A riveting puzzle from Redshank, who had me at my wits end for most of the solve. Innovative cluing with some refreshingly new takes on some familiar words. I needed Geoff’s help to sort out a couple of clues. Thanks Redshank, for a gem of a challenge.
Independent 9,397 / Phi
Typically, Phi has provided the last of this week’s mid-week puzzles. I expect there to be a theme here that I simply haven’t spotted. Given the grid, I felt sure that there was … Read more >>
Guardian Cryptic 27,051 by Shed
The puzzle may be found at https://www.theguardian.com/crosswords/cryptic/27051.
Financial Times 15,406 by GAFF
A themed offering from Gaff…
Guardian 27,050 / Brummie
A fun challenge from Brummie, which I really enjoyed solving. Brummie’s puzzles usually have a theme and today it’s comedy duos, signposted by he answer to 19ac in the centre of the grid. … Read more >>
Independent 9396 / Wiglaf
This seems to be the first time I have blogged a puzzle by Wiglaf in either the Independent or Inquisitor series although he has now compiled getting for ten all told. … Read more >>
Financial Times 15,397 – Crux
Monday Prize Crossword / Nov 14, 2016
I was expecting a Crux, and a Crux was what I got.
Financial Times 15,396 by Mudd
Prize puzzle from the Weekend FT of November 12, 2016
Financial Times 15,405 by Julius
Julius is now a regular favourite of mine. Both general knowledge and ingenuity are required to solve the clues, but neither is going to get you there on its own. Thank you Julius.
Independent 9,395 by Dac
What more is there to say about Dac? This is the usual consummate performance from the master, albeit at the easy end of the scale and containing nothing to hold people up for long. Even the citrus fruit at 24ac can be taken on trust. And thank goodness I didn’t need to know anything about Thiepval in 6dn.
Definitions underlined and in maroon.
Guardian Cryptic 27,049 by Paul
Got stuck near the beginning and then again about halfway through, but the last few fell very quickly. Favourites were 1ac, 15ac, 24ac/6dn, 3dn and 4dn. Thanks Paul.
Inquisitor 1464: Provisions by ’Eck
By ’Eck, ’e’s back for the first time since NY 2014. Preamble: The grid consists of two crosswords with a common theme. Clues are presented in non-overlapping pairs; either clue appearing first. … Read more >>
Guardian 27,048 – Pasquale
We expect a couple of unfamiliar words in a Pasquale puzzle, but he’s excelled himself in this one (at least as far as I’m concerned) in the SE corner. (I wonder what one … Read more >>
Independent 9394 / Radian
It has become almost the norm for the Tuesday Indy to have a theme and today is no exception …
Christmas quiz
This annual quiz is created by Araucaria’s family, and it’s fun and challenging. We dedicate our donation to the memory of Araucaria, and suggest that you might like to do the same. http://us5.campaign-archive2.com/?u=8085da8850c0e2152b2339c4c&id=a31f7892be&e=df02ee0cb7 … Read more >>