June 2009 – Page 2 – Big Dave's Crossword Blog

ScrewedUp News – Jun 24

ScrewedUp News – Jun 24

Edition 20

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As usual with Home screen problems, this one only lasted for the day and the following day’s Home screen was OK.

Libellule reports that you can’t get the printable versions of the Quick or Daily Cryptic crosswords from the Home screen.

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Toughie 169

Toughie No 169 by Giovanni

Hints and tips by Gazza

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BD Rating – Difficulty ** Enjoyment ***

We’re having an easy week (so far) with the Toughies. This one is not quite as easy as yesterday’s but is still pretty straightforward, and it offers some entertaining clues.

As usual the answers are hidden inside the curly brackets – select the white space if you want to reveal them.
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Toughie 168

Toughie No 168 by Warbler

Can this really be a Toughie?

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BD Rating – Difficulty ** Enjoyment **

When I saw that Warbler was today’s setter I looked forward to a difficult puzzle.  What I got was one that was, to me, easier than most of the regular daily cryptics.  Just as Gazza vacillated between 3 and 4 stars for today’s cryptic (I had that as a 2 star!) I rounded this one up to 2 stars.  Let me know what you think.

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DT 25962

Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 25962

Hints and tips by Gazza

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

Another Tuesday and another fine puzzle, full of well crafted clues. After last week’s debate on how difficult the puzzle was I’ll be interested to see how people react to this one – I vacillated between three and four stars but eventually plumped for three.

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DT 25961

Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 25961

Hints and tips by Big Dave

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BD Rating – Difficulty *** Enjoyment ***

I am sorry to have to tell you that Tilsit is back in hospital, so I’ve had to do this in a bit of a rush.  Very much a typical start to the week from out “Monday Maestro”, but just about into three-star difficulty.

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ST 2489 – Hints

Sunday Telegraph Cryptic No 2489 – Hints

Selected hints by Big Dave

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BD Rating – Difficulty ** Enjoyment *

I know that recycling is considered highly desirable these days, but this seems to be a step too far!

See statement by Phil McNeill, Puzzles Editor for the Telegraph Media Group, below.

A full analysis of this puzzle will be available at 12.00 next Friday, 27th June.

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DT 25960 – Hints

Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 25960 – Hints

Selected hints by Big Dave

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

Our Saturday setter shows what can be done, with the best prize puzzle for quite a while.  Put the atlas away, and those books of baby names, all you need this week is to sip on a cocktail.

As is usual for the weekend prize crosswords, I will select a few of the better clues and provide hints for them.  Peter Biddlecombe’s full review of this puzzle will be published at 12.00 on Thursday, 25th June.

Continue reading “DT 25960 – Hints”

ST 2488 – Review

Sunday Telegraph Cryptic No 2488 – Review

A full analysis by Big Dave

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

Our new Sunday setter is now so well established that the old-style puzzles are becoming an ever-dimming memory.

Continue reading “ST 2488 – Review”