My second Peter blog and a nice gentle start to the crosswording week
Guardian 27,161 – Rufus
The usual quick solve for a Monday morning. There are fewer of Rufus’s trademark cryptic definitions than usual in this one, but I have quibbles about quite a few of the cues, not … Read more >>
Guardian Quiptic 907 Arachne
Now this is a coincidence: I blogged Arachne’s last (then) Quiptic (691), before she retired … from the Quiptic at least. Over four years later, I’m delighted to blog her first comeback Quiptic. Enjoyable crossword … Read more >>
Private Eye / Cyclops 595 Notorious Schemer
With plenty of time between solving this puzzle and the target Monday for publishing this blog, I nevertheless yet again find myself writing this up on a Sunday evening, creaking after doing too … Read more >>
AZED 2,337
A straightforward plain after last week’s Carte Blanche.
Independent on Sunday 1,414 by Hoskins
Another good Sunday puzzle from Hoskins. This one all fell into place in a straightforward manner, without any obvious sticking points. As such, there’s very little I can add, though that isn’t in … Read more >>
Genius 165 / Vlad
Vlad set a challenging but very enjoyable Genius puzzle this month. The preamble told us that eight solutions (four being of two words) comprise 6 across 29, which is clued … Read more >>
Everyman 3,676
The puzzle may be found at https://www.theguardian.com/crosswords/everyman/3676.
Independent 9506 / Nimrod
Well, what can we say? We really struggled to get started and wondered whether we would have to ‘phone a friend’ or admit defeat. In the end it was definitely one of those puzzles … Read more >>
Guardian Prize 27,154 / Shed
It’s well over a year since I blogged a Shed puzzle – but there have only been seven since then. Several of us often say we don’t see enough of him. Anyway, a welcome … Read more >>
Enigmatic Variations No.1270 – Uplifting by Chalicea
The preamble tells us that there is an UPLIFTING sentiment found in five sides of the perimeter. However, the grid is a square, so what does this mean?
Financial Times 15,512 by PETO
A breezy challenge from Peto this Friday.
Independent 9,505 by Phi
This must be the smallest 15×15 crossword ever published in a national daily, having only 20 clues. The Times Quick Cryptic, which is 13×13, seldom has so few clues, but really this is one of the few 13×13 cryptics of 20 clues, with some answers lengthened. Four long acrosses and four long downs are the reason for the brevity. Phi has managed to make it all look sensible enough, though, and it must have been quite difficult to fit those long answers in.
As usual all very pleasant, as we have come to expect from Phi.
Definitions underlined and in maroon.
Guardian 27,159 – Tramp
Once again Tramp has produced a puzzle with lots of thematic references in the clues, but without the need for solvers to know anything about the theme. It’s not giving anything away to … Read more >>
Financial Times 15,511 by SLEUTH
Couldn’t finish this one…