A pleasant start to the week from ARMONIE…
Independent 10,087/Vigo
A mixture of straightforward charades, insertions and anagrams in a puzzle that would be ideal to show a beginner how to get going with this cryptic malarkey. Abbreviations cd … Read more >>
Guardian Cryptic 27,741 by Pan
The puzzle may be found at https://www.theguardian.com/crosswords/cryptic/27741.
Everyman 3,773
I was a little apprehensive about my task this week, following the previous setter’s retirement and the disappointment of last week’s interim puzzle. But I’m told someone else has now taken on the role, and this week’s puzzle is much more encouraging. Welcome and thank you to the new Everyman setter.
AZED 2,434
Another expertly crafted puzzle that leaves little for me to add. Thank you Azed.
Independent on Sunday 1,511 by Peter
Thank you Peter for an enjoyable puzzle.
Independent 10086 by Serpent
A windy February morning and Serpent comes along to further blow away the winter cobwebs. Serpent puzzles have quickly become a favourite of mine – not just because of the likelihood of finding … Read more >>
Enigmatic Variations No. 1367: On The Dot by Chalicea
If ON THE DOT was by Harribobs, I would be expecting a fiendishly complicated join-the-dots endgame, in the shape of maybe an echidna, or Estonia…but this is by Chalicea, and she is usually a bit … Read more >>
Guardian Prize 27,734 by Brendan
I enjoyed this, and not hard once I caught on to Brendan’s ways of disguising the definitions as parts of wordplay. Thank you Brendan.
Independent 10085 / Phi
Last week I blogged Windsurfer, a newcomer to the Independent stable. This week I’m blogging Phi, one of the long standing setters in the same series. I first blogged a Phi puzzle on … Read more >>
Financial Times 16,086 by BRADMAN
On the easier side of Bradman’s offerings this Friday. Thanks Don, for a quick workout.
Guardian Cryptic 27,739 by Qaos
The puzle may be found at https://www.theguardian.com/crosswords/cryptic/27739.
Guardian 27,738 / Imogen
An enjoyable puzzle from Imogen for this Thursday morning. The construction of the clues was pretty straightforward – in fact, less of a challenge than Imogen often is – but they were all … Read more >>
Independent 10,084 by Italicus
Apart from one or two grumbles detailed below, this was all pleasantly done. Several good clues, such as 24ac. I need help on the parsing of 20ac, which is quite beyond me, but otherwise it all seemed reasonably easy.
Definitions in maroon, underlined. Anagram indicators in italics.
Financial Times 16,085 by ARTEXLEN
My first blog of an Artexlen puzzle.