Hello to Slormgorm, a new setter to me. A friendly enough offering for a first meeting, with some nice surfaces and solid clueing.
Independent 9861 / Crosophile
Crosophile provides the Tuesday challenge this week. There’s a couple of references to BEES using different meanings of the word. There is an engineering flavour – AGGREGATE, COFFERDAM and SHINGLE. … Read more >>
Guardian Cryptic 27,514 by Chifonie
A pleasant solve, with favourites 9ac and 4dn.
Independent 9,860 by Raich
A lively and mostly accessible puzzle.
Guardian Quiptic 966/Carpathian
A pleasing and well-constructed Quiptic from Carpathian which I enjoyed solving and blogging. What did you think? Abbreviations cd cryptic definition dd double definition cad clue as definition (xxxx)* … Read more >>
Financial Times 15,863 by GURNEY
Great fun from Gurney. Not too challenging and very enjoyable.
Everyman 3,735
The Observer crossword from 13 May 2018
The previous Everyman felt like a breeze. This one, however, …..
Independent on Sunday 1473/Peter
The quirks of the crosswording S&B schedules mean that it’s the Peter and Pierre show this morning. We are not related. Or the same person, obviously. A steady and generally … Read more >>
Azed 2396
This was a plain Azed with the usual mix of careful cluing and less frequently used words I thought this was a fairly typical Azed in terms of difficulty, with … Read more >>
Independent 9,859 by Knut
Well I never…quite literally. I’m staggered to learn that in 652 posts here I haven’t once had the privilege of covering a Knut puzzle until today. So here we are. It’s an unusual … Read more >>
Guardian 27,507 / Paul
Normally we charge through Paul puzzles, but for some reason this one seemed harder than usual. Anyway, it was very enjoyable solve – thanks, Paul! Across 1. Bread Irish pub rejected in place … Read more >>
Enigmatic Variations 1329 Firsts by Gnomie
Straight clues, but two unclued entries and then a cryptic instruction that will become clearer as the grid fills – I hope: Two prize-winning FIRSTS must also be highlighted (32 cells in all). … Read more >>
Guardian Cryptic 27,512 by Crucible
A quick, fun, solve – favourites were 5ac and 2dn.
Independent 9858 / Phi
Another Phi-day comes round and yet another classic Phi puzzle. As we have now come to expect, we can’t help feeling that there is something going on here, but we can’t find … Read more >>
Financial Times 15,861 by GOLIATH
A good solid workout from GOLIATH this Friday. Seemingly inscrutable at first, the pieces fell in place faster than I had expected them to, once I got going. Several witty/innovative clues I thought .. thanks Goliath !