I had heard of Playfair crosswords but had not seen one before now. I found Azed’s instructions comprehensive but not very easy to understand so I looked up Playfair on the Web. Also a few typos have crept back into the on-line PDF which did not help matters. Fortunately another quick look on the web turned up what has to be done: the clue text for 1, 19, 23 and 37 across needs to be italicised; the clue for 23 across is wrongly numbered as 22 across; the letter count for 16 down is 3 not 4.
Everyman 3,695
This preamble could well be just a repeat of what I, and others, have been saying for many months. A typical Everyman, smooth surfaces, clear wordplay and definitions, no obscurities, a pleasure to … Read more >>
Independent on Sunday 1433/Poins
A pleasing Sunday puzzle from Poins with very good surface readings as always. A surfeit of insertions and first-letter indicators, perhaps, but that’s a small niggle. There was a request in Another Place … Read more >>
Enigmatic Variations 1289 Migration by Gnomie
As July comes to a close – 5 down clues to lose letters and 5 across clues to receive the letters. All real words in the final grid and thematic items – with … Read more >>
Guardian 27,268 / Paul
A pretty straightforward, but very enjoyable, prize puzzle this week. There were about 4 clues at the end that we had to think about for a long time before getting the answers. Across … Read more >>
Independent 9,620 by Nimrod
Oh cripes, it’s that Nimrod again. A challenging solve of course, but with plenty to enjoy. No sign of a theme or nina, at least as far as I can see, but we … Read more >>
Financial Times 15,625 by WANDERER
An intriguing witty puzzle this Friday .. thanks Wanderer !!
Independent 9619 / Phi
Another week is almost over and once again we have a Phi-day to celebrate it. Regulars will be aware that Phi often has themes (sometimes hidden) within his puzzles, but as usual … Read more >>
Guardian Cryptic 27,273 by Paul
Great fun from Paul – many favourites including 1ac, 22ac, 2dn, 4/19dn, 15dn, 23dn, and especially 12ac.
Independent 9,618 / Tees
Tees has provided this Thursday’s cruciverbal entertainment, using a grid that I am more used to seeing in the Guardian than in the Indy. I found this to be an easy puzzle to … Read more >>
Guardian 27,272 / Nutmeg
The mind can do some funny things when it comes to word association. As soon as I saw it was Nutmeg this morning I immediately thought of rice pudding, followed very quickly by … Read more >>
Financial Times 15,615 – Dante
Monday Prize Crossword / Jul 31, 2017
Last week Falcon, this week Dante.
Relatively easy and no surprises ….
Financial Times 15,614 by Rosa Klebb
Prize puzzle from the Weekend FT of July 29, 2017
Financial Times 15,623 by MONK
It is always a pleasure to get a Monk puzzle to solve and blog, he never disappoints. Thank you Monk.