Guardian 24,915 (Sat 28 Sat)/Shed – Busoni non grata
Solving time: Best part of a week before using references for 4ac and 1dn. Sometimes it all goes wrong; this was such an occasion, and I got totally stuck on two clues, despite … Read more >>
Beelzebub 1,040 (24/01/10)
A good week, I think. This took me several sessions, but I was determined not to cheat. Everything was ultimately solvable, though 1ac was unfamiliar enough to require some undirected Chambers-browsing on my … Read more >>
Independent 7266 by Phi
I enjoyed this puzzle a lot, very tough and very satisfying to finish, with all understood, and some very well constructed clues, as one expects from Phi. Solving time, 40 mins. * = … Read more >>
Guardian 24,920 / Enigmatist
Well, for me, the week’s ending, as it began, on a high note, with a welcome appearance by Enigmatist. There were some lovely clues, as we would expect, but one or two that … Read more >>
Inquisitor 1109 Short Cut by Schadenfreude
As usual with a Schadenfreude offering there were a lot of unfamiliar words – LYTTA, DONAT, PACHALIC and NITID to name but four! The clues were scupulously fair, though one of them has defeated us for … Read more >>
Financial Times 13,296 / Falcon
A very good puzzle, I thought. Smooth surfaces throughout, and nothing too obscure other than one look-up I needed for 11a. Picks for best clues: BLUEBOTTLE, WREN Across 1 BACKHANDER HAND (cards) in … Read more >>
Independent 7261 by Dac (Saturday Prize Puzzle 23 January 2010)
This is the first puzzle by Dac that I have blogged. I didn’t find anything too difficult. I’m not sure how long this took as I did it whilst watching Saturday afternoon football … Read more >>
Financial Times 13,295 / Styx
A new(ish?) setter – Styx seems to be very fastidious about the surface reading of the clues, as these are universally “natural” and concise. However, this flawlessness is almost to a fault in … Read more >>
Independent 7,265/Tyrus
We haven’t had many Tyrus puzzles, but he is for my money by far the hardest setter on the Indy team. I spent an hour tackling this online last night and managed to … Read more >>
Guardian 24,919 – Gordius
As regular readers will know, I (and others) am not a big fan of Gordius, and while there’s nothing particularly inspiring in this puzzle, I didn’t find much to object to either, apart … Read more >>
Independent on Sunday 1041 by Quixote – 24 Jan 2010
Something to look out for here, referred to after the clue explanations. Solving time, 21 mins. * = anagram < = reversed ACROSS 6 PRECIS LecturE 7 ORRIS Hidden 9 (Guar)DIAN THUS R … Read more >>
Financial Times 13,286 – Falcon
Monday Prize Crossword on 18 January 2010 Another easy introduction to the FT week. This puzzle has a wide variety of devices and would be ideal training ground for newbies. ACROSS 1 READ … Read more >>
Financial Times 13,285 by Cincinnus
Prize puzzle from the Weekend FT of January 16 I found this puzzle a good bit harder than the average Cincinnus, especially the top-right corner. I got 5A and 7D quickly but the … Read more >>
Guardian 24,918 – Logodaedalus
Got through this one fairly quickly. Noticed on writing it up that the charade pieces for 11ac were all recycled from other clues… Across 1 IN ATTENDANCE =”here”. (ain’t)* + TEN=”five couples” + … Read more >>
Financial Times 13,294 / Cinephile
An enjoyable solve today. We were told that the answers to asterisked clues had something in common. Fortunately I had come across 13dn in a previous puzzle otherwise I might have had a … Read more >>