Independent 7177/Phi
A couple of words where I felt no hint of guilt in using the aids: HAEREMAI (obviously familiar to Phi but not perhaps to people outside New Zealand) and MEERSCHAUM, and one more … Read more >>
Guardian 24832 / Brendan
As usual, a really top quality puzzle from Brendan – great surface readings and some surprising wordplay. Thanks to IanN14 for pointing out the theme of U.S. presidents, Franklin PIERCE, Abraham LINCOLN, Andrew … Read more >>
Independent 7,172 by Merlin (Saturday Prize Puzzle, 10/10/09)
*=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone, cd=cryptic definition, dd=double definition. This week’s answers seemed to go in fairly steadily, albeit with a certain amount of "research" needed to shed light on some of the more … Read more >>
Financial Times 13,209 / Alberich
Solid, satisfying challenge from Alberich as always. Clarifications needed for 18A, 29A. // Updated with clarifications. Thanks to Gaufrid. Across 9 GUATEMALA (MET AUG)< A LA (city) 10 ABUSE AE (Scots word for … Read more >>
Inquisitor 145 – IN MEMORIAM-II by Phi
Superb stuff from Phi as usual. Impeccable clues and a nice theme with a bit of work needed to fill in the middle five rows. I thought it was quite dificult enough without the … Read more >>
Financial Times 13,208/Aardvark – In Ulm, um Ulm und um Ulm herum
Across 1 TARIFF – RA(<) in tiff. 4 AT RANDOM – Rand in atom. Thank god for an accurate definition “indiscriminately”. My current peeve of the month is people wh;ve started using the … Read more >>
Guardian 24,831 – Araucaria
An interesting theme today, I quite like having unclued elements when it’s clear which clues they apply to! The old crossword staple of flower=river is used to good effect too. Across 1. SIDESHOW. … Read more >>
Independent 7,176/Scorpion
I found this one a pretty tough challenge, but was very pleased to get there in the end after a slow start. There are some really nice clueing devices here, though a few … Read more >>
Independent on Sunday 1026 by Quixote – 11 Oct 2009
I found this much harder than usual from Quixote, with some less familiar words, solving time, 29 mins. * = anagram < = reversed ACROSS 1 F (REE P) ORT peer< 5 BLISS … Read more >>
Financial Times 13,199 – Dante
Monday Prize Crossword on 5 October 2009 dd = double definition cd = cryptic definition rev = reversed or reversal ins = insertion cha = charade ha = hidden answer *(fodder) = anagram … Read more >>
Financial Times 13,198 by Cinephile
Prize puzzle from the Weekend FT of October 3 I don’t recall any compiler using clues for split-word answers (such as 11 and 9 across) as much as Cinephile. He has 4 in … Read more >>
Financial Times 13,207 / Cinephile
On the first pass through I thought this was going to be very tricky as I only had a few entries, mainly in the SW corner. However, completing this corner helped to open … Read more >>
Guardian 24,830 / Arachne
I had quite a struggle with the spider-woman this morning, with the result that I didn’t have much time for writing up the blog, so apologies if anything isn’t clear. Some nice clues … Read more >>
Independent 7,175 by Dac
*=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone, cd=cryptic definition, dd=double definition. A bit of a hurried solve from me this week, I'm afraid, and I would have liked a bit more time to enjoy this. Across … Read more >>
Financial Times 13,206 / Phssthpok
An interesting variety of clues today, and some unusual words. Across 1 SHISH KEBAB *(KISS BABE H H) H H is “H[ard] twice” 7 SACK dd 9 FREE d&cd 10 BUDGERIGAR BUDGE (shift) … Read more >>