Prize puzzle from the Weekend FT of March 6, 2019
Financial Times 16,144 by FALCON
Nice and easy, easy and nice. I recommend this to anyone getting started on cryptic puzzles. I enjoyed this: it shows that a puzzle doesn’t have to be hard to be enjoyable. Thanks Falcon.
Guardian Cryptic 27,797 by Vlad
As is often the case with Vlad for me, quite a few answers were guessed first and parsed slowly after. Lots to like, with favourites 18/24, 21ac, 22ac, 1dn, 4dn, 6dn, and 20dn. Thanks to Vlad.
Independent 10143 / Anglio
Thanks to Quinster and Kitty for standing in for me over the last two weeks whilst I went in search of the Northern Lights on the Norwegian coastal ferry from Bergen to Kirkenes … Read more >>
Inquisitor 1589: Pitch Black Desert Area by Wiglaf
Pitch Black Desert Area by Wiglaf Each of four theme words, which have something in common, has two variations connected to it in the same way, though the nature of the connection … Read more >>
Financial Times 16,143 by NEO
A brisk solve with some very nice surfaces.
Independent 10142 by Knut
Excellent crossword today from Knut, which occupied me for quite a while until its secrets were revealed, but that’s just my incompetence: everything was fair and there were plenty of very nice clues.
Definitions underlined, in maroon. Anagram indicators in italics.
Guardian 27,796 – Imogen
A satisfying puzzle from Imogen today; one that seemed impenetrable at first but gradually yielded, with the SW corner holding me up at the end. Thanks to Imogen. TOBY JUG, SQUAB and XYLOPHONE … Read more >>
Guardian Quiptic 1013 Anto
Thanks Anto for a, or more than, fair Quiptic. Knowing the history between commenters and this setter, I wonder what he/she was thinking when writing 2 down and 25 across? Definitions are underlined … Read more >>
Independent 10,141/Italicus
Italicus slopes into town to deliver the Monday Indy puzzle for our enjoyment. Some delightfully crafted surface readings in this offering, and only two words that I balked at. Abbreviations … Read more >>
Guardian Cryptic 27,795 by Chifonie
Almost the perfect Monday puzzle from Chifonie.
Financial Times 16,142 by VELIA
A very gentle start to the week from VELIA…
Cyclops 648 – Sinister Adversary
Cyclops is as Cyclops does – some fun with surface readings, some usual targets, and maybe just a tad too much Trump(?)… Some ancient history at 21D – Archimedes’ supposed EUREKA ‘ejaculation’ in … Read more >>
Everyman 3,782/7 April
There are four of us who blog the Everyman, and there have certainly been some ropy ones recently to cover and explain. I seem to have landed some of the better offerings: this … Read more >>
Independent on Sunday 1520 Poins
Thanks Poins for an enjoyable puzzle. Definitions are underlined in the clues. Across 1 Flying saucers circling Yemen’s capital city (8) SYRACUSE : Anagram of(Flying) SAUCERS containing(circling) 1st letter of(…’s capital) “Yemen“. Defn: … Read more >>