Toughie No 2565 by Dada
Hints and tips by Big Dave
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BD Rating – Difficulty **** – Enjoyment ****
A proper Toughie on a Tuesday – what is the world coming to! Continue reading “Toughie 2565”
Category: Dada
Dada is John Halpern, who also sets as Paul in The Guardian
Toughie 2542
Toughie No 2542 by Dada
Hints and tips by Big Dave
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ***
This very enjoyable puzzle was slightly tarnished, for me, by the obscure quantum physicist in 8 Down. Continue reading “Toughie 2542”
Toughie 2526
Toughie No 2526 by Dada
Hints and tips by Big Dave
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ****
The days when you could guarantee an easy Toughie on a Tuesday seem well gone. This was of middling difficulty, with several long answers and some of what were, for me at least, obscurities (the aromatic plant, the design and the Indian state, although I had heard of the latter) and a sprinkling of General Knowledge. Continue reading “Toughie 2526”
Toughie 2502
Toughie No 2502 by Dada
Hints and tips by Bill Brewer
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ***
I found this a very straightforward solve today. Possibly helped by using an iPad which makes everything about filling in a grid so much easier and neater. Hopefully the inclusion of The Toughie in the newspaper app will lead to more people attempting the Toughie puzzles. If you are new to Toughie solving please let us know how you are getting on with them. Continue reading “Toughie 2502”
Toughie 2490
Toughie No 2490 by Dada
Hints and tips by Zelda Fitzgerald
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ***
Good morning from the village of Barrel where one falls asleep looking at Saturn and Jupiter and wakens to Magpies. Dozens of them. Downtown L I it ain’t but we are getting used to it. Continue reading “Toughie 2490”
Toughie 2470
Toughie No 2470 by Dada
Hints and tips by Big Dave
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ****
Yet another Toughie from our Sunday setter that makes you think, but is still solvable. Continue reading “Toughie 2470”
Toughie 2454
Toughie No 2454 by Dada
Hints and tips by Big Dave
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ****
Certainly not a Floughie, but an enjoyable Toughie. The highlight of this puzzle must surely be 3 Down. Continue reading “Toughie 2454”
Toughie 2438
Toughie No 2438 by Dada
Hints and tips by Big Dave
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ****
Dada continues to demonstrate the Fluffy Tuesday is a thing of the past as far as he is concerned. Continue reading “Toughie 2438”
Toughie 2430
Toughie No 2430 by Dada
Hints and tips by Big Dave
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BD Rating – Difficulty ***/**** – Enjoyment ****
I found this to be an excellent Toughie with the only obscurity for me being the biochemical compound, which was easily derived from the wordplay and rang a bell in the back of my mind when I had solved it.
Toughie 2414
Toughie No 2414 by Dada
Hints and tips by Big Dave
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BD Rating – Difficulty **** – Enjoyment *****
I enjoyed the challenge so much that I have given this puzzle a rare (for me) enjoyment rating of five stars. 11a was new to me, but derivable from the wordplay and the checking letters. Continue reading “Toughie 2414”