An unfamiliar setter this Friday who has dished out a solid challenge. Thanks XELA!
Independent 11,936 / Phi
Phi is ushering in the weekend with his latest Friday puzzle. Today’s grid accommodated a large number of clues of different lengths (from 3 to 15 letters), although it did seem to be … Read more >>
Independent 11935 / Umpire
Umpire continues his quarterly appearance trend to day, following the most recent outing in mid-October. The grid is a slightly odd shape, but there were only two occurrences of consecutive … Read more >>
Financial Times 17,944 by MUDD
A straughtforward offering from Mudd this morning.
Guardian Cryptic 29,587 by Imogen
The puzzle may be found at https://www.theguardian.com/crosswords/cryptic/29587.
Enigmatic Variations No. 1675: Self-Similarity by Luxor
I’m going to put it out there – if we had an annual awards ceremony for the Enigmatic Variations (the Evvys?) – which we don’t – then Luxor would be strutting his/her stuff on the red carpet in a tux/ballgown, as a strong favourite for POTY (Puzzle of the Year) with SELF-SIMILARITY…
Independent 11,934 by Eccles
My second Eccles puzzle in a row, as he returns to his usual Wednesday slot.
Guardian 29,586 / Pasquale
It’s Pasquale making his first appearance of the new year. The two long anagrams were helpful in getting started. There are perhaps one or two more unfamiliar / unknown words than usual but, … Read more >>
Financial Times 17,943 by GOLIATH
Thanks to Goliath for a (mostly) breezy start to the day.
Guardian Cryptic 29,585 by Brummie
Thanks to Brummie for the puzzle, and apologies for a late and slightly rushed blog.
Inquisitor 1888: Pictures at an Exhibition by Harribobs
Harribobs takes us through into the new year …
Preamble: Wordplay in 45 clues leads to the answer plus an extra letter, not entered in the grid. In clue order, extra letters give two instructions. Eighteen artists (three using given names as well as surnames), are represented in the exhibition. Each artist’s piece is square or rectangular and marked in its top right corner by ‘*’ (or ‘A’ for a key piece). The solver must frame all pieces. The website WikiArt.org is recommended.
Independent 11,933 by Deri
It’s Tuesday and we have another Deri to solve and blog.
Financial Times 17,942 by SLORMGORM
Slormgorm has been been a regular setter in the Financial Times series with puzzles appearing about once a month since mid-2018. He also sets as Hoskins in the Independent series where I have … Read more >>
Financial Times 17,941 by BOBCAT
BOBCAT kicks off the week…
Independent 11,932 by Lette
A new setter it seems so welcome Lette, unfortunately 11A on line seems to have had gremlins beset it