A puzzle full of intricate wordplay from Italicus.
Guardian Quiptic 1059 Carpathian
Thanks to Carpathian for a neat and enjoyable Quiptic. Definitions are underlined in the clues. Across 1 Confront air conditioning price (6) ACCOST : AC(abbrev. for “air conditioning”) + COST(the price to pay … Read more >>
Guardian Cryptic 28,070 by Anto
The puzzle may be found at https://www.theguardian.com/crosswords/cryptic/28070. Anto has graduated from an occasional Quiptic, which were not well received. Here he or she has some interesting ideas for clues; there were a couple … Read more >>
Cyclops 671 – Extempore Leadership
An irreverent Cyclopsean bimble through the corridors of power and a smattering of Lower 6th Common Room smuttery…all is well with the world!… Bit of a rush to get this out due to … Read more >>
Independent on Sunday 1,566 by Loglady
The puzzle can be found here. Hi all. I very much enjoyed this puzzle although there is one clue I don’t understand needed help with – thanks to Rabbit Dave and NeilW. … Read more >>
Everyman 3,828
The puzzle may be found at https://www.theguardian.com/crosswords/everyman/3828. Much as we have come to expect from Everyman; three &lit clues, where the entire clue may be read as definition or as wordplay, and the … Read more >>
Guardian Genius 200 – Kite
Spoiler alert: harsh words ahead.
Azed 2489
After last week’s tricky Letters Latent puzzle, this one was a lot gentler, though of the usual high quality. Thanks to Azed. Across 1. SHAMBA Plot devising … Read more >>
Independent 10,415 by Eimi
The last day of February brings a puzzle from Eimi. A special occasion indeed. Whilst not a difficult solve, exactly what I like about Eimi’s puzzles. Topical, requiring a bit of general knowledge … Read more >>
Guardian Prize 28,063 / Puck
‘Special instructions’ [in this case, ‘Wordplay in 15 clues lacks something crucial in one form or another’] usually make me wince slightly – and especially when I’m blogging! As it happened, I fortunately … Read more >>
Enigmatic Variations No.1422 – 34 28 24 by Oxymoron
“In ‘34 28 24’, wordplay yielded by clues either includes an extra letter not entered in the grid (16) or ignores a letter in the entered answer (15). In clue order these letters spell out what must appear in the perimeter reading clockwise, starting at cell 31. Chambers Dictionary (2016) is recommended.”
Financial Times 16,412 by ALBERICH
A delightful and difficult challenge from Alberich today. Classic pareto solve for me – last 20% of the clues took 80% of the solve time.
Guardian Cryptic 28,068 by Picaroon
The puzzle may be found at https://www.theguardian.com/crosswords/cryptic/28068. An excellent puzzle from the devious Picaroon. For an uncomfortably long time I was staring at the grid with only four or five lights filled, but … Read more >>
Independent 10,414 by Phi
Although there is one whose explanation defeats me, most of this crossword from Phi was easier than sometimes and of course was of the usual high standard. 8dn is beyond me I’m afraid. … Read more >>
Guardian 28,067 / Paul
My apologies for the late blog: when the theme penny did finally drop, it entailed a bit of research! Paul sets today’s challenge – and a challenge it was! I woke up at … Read more >>