Welcome

January 29, 2009 – 12:00 am

Welcome to Big Dave’s Telegraph Crossword Blog

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If you are looking for help with the Daily and Sunday Telegraph cryptic crosswords, a total of 11 puzzles a week, then you have come to the right place.  Here  you will get help with solving these puzzles, and the wordplay will be explained by fellow solvers in simple, easy to understand, terms.

My aim is to have the main cryptic review available by 11.00 each morning, and the one for the Toughie by 2.00 in the afternoon, but please remember that all work on this site is voluntary (that’s a euphemism for  unpaid!) and that circumstances may mean that some days they will be a little later.

If this is your first time, or for more information about this site, please click on Read More »

By Big Dave | Posted in Announcements, Highlight | Comments Off

Toughie 249

November 11, 2009 – 12:02 am

Toughie No 249 by Excalibur

A Game of Two Halves

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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment **

I got the impression with this one that some care had been taken in the construction of the across clues, but that many of the down ones appeared forced with poor surface readings. Overall there was not a lot to get excited about. Let us know what you thought via a comment.
As usual the answers are hidden inside the curly brackets. Just select the white space inside the brackets if you want to reveal one.

Read More »

By gazza | Posted in Crosswords, Excalibur, Toughie Crosswords | Tagged , , , , , | Comments (3)

DT 26083

November 11, 2009 – 12:01 am

Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 26083

Weak after the event ……..

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BD Rating – Difficulty ** - Enjoyment ***

After the ferocity of last Wednesday, we are back to a more reasonable puzzle that I am sure most of you will enjoy. The clues are nicely written and should not prove too much trouble for the majority of solvers. However, we are here to point you in the right direction, if a nudge is needed. Apart from a couple of dodgy anagram indicators, I found it very reasonable fare.

However, this is where I get to be controversial. As I have said, this is quite an elegant puzzle with the anagram clues invariably written with a little thought and style. However, this puzzle is almost entirely filled with these and word-sum clues, of which there are over a dozen. It provides an ideal challenge for those learning to solve cryptics, but I prefer a variety of clue types, with an occasional mind-stretcher. This sits firmly at the opposite ends of the universe inhabited by last Wednesday’s and I am happy for these puzzles, as long as we are treated to an occasional difficult one.

The answers, if you are really stuck, are hidden between the squiggly brackets and highlighting the space between them will reveal the answer.

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By tilsit | Posted in Crosswords, DT Cryptic Crosswords, Wednesday | Tagged , , , , , | Comments (10)

Toughie 248

November 10, 2009 – 12:02 am

Toughie No 248 by Busman

On a Roll

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BD Rating – Difficulty ** - Enjoyment ***

Not overly difficult but an enjoyable start to the day. I rattled through this and then got on with the blog, while being continually harassed by three new additions to the family – kittens!

I haven’t done the normal daily cryptic yet, but in brief conversation with Gazza, he indicates that it is actually more difficult than this. So why not try both and let us know what you thought.

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By Libellule | Posted in Busman, Crosswords, Toughie Crosswords | Tagged , , , , , | Comments (7)

DT 26082

November 10, 2009 – 12:01 am

Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 26082

Hints and tips by Gazza

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BD Rating – Difficulty **** – Enjoyment ***

Is it just my having a bad day, or is this one trickier than the standard Ray T puzzle? I certainly thought so – let me know if you agree or disagree. It has the usual sprinkling of smile-inducing clues.
Incidentally, this is one of those rare (or perhaps not so rare) days when the Toughie is easier than the Cryptic. Again, this is just my opinion – why not have a go at both and leave a comment with your view?
As usual the answers, should you need them, are hidden inside the curly brackets at the start of each hint – just select the white space inside the brackets to reveal them.

Read More »

By gazza | Posted in Crosswords, DT Cryptic Crosswords, Tuesday | Tagged , , , , , | Comments (49)

DT 26081

November 9, 2009 – 12:01 am

Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 26081

Hints and tips by Big Dave

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BD Rating – Difficulty *** - Enjoyment ****

I struggled a bit with the North West corner – mainly because it was a while before I realised that (6-4) for 1 across was really (5′1-4). It seems strange that hyphens are shown in the enumeration, but not apostrophes; perhaps that would give too much away. Many thanks to our Monday Maestro for a good, solid puzzle (once I had overcome the aforementioned hang-up!).

This weekend, being the coldest for some time, was when our central heating decided to stop working. The lateness of this post is due, in part, to the presence of the engineer. His prognosis was that the controller was faulty, which he demonstrated by switching it on, off and back on again. Sometimes it worked, and others it didn’t! A trip to the plumbing supply shop has been added to today’s itinerary.

Leave a comment telling us what you thought. You can also add your assessment by selecting from one to five stars at the bottom of the post.

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By Big Dave | Posted in Crosswords, DT Cryptic Crosswords, Monday | Tagged , , , , , | Comments (48)

ST 2509 – Hints

November 8, 2009 – 12:01 am

Sunday Telegraph Cryptic No 2509 – Hints

Hints and tips by Big Dave

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BD Rating – Difficulty *** - Enjoyment ****

Sunday has come round again, and here is yet another in this long run of excellent puzzles.

Don’t forget that you can give your assessment of the puzzle. Five stars if you thought it was great, one if you hated it, four, three or two if it was somewhere in between.

As is usual for the weekend prize crosswords, I will select a few of the better clues and provide hints for them.

A full review of this puzzle will be published at 12.00 on Friday, 13th November (lucky for some!).

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By Big Dave | Posted in Crosswords, Prize Crosswords, Sunday Hints | Tagged , , , | Comments (33)

DT 26080 – Hints

November 7, 2009 – 12:01 am

Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 26080 – Hints

Big Dave’s Saturday Crossword Club

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BD Rating – Difficulty ** - Enjoyment ****

Yesterday’s popular puzzle from Giovanni is followed today by one from Cephas that should prove to be just as enjoyable. A good cross-section of clues and only the one, well-known, place name. I await, with some interest, your comments.

Don’t forget that you can give your assessment of the puzzle. Five stars if you thought it was great, one if you hated it, four, three or two if it was somewhere in between.

As is usual for the weekend prize crosswords, I will select a few of the better clues and provide hints for them. A full review of this puzzle by Tilsit will be published at 12.00 on Thursday, 12th November.

Read More »

By Big Dave | Posted in Crosswords, Prize Crosswords, Saturday Hints | Tagged , , , | Comments (69)

ST 2508

November 6, 2009 – 12:00 pm

Sunday Telegraph Cryptic No 2508

A full analysis

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BD Rating – Difficulty ** - Enjoyment ***

Tilsit’s review is a little late, so I have decided to publish the answers and the essentials of the wordplay.
Read More »

By Big Dave | Posted in Crosswords, Prize Crosswords, ST Cryptic Crosswords, Sunday | Tagged , , , , , | Comments (0)

Toughie 247

November 6, 2009 – 12:07 am

Toughie No 247 by Elgar

Like for unlike

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BD Rating – Difficulty **** - Enjoyment ***

Tackling this one at 1am was possibly not a great idea – a bit of a struggle. Finally slotted the last bits, then went back to see what had held me up. Mostly it was instances of implied double meanings and puns whose grammar didn’t seem to stack up, but I suppose when the intention is to raise a few smiles – which, in fairness, they did – the setter deserves to be given some latitude.

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By Anax | Posted in Crosswords, Elgar, Toughie Crosswords | Tagged , , , , , | Comments (10)

DT 26079

November 6, 2009 – 12:01 am

Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 26079

Hints and tips by Gazza

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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ****

Giovanni is on form today and has given us an excellent puzzle with many entertaining clues. For those who normally have problems on a Friday, it is worth persevering with – there are a number of easier clues, such as 18a, 7d and 22d which should give you toeholds to get into it.
As usual the answers are inside the curly brackets for those who need them – just highlight the space inside the brackets.
We are, as always, reliant on your comments to keep the blog lively and entertaining – so please don’t disappoint.

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By gazza | Posted in Crosswords, DT Cryptic Crosswords, Friday | Tagged , , , , , | Comments (44)

DT 26074

November 5, 2009 – 12:00 pm

Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 26074

A full analysis by Big Dave

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BD Rating – Difficulty ** - Enjoyment ***

On second reading I found little to change my earlier opinion. This is a reasonable puzzle which has one or two debatable clues, As Saturday puzzles go it is better than most. Enough said.

Tilsit and I have swapped for this week, and his review of last Sunday’s puzzle will be posted tomorrow.

Read More »

By Big Dave | Posted in Crosswords, DT Cryptic Crosswords, Prize Crosswords, Saturday | Tagged , , , , , | Comments (1)

Toughie 246

November 5, 2009 – 12:02 am

Toughie No 246 by Firefly

Over-egging the Pudding

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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ***

Greetings from the drizzle-sodden Calder Valley. After yesterday’s thought-provoking Daily puzzle, it’s time to return to Toughie pastures. I would like to start by offering an apology of sorts for my posting late last evening. I was probably quite tired and emotional (not in the Private Eye sense of the phrase, as I don’t drink!), but have had a couple of difficult days health-wise which conspired to leave me feeling somewhat drained and a bit upset at what I saw as unnecessarily nasty comments about what was a decent if somewhat tougher puzzle..

Back to today’s challenge. One of my favourite programmes is on BBC2 tonight. The Restaurant with the lovely Raymond Blanc. Last week’s opening episode brought one of those TV moments where you watch almost with your hands over your eyes, as one aspiring restaurateur held a Sabatier knife by the blade and tried to hit it with a rolling pin to crack open a coconut. Today’s Toughie wasn’t as bad as that, but I feld that one or two clues were over-egged and a bit forced in terms of content. It seemed that the setter found an idea to run with, but instead of perhaps thinking enough is enough (or un oeuf is un oeuf in one case!), perseverance didn’t pay off and the clue suffered for it. Otherwise it was a reasonable challenge and quite enjoyable. It will give me an opportunity to play some favourite comedy and music and I think it’s time to have a look at it.

As usual, post your comments after the blog and you can rate the puzzle by means of the star system.
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By tilsit | Posted in Crosswords, Firefly, Toughie Crosswords | Tagged , , , , , | Comments (14)