Fifteensquared – Page 1386 – Never knowingly undersolved

Guardian 25,330 – Arachne

Tue May 24, 2011 at 4:16 am by Uncle Yap

I do not remember ever blogging this setter and today’s mini-theme of people who need their heads examined left me as cold as if I were reading about 18th-century Russian shipbuilding terminology. However, … Read more >>

Independent 7675 by Radian

Mon May 23, 2011 at 1:51 pm by nmsindy

Very tough puzzle today from Radian, but I got there in the end, solving time 67 mins. The lower half of the grid I found particularly difficult. Think I have seen Radian associated … Read more >>

Guardian Quiptic No 601 by Moley

Mon May 23, 2011 at 10:43 amMon May 23, 2011 at 4:18 am by PeterO

A Quiptic setter new to me, she hits the entry level spot on, with varied clue types, and nothing too convoluted. Across 4. Large flag for an Egyptian god (6) OSIRIS Charade of … Read more >>

Guardian Cryptic No 25,329 by Rufus

Mon May 23, 2011 at 3:07 am by PeterO

I found this easier than some recent Rufuses; not too heavy on the cryptic definitions (which I regard as a plus), but making up for it in the envelope department – if not … Read more >>

Private Eye/Cyclops 443 – Home service

Mon May 23, 2011 at 1:22 pmMon May 23, 2011 at 12:53 am by beermagnet

Some excellent surface readings in this issue’s crossword. I marked no fewer than 8 as worthy of consideration for top clue, but that honour has to go to Home Sweet Home for the … Read more >>

Beelzebub 1108

Sun May 22, 2011 at 8:00 am by Jed

Exellent brain exercise as always ACROSS 1 Herbaceous plant showing dark spot? Always one MACLEAYA MACLE AY A macle is a dark spot in a crystal 6 Mordant and reprehensible BASE … Read more >>

Azed 2033 “Give and take”

Sun May 22, 2011 at 12:05 am by bridgesong

I can’t remember Azed using this particular combination of devices before, although he may have done so under a different name. So far as the across clues are concerned, it is known as … Read more >>

Independent on Sunday 1,109 by Hypnos

Sun May 22, 2011 at 12:03 am by Uncle Yap

Another new setter for me as far as blogging is concerned. Hypnos is generally sound and provided a wide array of cryptic devices for quite an entertaining puzzle. ACROSS 1 ROGUE Ins of … Read more >>

Everyman 3372/15 May

Sun May 22, 2011 at 10:35 amSun May 22, 2011 at 12:01 am by Pierre

A straightforward and soundly-clued Sunday offering from Everyman today. Just right for beginning or improving solvers: I know I would have appreciated and enjoyed this puzzle when I was getting into the dark … Read more >>

Enigmatic Variations 966: Uncomplimentary Remark by Rustic

Fri May 27, 2011 at 8:01 amSat May 21, 2011 at 1:00 am by Shenanigans

A fairly straightforward offering from Rustic this week: solve the clues, move a letter to the perimeter and reveal a quotation and the person it describes. Each clue was two clues side by … Read more >>

Independent 7668 Bannsider (Sat 14-May-2011)

Sat May 21, 2011 at 12:19 am by beermagnet

First session: 8 answers in 15 mins all below the half-way line. Then I slowed down a bit ( <- understatement alert) This was tough. Tough as any Bannsiders I’ve tackled. But enjoyable … Read more >>

Guardian Prize No 25322 by Araucaria

Sat May 21, 2011 at 7:42 amSat May 21, 2011 at 12:18 am by bridgesong

A delight as ever to tackle another offering from the Master, and this time there is only one clue which, to my mind, offends Ximenean principles (12 across). A couple of other clues … Read more >>

Independent 7,673 / Phi

Fri May 20, 2011 at 3:05 pm by RatkojaRiku

I enjoyed solving and blogging this one, which used a grid that I hadn’t come across before. Furthermore, it was definitely the first time that I had come across the entry at 3 … Read more >>

Financial Times 13,698 / Bradman

Fri May 20, 2011 at 1:33 pm by shuchi

A solid puzzle from Bradman, which was mostly a comfortable solve 3/4th of the way. A hasty wrong answer at 26a kept me stuck in the bottom-right of the puzzle, till I got … Read more >>

Guardian 25,327 / Pasquale

Fri May 20, 2011 at 10:56 pmFri May 20, 2011 at 9:57 am by Eileen

A fairly gentle puzzle from Pasquale to round off a week of good puzzles: nothing too controversial or obscure, I think, with a nice mix of clue types and a few smiles along … Read more >>