Toughie No 3032 by Elgar
Hints and tips by Dutch
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BD Rating – Difficulty ***** – Enjoyment *****
Joy, we have a 7-word Nina today. 5* time but steady progress. Enjoy. Continue reading “Toughie 3032”
Author: Dutch
Toughie 3028
Toughie No 3028 by Osmosis
Hints and tips by Dutch
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BD Rating – Difficulty **** – Enjoyment *****
A lovely puzzle from Osmosis with the usual cleverly-disguised definitions. And another near pangram, this time the Z is missing.
Please leave a comment telling us what you thought.… Continue reading
Toughie 3024
Hints and tips by Dutch
Toughie No 3024 by Elgar
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BD Rating – Difficulty ***** – Enjoyment *****
Not the easiest of puzzles … Continue reading “Toughie 3024”
Toughie 3020
Toughie No 3020 by Sparks
Hints and tips by Dutch
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BD Rating – Difficulty **/*** – Enjoyment ****
Oh no! My heart sank as I saw the Nina. Our condolences Sparks. How do you give an enjoyment rating for such a sad message? Many of the across answers apply to 12a Continue reading “Toughie 3020”
Toughie 3016
Toughie No 3016 by Elgar
Hints and tips by Dutch
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BD Rating – Difficulty ***** – Enjoyment *****
A pleasing symmetry of enumeration around the grid, including the (4,4) pairs and the (5,5,5,5) square. Continue reading “Toughie 3016”
Toughie 3012
Toughie No 3012 by Osmosis
Hints and tips by Dutch
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BD Rating – Difficulty ***/**** – Enjoyment ****
I seemed to be on an Osmosis wavelength today, which probably means the puzzle was easier. I finished in 3* time, but with one left to parse (didn’t take long, but hence inching into 4*).… Continue reading
Toughie 3008
Toughie No 3008 by Elgar
Hints and tips by Dutch
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BD Rating – Difficulty ***** – Enjoyment *****
Elgar back to full-on toughie style. I was left with about 5 unsolved well after 5* time, when I eventually saw 23a and 5d, giving me the rest.… Continue reading
Toughie 3004
Toughie No 3004 by proXimal
Hints and tips by Dutch
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BD Rating – Difficulty ***/**** – Enjoyment ****
Sometimes it takes me a while to get on to proXimal’s wavelength. Luckily, he has included a number of easier clues to get you started, much appreciated!
Please leave a comment telling us what you thought.… Continue reading
Toughie 3000
Toughie No 3000 by ?
Hints and tips by Dutch
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment *****
As you’ll find wonderfully hidden, this is the three thousandth toughie crossword! A landmark celebrated by a nice easy puzzle (I was worried it might be an ultra-toughie) with lovely surfaces throughout.… Continue reading
Toughie 2992
Toughie No 2992 by Elgar
Hints and tips by Dutch
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BD Rating – Difficulty ***** – Enjoyment *****
Ah – I just realised when publishing this that it’s Friday 13th – oh, the perks of blogging! We have another display of inventive and precise clueing by Elgar.… Continue reading