A fine puzzle with several unusual constructions and a tribute hidden within…
Inquisitor 1629: Shortages by eXtent
A puzzle from eXtent this week The preamble told us that six entries are affected by shortages; answers to the corresponding clues must be entered as jumbles. Superfluous letters, spelling out a two-word … Read more >>
Guardian 28,035 – Qaos
A typically entertaining and reasonably straightforward puzzle from Qaos today – thanks to him.
Independent 10,381 by Alchemi
Apart from my vague grumblings over the use of ‘possibly’, and what seems to me to be a bit doubtful in 26dn, Alchemi has as usual produced a very neat and enjoyable crossword. … Read more >>
Guardian Quiptic 1053 Pan
Thanks Pan for a Quiptic that’s just at the right level. Definitions are underlined in the clues. Across 8 Not old enough to destroy deer with a gun (8) UNDERAGE : Anagram of(to … Read more >>
Independent 10380 by Tees
Some very smooth surface readings from Tees today.
Guardian Cryptic 28,034 by Chifonie
A pleasant Monday solve.
Financial Times 16,378 by ZAMORCA
ZAMORCA kicks off the working week… I’ve yet to check the print version, but certainly the online version had the added challenge of showing the wrong grid. It wasn’t far off though. Nothing … Read more >>
Private Eye ( Cyclops/668 ) Kinky Fatwa
A mixed bag of difficulty here.
Everyman 3,822/12 January
Another sound Sunday puzzle from Everyman. Last week we had different clues in the online and dead-tree versions; this week we have a lack of spacing in some clues where Everyman has chosen … Read more >>
Azed 2483
Not too hard on the Azed scale, but as always I leaned some new words (most of which I will probably forget until the next time they tirne up) and a few interesting … Read more >>
Independent on Sunday 1560 Hoskins
Thanks Hoskins for an enjoyable crossword. Definitions are underlined in the clues. Across 6 Salary? Mine must be returned in post! (7) STIPEND : Reversal of(… must be returned) PIT(a mine/a hole in … Read more >>
Independent 10,379 by Phi (Saturday Puzzle 18 Jan 2020)
It has been a while since I blogged a Saturday Indy Phi – April 2016 to be precise – although I have covered a few of his Kcit EVs in the meantime…anyway, he … Read more >>
Enigmatic Variations No. 1416: January Reductions by Vismut
Hi everyone. Well, this was a very different experience to the last Vismut puzzle I solved. Based on that I had been expecting a bit of a struggle, but this one yielded readily … Read more >>
Guardian Prize 28,027 by Paul
A very tough puzzle this week: Paul on top form! Has somebody bought Paul a dictionary of (outdated) slang? Quite a few examples (heavens to Betsy, my hat, beano and of course, “him … Read more >>