Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 26254
Hints and tips by Crypticsue
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BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ***
Ten days ago, I was just Sue, a long time fan of the DT cryptic (40 years which apparently equates to over 10,000 puzzles, even allowing for time off for good behaviour), when following an email approach by Big Dave to confirm whether his detective work was right and I would be too busy to be a reviewer (he was), I couldn’t resist a challenge and am now Crypticsue, the first lady reviewer on his blog, here with my comments on today’s puzzle. Despite my long experience, I was quite nervous this morning but needn’t have worried, Rufus has given us all, novice reviewer, experienced and non-experienced puzzle solvers alike, a very nice Bank Holiday puzzle, with a good mix of clues, some straightforward and some needing a little deliberation.
Cryptic Crosswords – The Rules (2)
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The second chapter in Anax’s guide to the rules which crossword setters use – Charades or Word Sums – is now available.
You can access this guide from the Crosswords page, or you can go direct to the chapter on Charades.
NTSPP – 016 Review
A Puzzle by Bufo
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BD Rating – Difficulty **/*** – Enjoyment ****
Morning All!
During the recent Cruciverbalist’s Convention at the White Horse, Parson’s Green, as well as agreeing to ‘blog the Thursday Toughie, Bufo also generously volunteered to throw in a puzzle for the NTSPP series. And here it is. It is not especially difficult and I plumped for 2.5 stars as there are a smattering of unusual words and some wordplay that is not immediately obvious.
Nevertheless, this should appeal to all solving abilities and is highly recommended.
Sunday Telegraph Cryptic No 2538 – Hints
Hints and tips by Big Dave
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A few hints to get you started.
Not the Saturday Prize Puzzle – 016
A Puzzle by Bufo
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Welcome to the sixteenth in our series of weekly puzzles.
Three weeks ago today, I was sitting in the White Horse, Parson’s Green with Bufo and he suddenly said “I’ll compile a puzzle for you, Dave”. None of the usual arm-twisting or blackmail (I put that bit in for Prolixic and Gnomethang!). Well, here is that puzzle, and a very enjoyable one it is too.
Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 26253 – Hints
Big Dave’s Saturday Crossword Club
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A few hints to get you going.
Toughie No 362 by Micawber
As Time Goes By
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment *****
Another tour-de-force from Micawber. Perhaps not as difficult as he can sometimes be, but as inventive as always with some cracking clues. I loved it – let us know what you thought of it!
A very big thanks to Gnomethang, languishing on his day off somewhere in the Middle East, for looking out the visuals for me and also for sorting out the wordplay on 7d.
Sunday Telegraph Cryptic No 2537
A full analysis by Peter Biddlecombe
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BD Rating – Difficulty ** - Enjoyment *****
More easy but classy clues this week, in a grid that gives you every word-length from 4 to 12
Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 26252
Hints and tips by Gazza
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BD Rating – Difficulty ***- Enjoyment ****
Giovanni rarely disappoints, and this one certainly doesn’t with beautifully constructed clues. Let us know your opinion of it in a comment.
As usual the answers are hidden between the curly brackets under the relevant clue. If you need to see one, just highlight the space between the brackets.
I’m afraid that you’re going to get a double helping of me today. Since both Anax and Big Dave are away in London, I’ll be back later with a review of the Toughie (and in case you’re in two minds about whether to try the Toughie, I thoroughly recommend it – it’s not as difficult as some of Micawber’s, but it is just as entertaining).
Toughie No 361 by Kcit
Hints and Tips by Bufo
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ***
After the puzzles of two weeks ago (too easy) and last week (too obscure) I had hopes that Kcit would pitch it just right. I wasn’t disappointed. I got becalmed with 4 answers to go but eventually got moving again.
Please 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.
Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 26247
A full review by Sue
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BD Rating – Difficulty **/*** – Enjoyment ***
This Saturday’s puzzle was just right – not too difficult, a couple of tricky ones if you didn’t spot such things as the placing of a comma or a capital I (20a and 26a) and even the chance to learn a historical word (20a)
Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 26251
Hints and tips by Libellule
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BD Rating – Difficulty ***- Enjoyment **
I quite enjoyed the crossword when I did it, but when I started writing it up and realised just how much first and last letters are used, and the fact that there are 12 anagrams in 30 clues I began to change my mind… The Thursday crosswords seemed to be getting better over recent weeks, this one seems like a step backwards. Anyway feel free to leave a coment.
Toughie No 360 by Giovanni
It’s Definitely Not Mr Bean
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ****
There were several words which were new to me in this puzzle, but it’s by Giovanni so all the wordplay is very fair and the surface readings are good. Let us know how you found it, and please don’t forget to vote by clicking on one of the stars below.
Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 26250
Hints and tips by Big Dave
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ***
Jay is as reliable as ever, and gives us an enjoyable, not-too-difficult puzzle.
Toughie No 359 by Warbler
A chirpy puzzle
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BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ****
Warbler always delivers an enjoyable puzzle and today’s is no exception. Tuesday has become the repository for the easier Toughies, so today is a very good day if you want to start trying them.
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