Notabilis – Big Dave's Crossword Blog

Toughie 2844

Toughie No 2844 by Notabilis

Hints and tips by Dutch

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BD Rating – Difficulty *****Enjoyment *****

What a pleasure to blog a Notabilis again. A lovely puzzle full of clever misleads. Thanks CS for the illustration to 8d.

Please leave a comment telling us what you thought.… Continue reading

Toughie 2668

Toughie No 2668 by Notabilis

Hints and tips by Dutch

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BD Rating – Difficulty *****Enjoyment *****

It’s  pleasure to blog a Notabilis again, it feels like it has been a while. As usual from this setter, this is an excellent puzzle which I found tricky, and some of my parsings were post-solve – the last one being the counter-agent.… Continue reading

Toughie 2493

Toughie No 2493 by Notabilis

Hints and tips by Dutch

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BD Rating – Difficulty *****Enjoyment ****

Some longer clues made for harder parsing. I had quite a few left to parse after completing the grid. As often happens, I enjoyed this more when writing up the blog, when you get another chance to savour the clues.… Continue reading

Toughie 2469

Toughie No 2469 by Notabilis

Hints and tips by Dutch

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BD Rating – Difficulty ***Enjoyment *****

 

A rather tricky puzzle from Notabilis, where on several occasions it took me a while to see the parsing after deducing the answer. Nonetheless, I was able solve this methodically a quadrant at a time, giving me that illusion of being in control.  … Continue reading

Toughie 2397

Toughie No 2397 by Notabilis

Hints and tips by Dutch

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BD Rating – Difficulty *****Enjoyment ****

Quite a devious puzzle from Notabilis today, I thought. It took me some to parse 6a and 9a, as well as a few others.

Definitions are underlined. The hints are intended to help you unravel the wordplay but you can always reveal the answer by clicking on the click here buttons.… Continue reading

Toughie 2357

Toughie No 2357 by Notabilis

Hints and tips by Mr K

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BD Rating  -  Difficulty ***** Enjoyment ****

Hello, everyone.  I've been asked to stand in for Dutch today.  The SW corner of this enjoyable and intricate Notabilis puzzle went in smoothly, but after that I needed some electronic and dictionary help to get it completely solved and hinted.  It's one of the toughest puzzles I've encountered in quite some time, so I'll be interested to see whether our experienced solvers consider it to be a "proper Toughie".  Continue reading "Toughie 2357"

Toughie 2290

Toughie No 2290 by Notabilis

Hints and tips by crypticsue

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BD Rating – Difficulty *****Enjoyment *****

A fine example of what a Toughie, especially a Friday Toughie, should be. I did wonder whether it was “just me”, being the stand-in blogger’s stand-in, doing my first ‘on the day’ blog for a very long time – but decided that it is definitely Notabilis being as cleverly tricky as only he knows how.… Continue reading

Toughie 2242

Toughie No 2242 by Notabilis

Hints and tips by Dutch

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BD Rating – Difficulty ***/****Enjoyment *****

Great stuff from Notabilis as always. The Nina helped me with several answers, e.g. 3d & 28a.

Please leave a comment telling us what you thought.

Many thanks BD for covering for me while I was away.… Continue reading

Toughie 2214

Toughie No 2214 by Notabilis

Hints and tips by Dutch

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BD Rating – Difficulty ****Enjoyment *****

What a great way to start this glorious long weekend – a brilliant puzzle by Notabilis. (And there should be something to keep you amused on Sunday in the Independent) Today we have a pangram and a little Nina, as well as plenty of original trickery to keep us amused.… Continue reading

Toughie 2174

Toughie No 2174 by Notabilis

Hints and tips by Dutch

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BD Rating – Difficulty ***Enjoyment *****

Well, who else swore at the puzzle for stupidly including the same clue twice? All is explained by the Nina. Notabilis is being rather clever again, making for a top quality and highly enjoyable puzzle.… Continue reading