Very enjoyable. A good puzzle for those who prioritise surface readings over outright difficulty. Thank you Moo.
Independent 10,998 by Eccles
Another fun Wednesday with Eccles: not too hard, good surfaces, plenty of chuckles.
Guardian Cryptic 28,652 by Crucible
The puzzle may be found at https://www.theguardian.com/crosswords/cryptic/28652.
Inquisitor 1732: Appropriate by Lato
I was fully expecting Harribobs at this time of year, but instead up pops Lato (as indeed he did last year). Preamble: Nine unclued entries, one of two words and one a … Read more >>
Financial Times 16989 Basilisk
Thank you to Basilisk. Definitions are underlined in the clues. Across 1. Chief police officer connected with sex cases (8) CARDINAL : DI(abbrev. for “detective-inspector”, a police officer) contained in(… cases) CARNAL(connected/pertaining to … Read more >>
Guardian 28,651 / Imogen
I blogged last month’s Imogen puzzle, where I said, ‘Imogen sets the challenge today, with his customary medley of straightforward and some more tricky clues.’ I think that holds good today, too. I … Read more >>
Independent 10,997 by Klingsor
It’s Klingsor filling the Tuesday slot this week. Our last blog of a Klingsor puzzle was back in Jan 2020. We also blogged his two earlier puzzles in Nov and Dec 2019. It was a long time waiting for this next one.
Guardian Quiptic 1,156/Anto
There’s no escape from Anto today, since he’s also compiled the cryptic in the paper. This at least looked like it was written specifically as a Quiptic offering. Abbreviations cd cryptic definition dd … Read more >>
Independent 10,996 by Bluth
Slightly tricky for a Monday, but enjoyable as always from Bluth.
Financial Times 16,988 by SLORMGORM
The first Monday FT in a while, courtesy of SLORMGORM
Guardian Cryptic 28,650 by Anto
An enjoyable mix, with some tougher clues and tricky parsing. Favourites were 29ac, 4dn, and 25dn. Thanks to Anto for the puzzle
Everyman 3,925
A good crossword from Everyman this week. No major criticisms and few minor.
Definitions underlined, in crimson. Indicators (anagrams, homophones, hidden, etc) in italics. Anagrams indicated *(like this) or (this)*. I’d like to indicate the link-words in some way, but my fear is that I’ll make it all so complicated that it will be pointless; however, I’ll make them green (actually there aren’t many — the sign of good tight setting). Let me know if this helps.
Azed No. 2,586 Plain – Competition Puzzle
A typical Azed experience for me.
Independent on Sunday 1,663 by Wire
A middle difficulty puzzle, all is gettable but not given away. Thank you Wire.
Independent 10,995 by Knut
The puzzle is available here. Hi all. Knut lets us have our cake and eat it today, serving up a puzzle which I found not too hard but delectable. He also generously … Read more >>