Guardian 24354/Rover
A straightforward puzzle with, and I apoligise for becoming boring on this, too many cryptic definitions. Most of the omitted answers were, for me, common words with good word play but please do … Read more >>
Financial Times 12,733 (Orense)
Across 1 NEEDLEWORK: NEEDLE (niggle) + WORK (operation) 7 COVE: most of a COVE(N) 9 CHIC: H (hotel) in CI (channel islands) + C (west of Cuba, i.e. first letter) 10 CASHIERING: anagram … Read more >>
Independent 6697 by Bannsider
A very tough puzzle by Bannsider. Solving time, 64 mins. Tremendous rigour and invention in clueing. Just two that I do not fully understand, though I got them from definitions and crossing letters. … Read more >>
Independent on Sunday 946 by Quixote (30 Mar 2008)
Solving time, 24 mins. * = anagram < = reversed ACROSS 1 DEB T OR 4 M ERIN O 8 VICIOUS CIRCLE 10 BRA (w) N 11 SERBO-CROAT (a rector sob)* 12 WO … Read more >>
Financial Times 12,732 (Phssthpok)
This was by no means easy, with some unusual words, and some unsolved wordplay. Across 1 MULLIGATAWNY: MULL (warm) + I + GA (empty guava) + TAWNY (owl) 10 INDORSE: anagram of RIDES … Read more >>
Guardian Genius 57: Arachne — home economics
There were three kinds of clue here: 13 were ‘beset by inflation’ — they each included an extra letter. 13 were ‘beset by recession’ — a character string (not necessarily a whole word) … Read more >>
Guardian 24,353 Paul – Torture : 1970’s Style
Satisfyingly diverse bunch of words here and some great wordplay. Paul’s clues are short and without a wasted word – like Bach to Araucaria’s Mozart . A few straight anagrams made it easier … Read more >>
Financial Times 12,722 by Mudd
Here’s what I like: a puzzle that is challenging but so good I finished it fairly easily. For all that, I fail to fully understand 7D. Across 1. SPECIMEN – S (small) + … Read more >>
Financial Times 12,731 (Dogberry)
Having recently blogged a SHED puzzle from the Guardian, this DOGBERRY was also very enjoyable. Across 1 MUSTER: ER after MUST 4 CHAMPION: H in CAMPION 9 HERNIA: IN reversed in HERA 10 … Read more >>
Guardian 24352/Orlando – Mungo Jerry?
Not as hard as the last Orlando I had to blog though had to guess at a couple of defs. Please enlighten. Seemed more than average anagram count which probably explains why I … Read more >>
Guardian 24351/Araucaria – April Fools!
I wondered if there might be a thematic puzzle today, and when I saw it was by Araucaria I pretty much knew I was right. The preamble stated that any E’s in the … Read more >>
Independent 6695/Virgilius – Fool-ish
A classic themed puzzle from Virgilius, which I was on to before I’d filled a single answer in as I saw “Idiot” twice in the Across clues, plus “nincompoop” and then quickly realised … Read more >>
Financial Times 12730 / by Quark
Indian wrestling Across 1 Omitted on purpose 10 CHAMOIS – anag. of a, h, si(-t)com 11 STAPLER – L. (“line”) in anag. of ‘paster’ 13 DEMIJOHN – appears to have no cryptic element … Read more >>
Independent Crossword No 6694 by Hypnos
* = anag, < = reversed, () = dropped A moderately difficult puzzle with a couple of excellent clues in 3 and 22 dn. There was one I didn’t quite follow (12 down). … Read more >>
Guardian 24,350 – Brendan
Mostly straightforward from Brendan today, some easy anagrams and a couple of hidden words – I was racing towards one of my quicker times until I ran into 2 down. Edit: missed the … Read more >>