Big Dave’s Blog is One Month Old Today
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It seems like a lifetime, but it was one month ago today that I started this blog.
On 28th January, there were just 2 hits (both from me!). The following day I published my first Toughie review, and the hit count shot up to 26, with 5 of them actually looking at the review. The average now is between 750 and 1000 hits per day and the review for each puzzle gets looked at from 100 – 200 times for the Toughies up as high as 500 for the Daily cryptic. Continue reading “One Month Old Today”
ScrewedUp News – Feb 28
Edition 5
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A couple of problems to report today.
The Giant General Knowledge crossword No 12251 is not yet available online.
There is a problem with Codewords No 1237. Continue reading “ScrewedUp News – Feb 28”
Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 25864
Selected hints
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BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ***
It seems to be a regular occurrence that the Saturday puzzle is an easy one. As this is a prize crossword, I will be publishing just a few hints to get you started. A full review of this puzzle, by crossword blogging veteran Peter Biddlecombe, will be published at 12.00 on Thursday, 5th March.
Continue reading “DT Cryptic No 25864 – Hints”
Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 25863
Hints and tips by Big Dave
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BD Rating – Difficulty **** – Enjoyment ***
Today’s puzzle was a bit harder than usual, and I struggled with some of the wordplay. In yesterday’s Toughie I tried out a new idea for giving the answers without spoiling the rest of the crossword, and I have tried it here today. Essentially, the answers are between curly brackets in white type – selecting them with the mouse will reveal the answer. Please let me know if you like it.
Continue reading “DT Cryptic No 25863”
Sunday Telegraph Cryptic No 2472 – Review
A full analysis by Big Dave
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment **
Writing up the Sunday puzzles is a very frustrating job. They tend to be difficult to finish, although this one was easier than most, but then you are left with the feeling of annoyance at some of the clues, which spoils any enjoyment you might have received from some of the others. This one has more of the annoying clues and less of the enjoyable ones. Continue reading “ST Cryptic No 2472 – Review”
Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 25858 – Review
A full analysis by Libellule
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ***
As many of you are aware, this crossword was accidentally released on the CluedUp website last Friday. Although it was subsequently replaced by the correct Friday puzzle, this was not before Libellule had reviewed it for us. Here is that review, revised to give all of the answers. BD
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Continue reading “DT Cryptic No 25858 – Review”
Toughie No 102 by Messinae
If you can do the regular cryptic then try this one today
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ***
So you think the Toughie is too difficult for you; well, this one is a little harder than the regular cryptics, but a good one on which to cut your teeth.
I am trying out a new technique for displaying “spoiler” information on 5 down and 12 down – if you highlight the blank space between the brackets this will reveal the answer. Let me know what you think of this – it could satisfy the problem of looking for one answer and accidentally viewing another.
Continue reading “Toughie No 102”
Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 25862
Today’s hints and tips by Gazza
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BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ***
It’s Thursday today, so Gazza’s back again. Don’t forget that the full analyses for last weekend’s puzzles are due to be published at noon. You may have already seen the Saturday review as it was released last Friday after being published online by mistake; some small revisions have been applied, mostly to give all the answers as well as the wordplay. BD
I thought that this was an entertaining crossword with some interesting clues and not too difficult, though it does contain one word I’d never heard of.
Continue reading “DT Cryptic No 25862”
ScrewedUp News – Feb 25
Edition 4
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I’m not sure when, but this has now been corrected on both playable and printable online versions.
Just a small problem today, but especially annoying to people who, like myself, don’t always check that the number of letters in the clue matches the number of lights in the grid.
Today it’s the Toughie No 101. Continue reading “ScrewedUp News – Feb 25”