Independent 9621/Hoskins

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References in clues: drugs 3; sex/body parts 4; booze 4. Hoskins is in town. Another entertaining puzzle from Harry, which I enjoyed solving and blogging. Some interesting devices, which may well have the … Read more >>

AZED 2,356 – Payfair

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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.

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Everyman 3,695

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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

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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 >>

Guardian 27,268 / Paul

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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 >>