Financial Times 13,424 / Armonie
One of my favourite FT setters, Armonie always has clues with clean, natural surface readings. Maybe a few too many old chestnuts (11 across, 16 across, 18 down have been seen more than … Read more >>
Beelzebub 1,061 (20/06/10)
A tough week, I think. I haven’t been able to pull together all the elements in the wordplay for 11ac just yet. *=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone, cd=cryptic definition, dd=double definition. Across 1 DESPOILMENT … Read more >>
Guardian 25,048 – Chifonie
Chifonie steps in on one of the occasional non-Rufus Mondays with a straightforward but nicely clued puzzle. Across 1. PLAICE I in PLACE 4. TWO-BIT OB (Old … Read more >>
Independent 7394 by Punk
*=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone, CD=cryptic def, DD=double def, sp=spoonerism Apart from 14 across, I thought this was slightly more restrained than some Punk puzzles but had a nice mix of dictionary words and … Read more >>
Azed 1986/Scotland Yard
Sorry for the late blog… no excuses (OK other than 48 World Cup games + Wimbledon). I thought this slightly harder than the run-of-the-mill Azed (oxymoron?). No lack of the requisite mysteries. Across … Read more >>
Everyman No. 3325 (20th June)
Lorraine: Nothing to taxing this week, made sure I read the clues properly (which helps). I was held up for a while this week as I hadn’t realised that I had spelt Altantic … Read more >>
Guardian 25,041 (Sat 19 Jun)/Araucaria – Suit you Sir
Solving time: 12 mins Another themed puzzle from Araucaria with lots of references to playing cards, both in clue answers and wordplay. I found this a pleasant enough puzzle with few significant quibbles … Read more >>
Enigmatic Variations No. 919 Go-getters by Ifor
Well – a seriously convoluted pre-amble this week. Pausing only for a sharp intake of breath, here goes – Removal of abbreviations from one clue in each even numbered down column and rearrangement of … Read more >>
Independent 7392 by Phi
Always have confidence with Phi that I will get there, this puzzle was no exception, solving time 23 mins. V enjoyable as always. * = anagram ACROSS 1 WIDE-ANGLE LENS (leading)* EL (the … Read more >>
Financial Times 13,421 / Flimsy
A very enjoyable puzzle liberally sprinkled with anagrams and cryptic definitions. The clue surfaces are uniformly well-crafted. Specially liked the neat anagram at 8D and the wordplay with ‘bill’ in 23A. Across 1 … Read more >>
Guardian 25,046 / Enigmatist
A great puzzle from Enigmatist – as always, some of the wordplay is difficult to parse, but with the help of my partner I think I’ve got them all. One of the aspects … Read more >>
Independent 7,387 by Anax (Saturday Prize Puzzle, 19/06/10)
I had just been thinking we must be due for a Saturday Anax, and here we are. I wonder if being able to predict setters several weeks running is an early sign of … Read more >>
Independent 7,391 by Scorpion
This seemed like a bit of a classic. Unfortunately work issues and inopportunely-timed fire drills meant I couldn’t really give it the attention it deserved, and had to cheat relentlessly. There’s some great … Read more >>
Guardian 25,045 / Araucaria
What a treat! – my favourite compiler and a number of theatrical / literary allusions. I realise that, on both counts, this will not be everyone’s cup of tea but it was right … Read more >>
Financial Times 13,420 – Alberich
The usual quotient of merry mischief, to keep us on our toes. Plenty of contenders for ‘clue of the day’ status. I have 15A and 27A still playing out an unresolved Isner vs … Read more >>