BOBCAT kicks off the week…
Independent 11,992/Bard
A reasonably gentle start to the week from Bard, which I enjoyed. There’s one slightly clunky clue (for this solver at least) and it’s a pangram. Otherwise not much more to add before … Read more >>
Financial Times 18,000 by Julius
Puzzle from the Weekend FT of March 15, 2025
Guardian Quiptic 1,321/Pasquale
Pasquale in the driving seat for the Quiptic this week, which means a sound, carefully-constructed puzzle which should encourage newer solvers and briefly entertain older hands. Abbreviations cd cryptic definition dd double definition … Read more >>
Independent on Sunday 1,829/Filbert
Filbert in his now customary Independent on Sunday slot brings us his usual combination of carefully constructed surfaces and sometimes intricate wordplay. Abbreviations cd cryptic definition dd double definition cad clue as definition … Read more >>
Azed No. 2,751 Plain
A pleasant enough crossword from Azed this week, with no major comments to make, except that it has always struck me that his signposting of archaisms/obsolete words might be more consistent. We usually get things like ‘once’, ‘of old’, ‘no longer’ etc, but not always. Chambers tells us that the word is archaic or whatever but we are left to solve the clue without being aware of this.
Definitions underlined, in crimson. Anagram indicators in italics.
Everyman 4,090 by Everyman
Sunday – walk the dog on the beach at Dunwich. It used to be one of the most prosperous towns in England but land erosion means little but a ruined Priory and a few houses remain. Anyway time to find dog biscuits and beer and solve this weeks puzzle
Listener dinner crossword / quiz
To access the quiz, click on the following link Listener Dinner 2025 Quiz
To “Av” or to “Av” not
What a fickle lot we are. WordPress allows for the use of avatars on peoples’ replies to posts. The default is for them to be enabled and, clearly, when Fifteensquared was set up … Read more >>
Listener Dinner – a treat for non-attendees
The Listener dinner will take place tonight. I understand that dinner will be served from 8pm and for those of us not attending, there will be a treat from 8pm (on this site) … Read more >>
Independent 11,991 by Phi
Yes, it’s us blogging again. Phi was kicked off his normal slot yesterday so we had PI-DAY not PHI-DAY.
Quick Cryptic 50 by Ludwig
This week’s 11 x 11 crossword from the Guardian, intended to teach cryptic crosswords, found here
Guardian Prize 29,637 by Brockwell
A pleasant diversion from Brockwell, with a few tricky misdirections and internal cross-references . . .
Cyclops 799 – Diplomatic Chainsaw
Cyclops is on the cusp of yet another numerical milestone…an octo-centenary!…
Listener 4856: If You Say So by Tuds
“Tuds” we say. “Is this really a debut or a combination of experienced setters? Surely no-one begins their setting career with a Listener?”