A fun solve – it’s been a while since I’ve seen a weekday cryptic from Maskarade. Favourites were 25ac, 16dn, 19dn, and 24dn. Thanks to Maskarade for the puzzle.
Independent 11333 / Tees
Tuesday is one of the days in the Independent where you never know who the setter will be. This week it is one of the most prolific setters, Tees However, … Read more >>
Azed 2641
A plain puzzle from Azed this week. This was a standard Azed offering with precise wordplay and interesting surfaces hiding plenty of misdirection. As ever, my vocabulary increased as a … Read more >>
Guardian Quiptic 1,212/Carpathian
A delightful set of concisely and precisely written clues from Carpathian make up today’s Quiptic. Brava. Abbreviations cd cryptic definition dd double definition cad clue as definition (xxxx)* anagram anagrind = anagram indicator … Read more >>
Independent 11,332 by Vigo
A mostly easy puzzle with a couple of clues that required some thought.
Guardian 28,986 – Anto
A generally easy Monday puzzle, with some occasional traps due to this setter’s rather idiosyncratic style. Thanks to Anto. Across 7 DROP BACK Dribble by defender and lose position (4,4)DROP (a dribble) … Read more >>
Financial Times 17,325 by ARTEXLEN
ARTEXLEN kicks off the week….
Independent on Sunday 1,719 by Hoskins
Our Harry returns for our Sunday pleasure. If you know Hoskins you can guess what to expect.
Everyman 3,980
Everything fits together very neatly in this, the getting-better-by-the-week Everyman, and judging from the time I took to solve it he is getting the standard more like that in the old days. Only one or two clues leave me feeling something is wrong, and quite possibly that’s my own fault.
Definitions in crimson, underlined. Indicators (juxtaposition, reversal, homophone, anagram, etc.) in italics. Anagrams indicated (like this)*. Link-words in green.
Guardian Genius No 235 by Karla
A challenging puzzle which ultimately had me fooled.
Independent 11,331 by Serpent
Serpent provides today’s challenge – we love his puzzles!
Gaufrid/Dad
Gaufrid in 1950 Gaufrid in 1993 Gaufrid – October 2018. Most probably the last photo taken of him. (http://www.fifteensquared.net/2023/01/23/gaufrid-rip/) Dear Fifteen Squarers We are completely and utterly flabbergasted at all the heartfelt condolences … Read more >>
Guardian Saturday Prize Crossword 28,979 by Philistine (28 January 2023)
My New Year’s resolution must have been to blog more Philistine puzzles, having coincided with his last Saturday Prize one at the cusp of the old/new year…and his first of the new one…
Financial Times 17,317 by Leonidas
Weekend puzzle from the FT of January 28, 2023
Guardian 28,984 – Vlad
Vlad’s name on a puzzle is usually a sign of a tough puzzle ahead, and so it was here, though with a few gentler clues to get us going. I think one clue … Read more >>