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
Financial Times 15,647 by Aardvark
The puzzle has not appeared on the FT’s website today. Here is a basic explanation of the solutions. Thank you to Aardvark and to Stephen for posting a scan of the printed version … Read more >>
Independent 9641 / Eccles
A good commuter’s puzzle from Eccles today Well, what I mean is that it’s a puzzle that many solvers will be able to finish in under an hour. There aren’t … Read more >>
Guardian 27,295 – Chifonie
Typically straightforward clueing from Chifonie, though two names might be unfamiliar to some. As I said about Pan’s puzzle last week, pleasant enough but not very exciting. Thanks to Chifonie. … Read more >>
Inquisitor 1505: Total Wipeout by eXtent
The rubric read: Thirty-two clues contain a letter that must be removed before solving. In clue order, these letters indicate (i) a modification that should be applied to the answers to nine normal … Read more >>
FINANCIAL TIMES 15,646 by CRUX
Pretty straightforward, although a couple of sneaky ones in the S.E. corner slowed the old gallop for a bit…
Independent 9,640 by Morph
One of Morph’s occasional and very welcome contributions, not that it was easy. It took me at any rate a long time.
The only — very mild — criticism is that ER appears twice, in 10ac as ‘royal’, and in 8dn as ‘ruler’.
Definitions in maroon, underlined.
Guardian 27,294 / Paul
It’s unusual to see a Paul puzzle so early in the week and I wondered whether there was an anniversary connected with the theme but I couldn’t find anything. As I scanned … Read more >>
Independent 9639/Knut
A themed and cross-referenced puzzle for the Monday Indy slot? What’s occurring? Abbreviations cd cryptic definition dd double definition (xxxx)* anagram anagrind = anagram indicator [x] letter(s) removed definitions … Read more >>