Independent 7532 by Glow-worm
Very pleasing puzzle from Glow-worm whose puzzles generally I find at the easier end of the Indy spectrum, solving time, 22 mins. If memory serves Glow-worm has set quite a few excellent puzzles … Read more >>
Guardian Cryptic No 25,186 by Rufus
Rufus’ usual gentle start to the week, with a couple of quibbles. ACROSS 1 MISHAPS Anagram (‘anyway’) of ‘pass him’. 5 ACCEDES Charade of AC (‘bill’) + CEDES (gives way’). 10 CHIT Double … Read more >>
Guardian Quiptic No 577 by Orlando
A grid with a fair number of unchecked first letters, but straightforward clue construction overcame that potential hazard. ACROSS 8 MEMSAHIB Charade of MEMSA – anagram (‘possibly’) of ‘Emmas’ – + HI (‘greeting’) … Read more >>
Private Eye/Cyclops 431 – Pig!
So it was at the London Sloggers’n’Betters in The Salisbury that I realised that almost a week had passed and I hadn’t finished this puzzle. In fact I had only got 10 answers … Read more >>
Guardian Genius / 89
A very nicely constructed crossword, with a “word chain” (missing alternate links) running through the 6 letter answers. The complete chain (with the missing links emphasized) is: 1d BOTHER / HERBAL / 3d … Read more >>
Azed 2009 – say a prayer
A mixture this week of clever clues and others made relatively easy by their use of 2 or 3 letter words which regular solvers will quickly have recognised (e.g. 12, 16 and 20 … Read more >>
Everyman 3348 (28 November 2010)
My first Everyman blog, and a pleasure for me to solve it and explain it. I’ve been a fan of Everyman for many years and as usual this one didn’t disappoint. It might … Read more >>
Independent on Sunday 1085 by Quixote
I have been doing these Sunday Indies one week late on the Independent site and it took some nice co-operation from friends to get hold of a current puzzle without having to be … Read more >>
Guardian 25,179 (Sat 27 Nov)/Araucaria – Hob story
Solving time: 16 mins, one mistake (HOBBEMA at 24ac) This crossword was themed on the song Rising Early in the Morning from The Gondoliers by Gilbert and Sullivan, which contains the following verse: … Read more >>
Enigmatic Variations 942: Block Capitals by Nutmeg
In my last blog, I suggested that very easy puzzles should have an ‘easy’ rating to attract solvers who would normally give the EV puzzle a wide berth. I think it worth adding … Read more >>
Independent 7525 (Saturday Prize Puzzle 27 November 2010) by Bannsider
I am a fan of complex wordplay rather than cryptic definitions, so I always find Bannsider’s puzzles stimulating . There were some excellent wordplay examples here – e.g. EGGS BENEDICT although I have some … Read more >>
Independent 7,530 by Klingsor
A tough one today, I found, made even tougher by the relatively low number of checked squares. In fact, the grid looks like there might be a Nina, but I don’t see one. … Read more >>
Guardian 25,184 / Brummie
I never quite know what to expect from Brummie, so was a bit 9ac when I started this puzzle. I needn’t have worried – it turned out to be quite straightforward and a … Read more >>
Financial Times 13,559 / Styx
Some nice misdirection made this puzzle tougher than it appeared on first sight. I opened with the top-left and slowed down at the bottom-right, with 23a and 23d causing me more trouble than … Read more >>
Financial Times 13,558 / Loroso
Plenty of high-calibre material in here. Loroso’s eclectic style almost defies pigeon-holing; in many ways traditional yet ever-innovative; occasionally fiendish with wordplay but usually complemented or vindicated by the most natural of surface … Read more >>