I foolishly started trying to solve this puzzle when I went to bed, pleasantly sozzled, at about 2am on New Year’s Day. I didn’t make too much progress before nodding off, and needed a clearer head in the late morning to get it finished…
Guardian Cryptic 28,648 by Picaroon
A very enjoyable solve…
Independent 10994 / Phi
Phi gives us a puzzle with a clearly stated theme today The theme is defined by the entry at 3 down, PARLIAMENT,. A number of clues have a simple definition … Read more >>
Financial Times 16,986 by ALBERICH
A typical ALBERICH offering, challenging and enjoyable in equal parts.
Independent 10,993 by Rodriguez
An unusual grid for today’s puzzle . . .
Guardian 28,647 – Vlad
The impaler is in a fairly gentle mood today: a couple of entries may be unfamiliar, but are helpfully clued. Thanks to Vlad. Across 1 DEAN OF FACULTY Restructure due — can’t lay … Read more >>
Financial Times 16,985 by GOLIATH
Goliath is this morning's FT setter.
Enigmatic Variations No. 1519: Satisfaction 2 by proXimal
I’ve certainly had plenty of SATISFACTION from 2021’s EV puzzles. Maybe our esteemed EV editor, proXimal, is asking whether you have had SATISFACTION 2?…
FT Christmas Crossword 2021 by Gozo
Non-prize crossword published in the FT of December 23, 2021 Gozo appears as usual to give us a goody for our Christmas, a semi-alphabetical. I am treating it like a Weekend FT crossword … Read more >>
Financial Times 16,984 by MUDD
I have not blogged a Mudd puzzle for ages. I had forgotten how entertaining they are. Thank you Mudd.
Independent 10,992 by Tees
Tees fills the mid-week slot this week.
Guardian Cryptic 28,646 by Brummie
Brummie is my first opponent in the 2022 parsing games.
Guardian Round-up 2021
The following round-up has been provided by Mitz. Many thanks to him. There were records galore in the Guardian crossword during 2021: 4 debuts (the most in a calendar year in the history … Read more >>
Independent 10,991 / Filbert
Filbert has provided the first Tuesday puzzle of the year, getting this series of themed puzzles off to a flying start. What is impressive about this crossword is not how the theme is … Read more >>
Inquisitor 1731: Retro by Encota
Retro by Encota Stage 1 is somewhat like the old ‘Minesweeper’ game where the solver must locate the ‘mines’. The integer in each cell equates to the number of ‘mines’ that are in … Read more >>