Monthly Prize Puzzle (Apr 2021)
A Puzzle by Alchemi
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Why not have a go at our latest Monthly Prize Puzzle?
The winner will receive their choice of any of the Telegraph Crossword Books.
Please note that, due to punitive postal charges, while the competition is open to all, the prize is only available to UK solvers.
A review will follow after the closing date (17th April 2021).
The competition is now closed
The puzzle is available by clicking on the above grid.
Please read the instructions carefully. It is particularly important this month!
I’ve left this post open for comments, but if you don’t want your comment to be deleted then do not provide any help for other solvers or mention any detail about the puzzle, especially references to individual clues, until after the closing date.
BD In the interactive version, the CHECK button is available.
Carelessness on my part – now sorted!
Why is the ‘Reveal Letter’ box added this month?
See above
Thought I was home and dry with this one but having read BD’s instruction in ‘bold’ I’m starting to think that there’s a bit of trickery that I’ve missed. Maybe I’ll leave it a little while before sending in my answer in case something devious suddenly occurs!
You’ve made me wonder whether I sent in the correct answer, Jane. I hadn’t noticed BD’s bit of text in bold – now I’m wondering how cryptic the question is.
OK I’ve committed myself to an answer but it had me delving into realms I can do without visiting again!
Agreed!
Sounds to me like you’ve got it.
That was fun, all done and dusted, as far as solving is concerned, but, like jane, I will have a long ponder about the significance of BD’s ‘bold’ instruction before submitting.
I really liked 11a and 14d.
Thanks Alchemi for not destroying too many of my remaining brain cells.
Lovely crossword…but now for the tricky bit. Whatever does he mean ?
Think I have an answer, but maybe not…..
Finished the puzzle last night but decided to think about it overnight before submitting an answer.
Still thinking!
I eventually realised that the answer I had submitted was probably not correct so studied the grid once again. Hopeful that I have got it this time.
You know an Alchemi puzzle is likely to put up quite a fight, but in general persistence pays off and today’s very enjoyable challenge was no exception. I thought this one was particularly satisfying as some of the parsing took quite a bit of additional teasing out after arriving at a full grid.
Like the previous commentators I am not going to submit what at first sight appears to be the obvious answer, and I plan to sleep on it.
Many thanks for the terrific entertainment, Alchemi.
It’s been a while since my last attempt at the monthly prize.
Not sure I have got it right but I shall have a go anyway.
I have a couple missing but that’s not going to stop me.
Thanks to Alchemi for the workout.
Very enjoyable but left pondering about the correct answer having read the above …. Thank you to Alchemi for the puzzle and the question and to Big Dave for making us very wary!
In common with fellow commentors, I have enjoyed the first phase of this puzzle (and learned a few new terms) but am not jumping to any conclusions…
I submitted an answer to this one and then came here to see that there is apparently an instruction in bold from BD. I fear, however, that I didn’t see any such instruction when I solved the puzzle, and I’ve just looked at it again and still cannot see one. I did appreciate, however, that there was an apparent ambiguity, so had to guess what the intended answer was.
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