Putting the words to lights – crossword clues explained in plain English
Beam is Ray Terrell, who also sets regular cryptics which are usually published on Thursdays
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BD Rating – Difficulty **** – Enjoyment ***
An odd solve. I got off to a slow start having solved very few on the first run-through. Then there was a sudden burst of activity as I completed the top half and part of the bottom.… Continue reading
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ***
Thanks to Kitty for filling in last Thursday in her usual inimitable way. Today’s puzzle was one of two halves as far as I was concerned. The left-hand side went in easily but I struggled with the right-hand side.… Continue reading
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BD Rating – Difficulty ***/**** – Enjoyment ***/****
A typical Beam puzzle with all his usual trademarks. I know that Beam doesn’t do anagrams so why do I still look for them? There are three instances where an answer is hidden in reverse (somebody recently referred to such an answer as a rekrul).… Continue reading
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BD Rating – Difficulty **** – Enjoyment ****
The NW and SE corners went in without too much difficulty but then I struggled with the other two corners (although I did miss a couple of gimmes which would have got me going on them).… Continue reading
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ***
Thanks to Tilsit for covering for me last week when I was on the Club 18-30 knees-up in Ibiza. To be honest it was more of a Club 68-80 feet-up in Southport (and it’s not often I go somewhere these days and bring down the average age).… Continue reading
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BD Rating – Difficulty ****/***** – Enjoyment **/***
I often struggle with Beam puzzles and this time I was well down the second cup of coffee before I’d filled the grid and then I spent a lot more time trying to parse some of the answers.… Continue reading
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ***
Afternoon, all. Toro here standing in for Bufo. I’m not sure I’ve done a Beam before (wot, no anagrams?!), so I’ll leave it to you regulars to compare it with his usual work, but I found it a fairly steady and certainly satisfying solve.… Continue reading
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BD Rating – Difficulty **** – Enjoyment ****
So we didn’t get a special birthday crossword today which is a pity. I was looking forward to a puzzle based on the life and times of Big Dave.… Continue reading
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BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ****
Maybe I have now got used to Beam’s style because this was by far my quickest solve of one of his puzzles. There were no significant problems once I’d stopped trying to justify SOLE for 25 down.… Continue reading
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BD Rating – Difficulty ***/**** – Enjoyment ****
The SE corner went in fairly quickly and the NE and SW corners yielded without too many problems. The NW corner proved somewhat more difficult and the time spent getting 1 across and 7 down (where the checking letters were not very helpful) caused me to give the extra half star for difficulty
Please leave a comment telling us what you thought.… Continue reading