Usual Rufus fare.
Independent 9693/Tees
Tees has previously set a triple pangram. This wasn’t one of those. It was in fact a reasonably straightforward cryptic, but with some headscratching required: just right for a Monday, imho. I … Read more >>
Everyman 3,707
For once I do have something to say about an Everyman cryptic other than the usual comments about smooth surfaces etc. I was rather surprised by the definition in 9ac when there are other … Read more >>
Independent on Sunday 1445/Poins
Poins has a particular style of setting, which I am finally getting used to. I still find that I need to ponder his clues longer than other IoS setters, but that’s no bad … Read more >>
Guardian Genius 172 by Chandler
‘Chandler’ is a new name to me, and not obviously present on this site or the inter-web generally, so either a debutant(e?) or yet another collaboration of existing setters… The preamble states that: … Read more >>
AZED 2,368
Another enjoyable hour or so trawling through the Big Red Book. Thank you Azed.
Independent 9692 by Anax (Saturday Puzzle 4 November 2017)
A challenging puzzle from Anax this week…with some clever cross-references, silky surface readings and a bit of mirthful misdirection… After a bit of a flying start from letting my eye roam straight to 23D … Read more >>
Enigmatic Variations 1301 Disappeared by Oxymoron
No clue numbers this week but an alphabetical across and down ordering with 10 misprints in definitions giving a clue to the puzzle’s theme. Also 6 unclued entries which are wholly blank in … Read more >>
Guardian 27,340 / Picaroon
An impressive prize crossword from Picaroon, for reasons I’ll explain below…. There was some rubric for this puzzle, which read: Wordplay in each clue ignores a letter required in the solution What only … Read more >>
Guardian Cryptic 27345 Qaos
An enjoyable, but definitely not a walkover – at least not when parsing – puzzle from Qaos, to whom thanks. Definitions are underlined in the clues. Again, apologies for the late blog, but a visit … Read more >>
Independent 9691 / Phi
Phi-day again, and the usual excellent puzzle. Lots to enjoy, but we just cannot figure out 22ac – there’s only one word that fits, and there’s a straightforward definition, but how on … Read more >>
Financial Times 15,697 by WANDERER
A super fun puzzle from WANDERER today .. with some excellent surfaces and witty cluing.
Independent 9,690 / Dutch
My apologies for the late posting, which is due to unforeseen circumstances this afternoon. This is only the second occasion on which I have blogged a puzzle by Dutch, and I have to … Read more >>
Financial Times 15,696 by JULIUS
The puzzle can be found here
Guardian Cryptic 27,344 by Nutmeg
The puzzle may be found at https://www.theguardian.com/crosswords/cryptic/27344.