February 2011 – Page 3 – Big Dave's Crossword Blog

DT 26480 (Hints)

Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 26480 (Hints)

Big Dave’s Saturday Crossword Club

+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +

I don’t usually comment on the Saturday puzzles, but if you are expecting the usual easy ride you may be in for a shock!

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

Continue reading “DT 26480 (Hints)”

Toughie 514

Toughie No 514

Hints and tips by Tilsit

+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +

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

Greetings from the Calder Valley. As many of you know I have had something of a trying week since last Friday with a torrid train journey, a bump in the car, not feeling well but all was rescued by a lovely trip to London on Tuesday to celebrate the 90th birthday of the Guardian crossword compiler Araucaria. There are pictures both here http://www.flickr.com/photos/tilsit/sets/72157625937084625/ and here http://www.flickr.com/photos/30631875@N03/sets/72157625943269143/detail/ and you may see one or two famous faces both from the crossword and wider world! A lovely evening was had by all and I was so privileged to be invited.

Now back to today. I completed much of this puzzle while waiting for my replacement car to be delivered to the garage (it was a long wait!). I have to admit that I have been a little disappointed with the last couple of Firefly puzzles, and this continues the trend. I have enjoyed his puzzles both here and elsewhere but this leaves me a bit flat. I enjoy tougher crosswords but some of the clues here seemed to be complicated just for the sake of it and I don’t understand a couple of the answers. Other Toughie setters manage to combine humour with flair. Here even the humour seems to be forced. A great shame really.

Continue reading “Toughie 514”

ST 2575

Sunday Telegraph Cryptic No 2575

A full review by Gnomethang

+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +

BD Rating – Difficulty **Enjoyment ***

Morning All!. This is my first review of one of my favourite setters. I found this slightly easier than many Virgilius puzzles although it still contained many of his trademarks – well disguised hidden words and some cheeky wordplay that makes you think (e.g. 22a).
Continue reading “ST 2575”

DT 26479

Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 26479

Hints and tips by Gazza

+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +

BD Rating – Difficulty **Enjoyment ****

This has been an upside-down week for me with regard to the Cryptics. In a reversal of the usual order of things I found Monday’s Rufus to be the most difficult and today’s Giovanni to be the easiest (I don’t expect everyone to agree!). But, easy or not, I did enjoy today’s puzzle – let us know what you thought in a comment!
To see an answer drag your cursor through the space between the brackets under the clue.

Continue reading “DT 26479”

DT 26474

Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 26474

A full review by Crypticsue

+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +

BD Rating – Difficulty ***Enjoyment ***

This was one of those crosswords where I struggled to get going but found when I had finished that it had taken me no longer than usual to solve. Thanks to Cephas for a nice Saturday puzzle with an interesting mix of clues.

Continue reading “DT 26474”

Toughie 513

Toughie No 513 by Petitjean

Hints and tips by Bufo

+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +

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

I enjoyed this one and found it to be just above average difficulty. I had no real problems filling in the answers but there were a couple of things I had to check once I’d finished.

Continue reading “Toughie 513”

DT 26478

Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 26478

Hints and tips by Big Dave

+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +

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

It Ray T’s turn again this week – confirmed by the single word clues and answers in the Quick crossword. I found this a bit harder than usual, largely because of the way Ray exploits the lesser-used definitions of some words.

Continue reading “DT 26478”

Toughie 512

Toughie No 512 by MynoT

Let’s take that as read

+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +

BD Rating – Difficulty **Enjoyment ****

The sight of MynoT’s name as the setter should put you on the alert for a theme or hidden message. Today the theme is the colour red; I’ve identified the clues which I think relate to the theme by putting “**” at the start of the hint – can you spot any more?
As MynoT’s puzzles go this was very much on the easy side and the enjoyment comes more from identifying the clues which match the theme. Let us know how you liked it in a comment and please take the time to click on one of the stars below to indicate your enjoyment level.

Continue reading “Toughie 512”