Independent 7186/Merlin
How clever. All the across answers except 16ac consist of something repeated, as indicated by 16ac (DOUBLE-DEALING). Quite an achievement to fit them all in, so one can be lenient about the obscurity … Read more >>
Guardian 24841 – Enigmatist
dd = double definition cd = cryptic definition rev = reversed or reversal ins = insertion cha = charade ha = hidden answer *(fodder) = anagram A very entertaining and at the same … Read more >>
Independent 7185 by Glow-worm
*=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone, CD=cryptic def, DD=double def, sp=spoonerism I found this very challenging, but there were some very imaginative clues. Some of the references were a little obscure (literally in the case … Read more >>
Guardian 24,840 – Rufus
Perhaps aided by a bit more sleep than normal, I found this fairly quick-going but with a few unsatisfying clues. Across 1. IRATE. 1 + R. + A ‘TE’. 4. INDICATE. 1ACTEDIN*. Odd … Read more >>
Private Eye/Cyclops 402 – A Slow Buck
One of those where most went in easily but I had to put myself to bed before a couple in the top left corner, so they had to wait till the next morning. … Read more >>
Everyman 3290
Another one that took a little while to get going but then got much easier. Not my favourite ever, but probably pretty fair throughout. Across 1 MODICUM – ODIC in MUM. An odic … Read more >>
Azed 1951/Sway beer!
Not as many impenetrable wordplays (note to self: must improve wordplay decoding). I’m sure once this is posted, someone will put us quickly out of our misery and reveal all. I will say … Read more >>
Beelzebub 1,026 (18/10/09)
*=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone, cd=cryptic definition, dd=double definition. Across 1 COCKTAIL BARS – COCK + (BAR in TAILS). 9 ASCENDANCE – DANC[e] in A SCENE. 11 PEN PAL – PEAL “involving” (N + … Read more >>
Indy Prize Puzzles
I have been informed that, due to the postal strike, the closing date for most Indy prize puzzles is going to be extended by a week as from this weekend. Consequently the publication … Read more >>
Guardian 24,833 (Sat 17 Oct)/Paul – ‘Brass’ banned
Solving time: 11½ mins, one mistake (15dn: ‘sagebrass’ for SAGEBRUSH) Paul had a puzzle on Wednesday (21st) which I found very difficult. This felt slightly easier, certainly to get going with, but was … Read more >>
Enigmatic Variations No. 884 – Two Questions by Charybdis
The subsidiary indication in each clue leads to an extra letter. These letters indicate the source of two questions (the second of which WAS rhetorical) and reveal a recent and unresolved problem (from … Read more >>
Independent 7178 (Sat 17 October) – Nestor
By the time you read this I’ll be on holiday, so I won’t be able to respond to any questions myself. I finished this in 8:36 so found it fairly easy for a … Read more >>
Independent 7183 by Phi
Quite tricky for a Phi puzzle, enjoyable as always, solving time, 30 mins * = anagram < = reversed ACROSS 1 (p) ASSES 4 A DANCE TO THE MUSIC OF TIME Anthony Powell’s … Read more >>
Financial Times 13,215 / Falcon
Many witty clues with nice surfaces today. I found this pleasant and not too tough. Favourites: APPENDIX, ACACIA. Across 1 CUT A DASH CUT (canal, as a verb in the wordplay) + D … Read more >>
Guardian 24,838 (Pasquale)
Fairly straightforward for a Friday. Across clue no. here comment here 1 PAGEANT: AGE in PANT (huff and puff) 5 PLONKER: PLONK (wine) + ER (half of beER) 9 ROOST: ROO (Australian animal) … Read more >>