Enigmatic Variations 1593 (Hints)
Apparently by Skylark
Hints and tips by Phibs
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When I provided hints for her last EV, Skylark was kind enough to explain the origin of her pseudonym, chosen because as a youngster she was entranced by Errol Garner’s rendition of the Johnny Mercer / Hoagy Carmichael song of that name. Since we will be searching for names in the completed grid, Mercer’s closing couplet may well be relevant: “So if you see them anywhere / Won’t you lead me there?”
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Enigmatic Variations 1592 (Hints)
Warning by Gaston
Hints and tips by The Numpties
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This will be Gaston’s 26th EV crossword. He has been setting two or three a year for almost ten years, so you will probably have solved his crosswords before and know what a range of themes he handles – and that you are in good hands.… Continue reading
Enigmatic Variations 1591 (Hints)
Split Personality by Check
Hints and tips by Phibs
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Should we presume that our setter is a keen chess player? A poker aficionado? Or perhaps a fan of Neighbours and Home and Away star Craig McLachlan’s band Check 1-2? That’s perhaps the most likely explanation, but frankly it’s anybody’s guess.
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Enigmatic Variations 1590
Anthology by Charybdis
Hints and tips by The Numpties
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Charybdis is a prolific setter for all the advanced thematic crossword outlets and I see on Dave Hennings’ Crossword Database that this will be his 27th EV so we can be sure that we are in competent hands.… Continue reading
Enigmatic Variations 1589 (Hints)
RQAKHNNE WZFADE by Piccadilly
Hints and tips by Phibs
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The Playfair cipher was devised in 1854 by Charles Wheatstone (he of the electrical bridge), but is named for Lord Playfair, who promoted its use in military communications. Playfair puzzles are the Marmite of the barred puzzle world, and I think it’s fair to say that neither the Numpties nor I could be numbered among their fans – however, there are others who reckon they are the best thing for sliced bread, and who are we to question their taste?
Although Ximenes once playfully chose CAB as the key phrase in a Playfair puzzle, it is usual for words or phrases of ten or more letters to be chosen. No letter can appear more than once in this phrase, and it cannot contain both of the letters (here I and J) which do duty for each other.
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Enigmatic Variations 1588 (Hints)
Clash by Ranunculus
Hints and tips by The Numpties
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This will be Ranunculus’ eleventh EV crossword. If you sometimes consult these hints, you will also know him as Phibs who writes the hints every second week. You may also encounter his crosswords under the name of Triton in the IQ, Paddock for the Listener or Phylax in the Magpie.… Continue reading
Enigmatic Variations 1587 (Hints)
Cross Debate by Kcit
Hints and tips by Phibs
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Kcit needs no introduction.
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Enigmatic Variations 1586 (Hints)
Who Said It? by Vismut
Hints and tips by The Numpties
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This is Vismut’s sixteenth EV crossword and in the five years that she has been setting thematic cryptic crosswords, we have seen them in the IQ, EV, Listener and Magpie series.… Continue reading
Enigmatic Variations 1585 (Hints)
Proclamation by Chalicea
Hints and tips by Phibs
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My fellow blogger needs no introduction, but suffice to say that we can expect fair clues, plenty of thematic material, and a challenge likely to be more entertaining than arduous.
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Enigmatic Variations 1584 (Hints)
Two Drawing by Karla
Hints and tips by The Numpties
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Dave Hennings’ Crossword Data Base tells us that Karla is a relatively new setter though we well remember his recent Listener crossword where we had to draw pods round peas (all connected with Gregor Mendel).… Continue reading