Today we celebrate the 100th anniversary of Roald Dahl’s birth, and in some style…
Guardian Quiptic 878/Moley
When I started solving and blogging this morning, there wasn’t a setter’s name on the puzzle. No matter – I enjoyed solving and blogging it. Abbreviations cd cryptic definition dd … Read more >>
Independent 9333/Mitz
As far as I can see, this is a debut by Mitz in the Indy, so welcome. I did like some of it, but there were two intersecting clues where I had to … Read more >>
Guardian 26,987 / Rufus
I only needed one pass through the clues to finish this one, despite being somewhat under the influence of alcohol (in my case whisky) so it must have been easy. In fact focusing … Read more >>
Private Eye/Cyclops 581 Blissful Shrink
Another mid range Eye puzzle in terms of trickiness. Ten answered after the first pass, thus nearly half the grid filled. Bottom right corner holding out till last but even the very last … Read more >>
Everyman 3,648
The scheduled blogger hasn’t turned up so here is a quick analysis of the clues. A typical Everyman cryptic with clear, concise cluing and nothing particularly obscure. I rather liked 12ac, amongst others. … Read more >>
Independent on Sunday 1386/Daedalus
Daedalus is still a comparatively new setter in the Indy, and he’s had to put up with me blogging the majority of the ones he’s offered us so far. Regulars will know that … Read more >>
AZED 2,309
I thought this had more of a daily puzzle feel about it then a typical AZED. Some of the anagram clues might have been lifted straight out of the Quiptic puzzle they were so straightforward. I spent less time inside Chambers than usual too. Plenty to enjoy here regardless. Thank you Azed.
I will be away walking in the Cairngorms when this is published. I will try and answer any queries as best I can.
Guardian 26,980 / Boatman
Apologies for the lateness of this post; I’d missed the reminder in my calendar that it was my turn to post about the prize crossword. This is an impressively themed crossword with some … Read more >>
Independent 9332 by Serpent (Saturday Puzzle 10 September 2016)
Serpent is a new setter to me, certainly as far as blogging is concerned, and a quick search of this site shows a handful of Indy cryptics, plus an Inquisitor and an EV…most of them … Read more >>
Enigmatic Variations No. 1241: Wrecked and Salvaged by Kruger
This was Kruger’s third EV of the year (and if you want more of this fine setter, he had his third Inquisitor of the year last Saturday). Here we had some extra wordplay … Read more >>
Guardian Cryptic 26985 Bonxie
There were a couple of tricky ones that delayed me at the end. Thanks Bonxie. Definitions are underlined in the clues. Across 9 I ate lunch drunk — wicked! (9) UNETHICAL : Anagram … Read more >>
Independent 9331 / Phi
Well, a Phi puzzle with a theme that we don’t have to search for this week! The fact that it involves particle physics meant that several of the eight thematic entries were … Read more >>
Financial Times 15,341 by REDSHANK
Redshank’s challenge today felt like a slugfest ! Had to work hard to solve several clues, and progress was painstakingly slow at regular intervals. Thanks Redshank for a high-intensity workout !!
Independent 9,330 / Nestor
It has been a very long time since it has fallen to me to blog a puzzle by Nestor, and this one was a good reminder of what I had been missing. My … Read more >>