Toughie No 2480 by proXimal
Hints and tips by crypticsue
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Difficulty ***** – Enjoyment ***
It has been quite a while Continue reading “Toughie 2480”
Category: proXimal
ProXimal is Steve Bartlett, who sets crosswords for The Independent as eXternal (which he first used in our NTSPP series), and for the Financial Times as arteXlen.
Toughie 2460
Toughie No 2460 by proXimal
Hints and tips by crypticsue
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Difficulty **** – Enjoyment ****
A slightly friendlier proXimal Toughie than some, presumably why we find him in the Thursday Toughie spot, which suited me because I quite often struggle with his more difficult Toughies.… Continue reading
Toughie 2437
Toughie No 2437 by proXimal
Hints and tips by Dutch
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment *****
Splendid! Not overly difficult, and clever clues that are clever for all the right reasons. A lot of lovely surfaces, some of which seem topical. As often happens, I appreciated the puzzle all the more when writing the blog and added an enjoyment star
Please leave a comment telling us what you thought.… Continue reading
Toughie 2417
Toughie No 2417 by proXimal
Hints and tips by Dutch
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Difficulty ***/**** – Enjoyment ***/****
As often happens, I gained further appreciation of the puzzle on writing up the blog, when I could savour all the clues again. Plenty of good surfaces to like here today, such as in the excellent 18a, but also in clues like 20a, 26a and 21d – as well the nice Excalibur mislead in 22a.… Continue reading
Toughie 2389
Toughie No 2389 by proXimal
Hints and tips by Big Dave
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Difficulty ***/**** – Enjoyment ****
Dutch is on holiday this week, giving me a chance to review a puzzle by one of my favourite setters.
Not many setters seem to have grasped what solvers expect from a Toughie, but proXimal certainly has. I was sailing through this, one clue at a time, before I came to a grinding halt in the southwest corner, which is why I added an extra helf a star to the difficulty. With a compound anagram it can be difficult to spot what is going on, and I needed to solve 27a before having any chance of knowing which four-letter name was required in 24d. Continue reading “Toughie 2389”
Toughie 2369
Toughie No 2369 by proXimal
Hints and tips by Dutch
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Difficulty ***** – Enjoyment ****
A very worthy Friday toughie. I’m in a bit of a rush today. Thank you Gazza for the parsing of 1a!
Please leave a comment telling us what you thought.… Continue reading
Toughie 2346
Toughie No 2346 by proXimal
Hints and tips by Dutch
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Difficulty ***/**** – Enjoyment *****
We have come to expect nothing but top quality puzzles from proXimal. Excellent surface readings combined with innovative clueing makes for a most enjoyable solve
Definitions are underlined as usual.… Continue reading
Toughie 2326
Toughie No 2326 by proXimal
Hints and tips by Dutch
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Difficulty **** – Enjoyment ****
Another most enjoyable puzzle from proXimal with some delightful clues. I hope you liked it as much as I did.
Definitions are underlined as usual. The hints are intended to help you unravel the wordplay.… Continue reading
Toughie 2302
Toughie No 2302 by proXimal
Hints and tips by Dutch
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ****
Another very nice puzzle from proXimal, not stupidly hard, great surfaces, just my kind of thing – a great way to start the day.
Please leave a comment telling us what you thought.… Continue reading
Toughie 2282
Toughie No 2282 by proXimal
Hints and tips by Dutch
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Difficulty ***/**** – Enjoyment ***/****
Fair, not overly difficult and enjoyable puzzle from proXimal today. I started with 8a and worked systematically anti-clockwise, giving me the illusion of being in control.
Many thanks Tilsit for looking after last Friday’s toughie
Please leave a comment telling us what you thought.… Continue reading