Independent 6964/Virgilius
The usual delightful Virgilius, with one or two clues that I found particularly difficult but, as should be the case, solution of them was followed by some self-kicking. I completed the bottom half … Read more >>
Guardian 24,619 – Gordius
dd = double definition cd = cryptic definition rev = reversed or reversal ins = insertion cha = charade ha = hidden answer *(fodder) = anagram A delightful puzzle with many different devices … Read more >>
Financial Times 12997 / Armonie
I had a pleasant outing with this crossword. The left half was the first to fall; then the top right and finally the bottom right. Across 1 CHANCEL – chance, L 5 PIPING … Read more >>
Independent 6963 by Glow-worm
*=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone I found this extremely tough. There was a lot of quite obscure stuff and quite a few that I didn’t follow. Across 1,14 Monday Morning Feeling: Mon + hom. … Read more >>
New Daily Telegraph solving blog
Solvers of the Daily Telegraph cryptic and Toughie puzzles might be interested to know about a new blog that has just started up just for you: http://www.bigdave44.com/ Neil
Guardian 24618 / Rufus
A fun puzzle from Rufus to start the week. I particularly enjoyed 26a and 13 down. Across 7. DOWNCAST Double definition 9. IN LIEU IN = “Not out” + LIE + U 10. … Read more >>
Guardian 24,611 – Araucaria
My first Saturday crossword and it was an Araucaria so I was a bit intimidated, but managed ok. It took just over an hour to fill out most of the grid, then the … Read more >>
Guardian 24,616 – Puck
Puck seems to be in a thirsty, miserable mood, with a number of references to drinking / being drunk as well as depression in the clues. Quite a few tricky ones today, I … Read more >>
Beelzebub 989 (01/02/09)
Hello again, everyone. I’d like to re-introduce Beelzebub to Fifteensquared, as I think it’s a splendid – yet often overlooked – crossword. For the uninitiated, Beelzebub is published in the Independent on Sunday’s … Read more >>
Independent 6956/Bannsider (Prize puzzle 31-01-09)
Excellent puzzle. You could pick out 3 or 4 top-notch clues by closing your eyes and randomly pointing with a finger but I especially liked 11 and 1d. I can usually explain everything … Read more >>
Enigmatic Variations 847: Fields of Action by Dysart
The grid represents some “fields of action”, and so long as they’re not football or rugby fields I should be OK. The subsidiary indication in each down clue has an extra letter; these … Read more >>
Inquisitor 109 – TRANSACTION by Lato
An excellent offering from Lato. Some odd words and a clever and (we thought) pretty taxing theme. Entertaining though! The TRANSACTION referred to is 33D 23A – PART EXCHANGED and the answers had … Read more >>
FT 12,994/Viking
A fairly benign workout – I even managed to solve this on-screen without too much difficulty (my printer having thrown another late night tantrum). A few of the clues (e.g. 26A, 19D) struck … Read more >>
Independent 6,961 by Phi
*=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone, cd=cryptic definition, dd=double definition. A good, solid puzzle, as one tends to expect from Phi – a setter for whom I have the greatest of admiration. I didn’t find … Read more >>
Financial Times 12,993 / Falcon
What can I say? Nothing controversial today, nothing too difficult and nothing to quibble about. There were a couple of obscure words (9a & 8d) but these were easy to determine from the … Read more >>