Never knowingly undersolved
Monk throws down the gauntlet today We found this to be quite a challenge, mainly due to some fairly obscure (to us) synonyms in the wordplay in several clues and one or two … Read more >>
A birthday treat for me from Qaos, whose puzzles I always enjoy. Solving this one didn’t take too long, but…… …… it took me a while to spot the theme (too late for … Read more >>
Non-prize puzzle from the Weekend FT of September 26, 2020 I found this easier than the last Mudd but still tricky in parts. My favourites are 20ac (FORCEPS) and 6dn (WINDOW SEAT) ACROSS … Read more >>
“An extra letter not entered in the grid is generated by wordplay in each clue; read in clue order, the extra letters give three names which will lead solvers to the definition of RAMJETS, the eight unclued entries. Chambers Dictionary (2016) is recommended.”
I have updated Para. 3 of the Site Policy to include the words “for the most part” so that it better reflects what has been the case in reality for many years. Without … Read more >>
Alchemi is occupying the Wednesday slot this week. This is a compiler whose work I have little experience of solving in the Indy, and even less experience of blogging. I enjoyed the puzzle … Read more >>
An interesting puzzle, I found it easier to guess the solutions than to parse them. Thank you Basilisk. There is some amusing elision going on in the grid: REVISED VERSION, STAINLESS STEEL etc. … Read more >>
Nutmeg is the setter in today's Guardian… …so we know what to expect – clean surfaces, no wasted words or unnecessary fillers, nothing terribly obscure and an elegant mix of general knowledge and … Read more >>
The number 1666 for this puzzle was always going to be the most important clue to the subject matter, so let’s dispose of it straight away. It had to be the Great Fire … Read more >>
Simple elegance from this mornings setter. Strain-free surfaces & deadly accurate wordplay. A smooth, swift and satisfying solve. Thanks to Gurney. ACROSS 1 STATISTICIAN Rewritten, after resistance suppressed, it’s antiracist, this guy figures? … Read more >>
I don’t think I have blogged many puzzles by Wire so it was interesting to solve a puzzle from a setter who is fairly nw to me. It’s Tuesday so there … Read more >>
The puzzle may be found at https://www.theguardian.com/crosswords/cryptic/28257. A fairly quick solve, pleasant, but not too exciting, with some strange surfaces. A theme of headgear is plastered all over the place. Indeed, a google … Read more >>
Vulcan starts the week with a typical Monday medley of charades, anagrams and cryptic definitions, with just one double definition today. I’m not usually a great fan of Vulcan’s puzzles but I enjoyed … Read more >>
Filbert provides our mental workout this morning: not the easiest puzzle for a Monday, but a fun challenge. For some reason we have “pop diva” twice, both referring to the same lady; I’m … Read more >>
A thoughtfully compiled Quiptic from Matilda, which I’d be happy to recommend to those who are new to this kind of torture. Friendly grid, no obscurities, clear cluing. Happy days. … Read more >>