a Rufus puzzle. Here we have the familiar collection of clever anagrams, interspersed with double and cryptic definitions, several of which … Read more >>

Independent 8119 by Punk

Mon October 22, 2012 at 9:00 am by NealH

*=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone, CD=cryptic def, DD=double def, sp=spoonerism An unusual Monday outing for Punk, which was a themed puzzle, the theme being people and things from Brighton. Since I didn’t know any … Read more >>

Guardian Quiptic 675 Nutmeg

Mon October 22, 2012 at 7:32 am by scchua

A straightforward Quiptic. Thanks to Nutmeg for some enjoyable surfaces. Definitions are underlined in the clues. [[The pictures at the bottom of the blog have unidentified links to the puzzle.]] Across 1 One … Read more >>

Independent on Sunday 1182/Poins

Sun October 21, 2012 at 8:31 amSun October 21, 2012 at 12:01 am by Pierre

I struggled a bit with this, mainly because while I was trying to solve it, the kids were in the front room screaming at the TV to encourage Andy Murray to convert four … Read more >>

Everyman N° 3,445 (14 October)

Sun October 21, 2012 at 12:01 am by PeterO

The odd less common reference, the inevitable bit of geography, notably coherent surfaces – what more can one say? Everyman continues to produce crosswords which are not pitched too high for most beginners, but have enough spice to satisfy more experienced solvers.

Azed 2106

Sun October 21, 2012 at 12:01 am by Andrew

A puzzle in the middle of the Azed scale of difficulty, with no particularly involved clue construction, but a few rather obscure references needing lookups in Chambers and elsewhere. As always, quality clueing … Read more >>

Independent Crossword 8112 by Donk (Saturday Prize Puzzle 13-10-2012)

Sat October 20, 2012 at 2:42 pmSat October 20, 2012 at 12:07 am by twencelas

A new setter, I believe time for champagne and caviar? Indeed it is. what a marvellous debut. I can’t remember when I was so engrossed in a non-barred puzzle. A lovely variety of … Read more >>

Guardian Prize 25,766 / Tramp

Sat October 20, 2012 at 9:39 amSat October 20, 2012 at 12:02 am by Eileen

Following recent Prize puzzles from relative newcomers Qaos and Picaroon, here’s Tramp’s welcome first appearance in the Saturday slot [although he has written some excellent Genius puzzles]. We were expecting it, because … Read more >>

Enigmatic Variations No.1039 – Pictures by Shark

Sat October 20, 2012 at 12:00 am by Mister Sting

Recently, there have been a number of EVs that have left me staring blankly at a filled grid, unclear as to how to proceed. Although it shouldn’t have been, this was one of those.

Independent 8117/Phi

Fri October 19, 2012 at 11:16 am by John

As always a nice crossword from Phi. The system of having a number of clues (the answers to which are in bold) that rely on some already-solved clues is not my favourite, but in this … Read more >>

Financial Times 14,139 by Orense

Fri October 19, 2012 at 9:02 am by Jed

Good start to the day Across 1 PLAINTIFF (litigant) sounds like (say) PLANE TIFF 6 STICK (criticism) S[kinhead] TICK (credit) 9 LOCUM (doctor) sounds like (rumours) LOW COME (depression, arrive) … Read more >>

Beelzebub 1180

Fri October 19, 2012 at 9:00 am by Jed

Easier end of the Beelzebub spectrum but still a satisfying challenge Across 1 Not entirely direct about direct debit’s former function STEDDE (function obs) DD (direct debit) in STEE[r] (direct) … Read more >>

Guardian Cryptic N° 25,771 by Brummie

Fri October 19, 2012 at 11:01 amFri October 19, 2012 at 2:32 am by PeterO

An éclair of a crossword.

Financial Times no.14,138 by STYX

Thu October 18, 2012 at 10:35 am by Ringo

I enjoyed this morning’s not-too-tough offering from Styx, although I found the odd clue surprisingly knotty (like discovering ball-bearings in your candy-floss). My main cavil would be that I think an anagram is … Read more >>