The grid is a graphic representation of a ’35 across’ (4). There’s a barred-off cell in the centre of the grid that has to be filled in, and a message composed of extra letters in the wordplay. There’s also a strong hint that we might have to draw a line of some sort.
Financial Times 15,425 by ALBERICH
A difficult challenge from Alberich today that I bushwhacked through for a better part of this afternoon. Thanks Alberich for a really good challenge.
Guardian 27,069 – Imogen
A remarkable construction today, with lots of multi-light answers, forming a symmetrical pattern in the grid. This leads to a smaller number of clues than usual, so it was bit harder to get … Read more >>
Independent 9415 / Phi
A standard puzzle from Phi today. Well I think it is; I can’t see any themes or messages. This was a good example of a national broadsheet puzzle that solvers … Read more >>
Independent 9,414 by Crosophile
An enjoyable crossword from Crosophile today: not too difficult for a Thursday, it seemed to me.
Guardian 27,068 / Brummie
Another Brummie appears on a day when I am standing in for someone who is away, not that I’m objecting. However, this time the parsing of one of the clues has defeated me, … Read more >>
Financial Times 15,424 by HAMILTON
For the second Thursday in a row, we have to work out what a letter means in the clues to solve the puzzle. Last week’s offering from Wanderer was a great example of how a themed puzzle should work. Unfortunately, I am not so keen on today’s.
Financial Times 15,414 by Mudd
Prize puzzle from the Weekend FT of December 3, 2016
Financial Times 15,423 by AARDVARK
I did not find this quite as tightly clued as Aardvark’s usual fare, and there is one unsolved clue in here. Other than that enjoyable as always. Thank you Aardvark.
Independent 9413 / Raich
Even if time is short on the approach up to Christmas, we are enjoying having a regular puzzle (or two) to solve each day and were pleased to see that it was Raich today. Several … Read more >>
Guardian Cryptic 27,067 by Picaroon
The puzzle may be found at https://www.theguardian.com/crosswords/cryptic/27067.
Inquisitor 1467: Multiplication by Radler
Preamble: Answers to the eleven asterisked clues must be changed to a related word of the same length before entry. All other clues have a single-letter misprint: the correct letters (in clue order) … Read more >>
Guardian27,066 / Pasquale
A bit of a mixed bag from Pasquale today. There’s the expected sprinkling of less familiar or unknown words – impeccably clued, as usual – but also some rather tired ones, at 26 … Read more >>
Independent 9,412 / Alchemi
Alchemi’s latest puzzle awaited solvers this Tuesday morning. If I look back at my previous blogs of Alchemi puzzles, they all talk about struggling to get started and needing to chip away at … Read more >>