Financial Times 13,258 by Cincinnus
Prize puzzle from the Weekend FT of December 12 Two Cincinnus puzzles in a row? It must be Christmas! I solved this one very quickly although stumbled for a minute or two after … Read more >>
Independent 7233 by Tees
*=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone, CD=cryptic def, DD=double def, sp=spoonerism I found this very difficult and a few of the clues I only found by resorting to word searches. Causing particular frustration were 16 … Read more >>
Guardian 24,888 / Rufus
A delightful festive offering from Rufus – something of a tour de force – which is not too taxing but provides a few smiles, or even chuckles, along the way. Across 1 RECIPES: … Read more >>
Private Eye/Cyclops 406 – Double bubble
As It Occurred To Me this week: I won 2nd prize in a contest! You’re right, it wasn’t a Beauty Contest and I wasn’t playing Monopoly. It was a crossword contest: The 2009 “3D … Read more >>
Beelzebub 1,033 (06/12/09)
This was easily the toughest Beelzebub I can remember having come across. A first, unaided session yielded only three or four answers. Reinforcements were called in, and the remainder of the puzzle took … Read more >>
Azed 1959: A bitter-sweet refrain
An Azed of average difficulty this week, I think; I needed a dictionary to check several answers. The words ‘whample’ and ‘sprangle’ were both delightful discoveries. No clue stands out as favourite of … Read more >>
Everyman No. 3298 (Dec. 13th)
I am here as a substitute for the regular blogger. The crossword posed no difficulty but I am unable to explain Clue 16d fully. Season’s Greetings to all readers. Across 1 MARITIME – … Read more >>
Thank You
I would like to say thank you to the Fifteensquared team members who have all taken time out of their busy schedules to post blogs during the past twelve months. I’m sure your … Read more >>
Guardian 24,881 (Sat 12 Dec)/Shed – Crimea river
Solving time: 12 mins I have to take my hat off to Shed for this: most of the puzzle was straightforward (and well-clued) but three answers (MORTAR, SCARFACE and CRIMEA) had me truly … Read more >>
Enigmatic Variations 892: Johannes & Ferencz by Oxymoron
I have no idea what the title means, although it does sound a bit like a Swedish clothing company … or is that Hennes & Mauritz? Each across clue has a misprint, sometimes … Read more >>
Independent 7231 by Morph
No Phi today, maybe he’ll feature on Saturday this week. Instead what I found quite a tough puzzle from Morph esp SE corner. I failed on 24 across, which I understand … Read more >>
Financial Times 13,263 / Styx
A nice puzzle that started comfortably but posed some difficulty at the end, with 6A taking up the max. time and I’m still not sure if it’s right. I enjoyed solving on the … Read more >>
Guardian 24,886 / Brendan
diagacht has web access problems today but has supplied the following analysis without a preamble. Across 8 CALABASH: A LAB (a little dog) in CASH (rhino) 9 HARTE: ART in HE (not sure … Read more >>
Inquisitor 154 – X by Phi
Phi is one of the more prolific setters with his puzzles appearing in a wide range of publications. There is always something different about his puzzles and this was no exception. We were … Read more >>
Independent 7226 by Mass (Sat 12 Dec 2009)
Solving time: about 45 late night minutes Mass has usually been a very difficult setter for me – never quite sure why. I was going to say that this has a lot of … Read more >>