Guardian Quiptic 832/Pan
Pan always gives us a sound Quiptic, and that was the case this morning. One or two trickier ones, and a not entirely helpful grid for an entry-level puzzle, but it was all … Read more >>
Guardian 26,712 – Rufus
A very quick solve for me today, with the exception of 4d, which held me up at the end. Fewer cryptic definitions than usual, I think, which helps; the ones we do have … Read more >>
Cyclops 558: Body talk
It’s Friday and I am trying to get this finished and scheduled in preparation for the York Sloggers & Betters weekend, so I don’t miss the Sunday session like I did last year. … Read more >>
Independent on Sunday 1,339 by Raich
It’s always nice to draw a puzzle from our friend and Fifteensquared alumnus Raich. Having had to blog an Anax on the same weekend, it was a relief that this perhaps wasn’t the … Read more >>
Beelzebub 1337
This one was over rather quickly but I cannot explain why, it’s not as if there are no obscure words or complex wordplay in it. Perhaps I was just on song because around … Read more >>
Azed 2263 — ‘Eightsome reels’
This is something Azed only occasionally does, to have one of his specials on a non-clue-setting-competition day. I don’t know how many solvers there are who do the n-c-s-c puzzles but not the c-s-c ones, … Read more >>
Independent 9,051 by Anax (Saturday Prize Puzzle, 17/10/15)
It’s always a pleasure to open the paper and see Anax’s name at the top of the puzzle. That’s no less true on blogging day, of course, though you do fear you might … Read more >>
Guardian Prize 26705 by Paul
This is the second tricky prize puzzle from Paul I have blogged recently. I think his weekend puzzles are getting harder. Not so many laughs as some of his puzzles but lots to enjoy regardless. Thanks Paul.
Guardian 26,710 – Qaos
Qaos rounds off an excellent week of Guardian puzzles. I always look for a ghost theme with Qaos: I thought it was going to be food, with POULTRY, BREAD, PUDDING and GARLIC, but … Read more >>
Financial Times 15069 by WANDERER
Another terrific challenge from Wanderer, thanks to whom, for a pleasurable and delightfully interesting joust. Fantastically cryptic clues liberally sprinkled with a touch of commonplace door-openers as well.
Independent 9056 / Phi
This is a fairly typical Phi puzzle There is a theme but you don’t need to have any knowledge of it to solve the puzzle. I thought that there were … Read more >>
Independent 9055 by Klingsor
Klingsor is probably my favourite setter, so when I saw that I was blogging one of his I knew that it would be difficult but good and fair.
In fact it wasn’t all that difficult. Not easy, but so far as I can see everything makes sense straightforwardly enough.
Financial Times 15068 by ARTEXLEN
Some quite convoluted clues here. A fun start on a rainy day. Thanks, Artexlen.
Guardian Cryptic 26709 Paul
(Please click here for this same blog but with a picture quiz added. Please do NOT post hereinbelow any comment relating to the picture quiz. Thank you.) Encountered a few speed bumps along the … Read more >>