A really top-notch crossword from Io today, great stuff (if you like your puzzles to be a challenge). If you are looking an easy ride then best head for one of the other newspapers today! Thank you Io.
The puzzle can be downloaded here…
Guardian 28,868 / Pangakupu
I haven’t blogged a Pangakupu puzzle before – in fact, this is only his / her third appearance in the cryptic slot. There’s nothing controversial here, I think – as manehi said last … Read more >>
Independent 11,214 by Tees
Always good to meet Tees for our daily brain exercise.
Inquisitor 1768: MD by Penumbra
Penumbra makes his first appearance since 1660, a puzzle that marked the year that King Charles II assumed the throne of England. Did anything of equal significance happen in 1768? Well, apparently John … Read more >>
Independent 11,213 by Hoskins
Hoskins fills the Tuesday slot this week.
Financial Times 17204 Steerpike
Thank you to Steerpike. Definitions are underlined in the clues. Across 8. Appetite returns in middle of jiu-jitsu lesson (4) LUST : Hidden in(in middle) reversal of(returns) “of jiu-jitsu lesson“. 9. Turns out … Read more >>
Guardian Cryptic 28,867 by Imogen
A slow solve and tricky to parse in several places. My favourites were 14ac, 24ac, 25ac, 8dn, and especially 1ac. Thanks to Imogen.
Azed No. 2,622 Plain
A typical Azed plain puzzle.
Guardian Quiptic 1,192/Pasquale
As always, a carefully-constructed and educative Quiptic from Pasquale this morning. Abbreviations cd cryptic definition dd double definition cad clue as definition (xxxx)* anagram anagrind = anagram indicator [x] letter(s) removed definitions are … Read more >>
Financial Times 17,203 by PETO
Thanks to Peto.
Guardian 28,866 – Soup
This is Soup’s first (solo) appearance in the Cryptic slot, though we have seen him a few times in the Genius. This was quite tricky, with some rather unusual constructions, including a couple … Read more >>
Independent 11,212 by Lark
Today we have a new setter in Lark. I’ve not been paying much attention to the news, anything else happening today?
Cyclops 736 – Fake Principles
I can imagine Cyclops, along with many other setters, is having to rummage through his standard references and update/delete a few items…and recent events may have overtaken the normal cadence of the setting/editing/publication cycle…
Independent on Sunday 1,699 by Wire
Sunday rolls round and it’s time for a bit of WIRE to puzzle over
Everyman 3,961
Although initially you might think otherwise (by chance the two clues I have doubts about are the first two) my opinion of this crossword tallies with the general feeling about these crosswords over the past year or so: they are getting better and better and the clues are on the whole pleasant and sound. I can’t see the alliterative pair, but am not in the habit of looking for it and no doubt someone will point it out.
Definitions underlined in crimson. Indicators (homophone, hidden, anagram etc.) in italics. Link-words in green. Anagrams indicated *(thus) or (thus)*.