Toughie No 3694 by Prime
Hints and Tips by crypticsue
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Toughie Difficulty <* – Enjoyment ****
Category: Wednesday
Since the beginning of 2010, Wednesday’s regular setter is Jeremy Mutch who has visited the blog as Jay. During 2009, Jay set almost all the Thursday puzzles.
DT 31250
Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31250
Hints and Tips by Deansleigh
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Difficulty ** Enjoyment ****
Good morning everyone, and welcome to the Wednesday back-pager blog. Huge thanks to Gazza for standing in for me last week whilst I was away. Maybe I’m still in holiday mode, or perhaps it was due to lack of sleep after last night’s tropical heat here in Hampshire, but I found today’s puzzle to be the hardest of the week so far. Once again we have an excellent crossword with plenty to enjoy and admire. Amongst my favourites are 11a, 12a, 26a and 14d, but my pick of the clues today is the clumsy cleric in 13a. I also liked the groan-worthy Quickie pun. Many thanks to our setter.
Toughie 3690
Toughie No 3690 by Silvanus
Hints and Tips by crypticsue
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Toughie Difficulty * – Enjoyment ****
Silvanus set us a crossword , the majority of which was at the friendlier end of the Toughie spectrum Continue reading “Toughie 3690”
DT 31244
Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31244
Hints and Tips by Gazza
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Difficulty ** Enjoyment ****
Deansleigh is on holiday (and probably without Internet access) this week so I’m standing in for him.
Thanks to today’s setter for a very enjoyable challenge which is fairly gentle. All three of the long anagrams fell quickly based on the enumerations and a few checkers so that was a big help in completing the grid.
Continue reading “DT 31244”
Toughie 3686
Toughie No 3686 by Stick Insect
Hints and Tips by crypticsue
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Toughie Difficulty <* – Enjoyment ****
DT 31238
Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31238
Hints and Tips by Deansleigh
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Difficulty * Enjoyment ****
Good morning everyone, and welcome to the Wednesday back-pager blog. I must have tuned into the setter’s wavelength fairly quickly this morning, because I found today’s puzzle to be quite gentle for a Wednesday. (I even had time to complete today’s Toughie, which is well worth having a go at.) At one point I thought this was going to be a pangram, but I think it’s three letters short. Amongst some excellent concise and witty clues, my favourites were the angry Americans in 13a, the suspect material in 17a, and the plus-sized old flame in 4d. I also liked the Quickie pun. Many thanks to our setter.
Toughie 3682
Toughie No 3682 by Django
Hints and Tips by crypticsue
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Toughie Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ****
DT 31232
Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31232
Hints and Tips by Deansleigh
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Difficulty ***/**** Enjoyment ****
Good morning everyone, and welcome to the Wednesday back-pager blog. I found today’s puzzle to be quite tricky – a midweek mind-mangler – but it was a very satisfying solve. Amongst a plethora of excellent clues, my podium picks are 20a, 23a, 27d and my favourite, the weary threesome in 16a. I also enjoyed the Quickie pun. Many thanks to our setter.
Toughie 3678
Toughie No 3678 by Light
Hints and Tips by crypticsue
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Toughie Difficulty */** – Enjoyment ****
DT 31226
Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31226
Hints and Tips by Deansleigh
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Difficulty ** Enjoyment ***
Good morning everyone, and welcome to the midweek back-pager blog. I found today’s puzzle to be about the same level of difficulty as yesterday’s, with some general knowledge required, but everything fairly clued throughout. As usual there were many excellent clues today. Amongst my favourites were 1a, 10a, 3d and 5d, but I especially liked the hapless president in 15d and the brilliant 9d. Many thanks to our setter.