April 2018 – Big Dave's Crossword Blog

DT 28726

Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 28726

Hints and tips by a hypothermic Miffypops

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BD Rating – Difficulty **Enjoyment ***

It is Monday and it is the turn of Chris Lancaster to set today’s puzzle. (Not Dada as I ascribed it to originally). It is another Monday morning delight.… Continue reading

ST 2949 (Hints)

 

Sunday Telegraph Cryptic No 2949 (Hints)

Hints and tips by Senf

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A very good Sunday morning from Winnipeg –  where most of the city (including me), and presumably most of the surrounding area, is energised by the success of The Jets, the city’s (ice) hockey team which is off to a good start in its quest to win Lord Stanley’s Cup for the first time.… Continue reading

DT 28725 (Hints)

Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 28725 (Hints)

The Saturday Crossword Club

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As is usual for the weekend prize crosswords, an assortment of clues, including some of the more difficult ones, have been selected and hints provided for them.

Continue reading “DT 28725 (Hints)”

Toughie 2011

Toughie No 2011 by Elgar

Hints and tips by Dutch

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

This is Elgar’s 126th Telegraph Toughie. That figure points to key down clues and also contains numbers (12/6) that relate some of the answers. I surprised myself by managing to do this in one sitting, albeit a long one, and as usual some of the parsings only came post-solve.… Continue reading

DT 28724

 

Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 28724

Hints and tips by Deep Threat

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BD Rating – Difficulty **Enjoyment ***

Good morning from South Staffs, where after last week’s brief burst of summer the clouds have returned.

The strategically placed anagrams gave me a quick start to this puzzle by Giovanni, and I was rattling along until I came to a halt on 27a, which took me a while to see.… Continue reading

DT 28719

Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 28719

A full review by crypticsue

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This puzzle was published on 21st April 2018

BD Rating – Difficulty **Enjoyment **

A strange solving experience – whether because the clues were quite wordy and very much crammed into the space left in the newspaper for them – or because quite a few of them weren’t as good as the rest, who knows?… Continue reading

Toughie 2010

Toughie No 2010 by Kcit

Hints and tips by Bufo

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

I finished this enjoyable puzzle in average time but then needed more time to sort out the wordplay than I have come to expect from a Kcit puzzle.… Continue reading

ST 2947

Sunday Telegraph Cryptic No 2947

A full review by crypticsue

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This puzzle was published on 15th April 2018

BD Rating – Difficulty **Enjoyment ****

Another great Sunday crossword. I gave ** to 23a and 1* to 15a. I could only award 4* for enjoyment as yet again, probably only noticed by someone typing the review, there’s a whole lot of ‘inserting’ going on.… Continue reading