This is the twenty-fifth Guardian Quick Cryptic, a series of 11 x 11 crosswords designed to support beginners learning cryptic crosswords. The whole point of these crosswords is support and encouragement of new solvers, so special rules for these crosswords apply – see here. The puzzle can be found here.
Private Eye (Cyclops/787) Sorry Oligarchy
A Cyclops puzzle that started out easy and got harder as I went on. That shouldn’t happen!
Guardian Prize 29,488 by Jack
An unusual grid for the prize puzzle this week which made me look for a nina, but it wasn’t exactly what I expected.
Financial Times 17,842 by Rosa Klebb
Puzzle from the Weekend FT of September 14, 2024
Financial Times 17,847 by GAFF
A real head scratcher from GAFF.
Independent 11,840 / Phi
Phi has brought another series of mid-week puzzles to an end today. I found this to be a medium-difficulty puzzle through which I made steady progress. I think that I have parsed all … Read more >>
Guardian 29,493 – Pangakupu
An enjoyable puzzle that I found mostly straightforward, though there are a couple of clues that I can’t parse to my satisfaction: please enlighten me. Thanks to Pangakupu. Looking for the traditional Māori … Read more >>
Guardian Cryptic 29492 Paul
Thank you to Paul. Definitions are underlined in the clues. Across 1. See 23 Down 4, 16. 20’s 19 announced? (6,2,5) BRIDGE OF SIGHS : Homophone of(… announced) [“bridge(a card game)” + “of … Read more >>
Financial Times 17,846 by SOLOMON
My first Solomon blog, standing in for loonapick
Independent 11839 / Filbert
This is the second Filbert puzzle this week following his appearance on Sunday. I thought there were some well-crafted clues with DOUBLE BASS, FATS DOMINO and SAFARI PARK and being … Read more >>
Enigmatic Variations No. 1659: Problem by Eclogue
Ah, Monsieur l’EV Editor, two cartes blanche in as many weeks – you do spoil us! The only PROBLEM is that it is my turn to blog…
Independent 11,838 by Knut
Midweek entertainment from Knut today.
Financial Times 17,845 by BASILISK
Great start to the day from Basilisk.
Guardian Cryptic 29,491 by Vlad
The puzzle may be found at https://www.theguardian.com/crosswords/cryptic/29491.
Guardian Cryptic 29,490 by Matilda
Apologies for the lateness and the brevity – I realised there was obviously a problem with the regular blogger and contacted Ken around lunchtime to ask if he knew anything, so I’m blogging at speed.