Toughie No 2315 by Dada
Hints and tips by Big Dave
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ***
An entertaining puzzle, as we have come to expect from this setter. Continue reading “Toughie 2315”
Category: Dada
Dada is John Halpern, who also sets as Paul in The Guardian
Toughie 2295
Toughie No 2295 by Dada
Hints and tips by Big Dave
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ****
The days of Fluffy Tuesdays seem to be history. While not the toughest of puzzles, this one was certainly challenging. Continue reading “Toughie 2295”
Toughie 2279
Toughie No 2279 by Dada
Hints and tips by Big Dave
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment **
Why do setters use words like river, author etc. as definitions where there are thousands of possible answers? For me this puzzle was spoiled by an excess of General Knowledge, hence the reduction in enjoyment rating from four to two stars. Continue reading “Toughie 2279”
Toughie 2259
Toughie No 2259 by Dada
Hints and tips by Big Dave
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ****
Yet another excellent puzzle from our Sunday Setter. Continue reading “Toughie 2259”
Toughie 2243
Toughie No 2243 by Dada
Hints and tips by Big Dave
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BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ***
Nothing difficult here, apart from explaining the wordplay for 28 Across. Continue reading “Toughie 2243”
Toughie 2223
Toughie No 2223 by Dada
Hints and tips by Big Dave
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BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ****
Kitty is unavailable today, so she has missed this excellent puzzle from Dada, which includes 12 Across, a clue that could have been written especially for her. Continue reading “Toughie 2223”
Toughie 2207
Toughie No 2207 by Dada
Hints and tips by Kitty
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BD Rating – Difficulty **/*** – Enjoyment ***
Hello everybody. Thanks to Dada for today’s Toughie, which took me a little longer than his usually do (though that could be down to solving redonculously early in the morning before work). I’ll be interested to hear what you awake people thought of it!
Toughie 2187
Toughie No 2187 by Dada
Hints and tips by Kitty
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BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ****
Hi all, and Happy Shrove Tuesday. Tomorrow fast times begin, and today we have a Toughie that might have the speedsters reporting something similar (but no quoting times here please!). As a happy plodder, I enjoyed stopping to smell the roses — not the 9a! — but still wouldn’t have batted an eyelid had this appeared on the back page.
Toughie 2163
Toughie No 2163 by Dada
Hints and tips by Kitty
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BD Rating – Difficulty **/*** – Enjoyment ***
Hello and welcome everyone. As the blog approaches the end of its tenth year, Dada brings us the first Toughie of the week. I found this a bit trickier than his last few, taking me closer to what I think of as an average Toughie time. Good entertainment as always.
Toughie 2144
Toughie No 2144 by Dada
Hints and tips by Kitty
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BD Rating – Difficulty */** – Enjoyment ****
Hello everyone. It’s the last Tuesday until you-know-what, and so in case you’re otherwise engaged on the day, let me take this opportunity to wish you all a very Merry Christmas.
We have another puzzle from the Dada of crossword setters. I found it considerably more accessible than his first few Sunday Telegraph puzzles, but a sackful of fun. Continue reading “Toughie 2144”