I found this fairly hard-going and wasn’t able to finish it on my first run through. However, returning after an adjournment, it did yield fairly quickly.
Everyman 3,699
Having solved the puzzle and written up the parsing, now for the difficult bit, finding something to say in the preamble. As usual the puzzle is nigh on flawless, so no quibbles to … Read more >>
Independent on Sunday 1437/Poins
Poins normally appears once a month in the IoS. In August we met on the windswept street corner on the rough side of town that is the Fifteensquared blog, and we meet again … Read more >>
Azed 2360
A competition puzzle this week, but it is just a plain one. After I got ALPHABET SOUP at 1 across, a lot of the down entries that fed off it … Read more >>
Independent 9644 by Monk Sat 09-Sep 2017
This was a absolutely beautiful puzzle to solve. Not only does it have a highly interesting “chain” of 4 answers, but it is also a pangram! I suspected it was a pangram early … Read more >>
Enigmatic Variations 1293 Full Marks by Steve
A cryptic preamble this week and no word lengths shown. Though the letters in the ringed cells of the final grid will help to fill in the grid. A real chicken and egg … Read more >>
Guardian 27,292 / Imogen
We found this quite a tricky puzzle; it took a few sittings to complete. Some really excellent clues here, though… … e.g I especially liked 22a (DISMAY), 24a (ROYAL OPERA HOUSE) and (with … Read more >>
Guardian 27,297 / Puck
A lovely treat to end the weekday series – a Puck puzzle! Lots of well-constructed clues with sparklingly witty surfaces, as ever from this setter. Spurred by the references to the PM, I’ve … Read more >>
Financial Times 15,649 by JULIUS
A superb challenge from JULIUS , which did much to enliven my day. Several refreshingly innovative clues resulted in many a-ha moments both in solving and parsing. Thanks JULIUS!
Independent 9643 / Phi
It’s very rare that we don’t enjoy a Phi-day puzzle at the end of the week and this was no exception. We are convinced that there must be a theme as there … Read more >>
Financial Times 15,648 by IO
A diamond of a puzzle; brilliant, and very hard.
Guardian Cryptic 27,296 by Enigmatist
Enigmatist is always challenging, and this took me ages to finish, with the theme indicated in the Special Instructions…
Independent 9,642 / Wiglaf
Wiglaf is occupying the Thursday slot this week, and it is a while since it has fallen to me to blog one of his puzzles. That said, I found this one probably easier … Read more >>
Financial Times 15,638 by Goliath
Prize puzzle from the Weekend FT of August 26, 2017