Sunday Telegraph Cryptic No 2558
A full review by Crypticsue
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Difficulty ***/**** – Enjoyment ***
Although I have been solving the daily cryptics for many years, I am a late convert to the Sunday Prize Puzzle, enjoy them greatly and can’t think why I didn’t do them before. As Peter Biddlecombe is on holiday, I have the pleasure of reviewing this week’s offering from Virgilius. I have given this crossword 3.5* for difficulty because of the struggle I had with a few of the clues and the fact that my total solving time was two-thirds longer than usual, which I don’t think was entirely due to blogger’s nerves or my attempts to overcomplicate the clues and thus be unable to see the solution! Thanks to Virgilius for the Sunday brain stretching. Peter will be back on duty next week and I can return to my usual routine – solving the Sunday puzzle while cooking the lunch!
Continue reading “ST 2558”
Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 26378
Hints and tips by Gazza
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ***
We have a typical Giovanni puzzle today with a mixture of clues of varying difficulty, including a number of easy ones to help you get started. The grid does contain a number of double unches which may bother some people, but I can’t see that they cause any great problems. Let us know, in a comment, what you thought of it.
To reveal an answer drag your cursor through the space between the curly brackets on the line under the clue.
Continue reading “DT 26378”
Toughie No 445 by Warbler
Hints and tips by Bufo
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ***
I did the top half very quickly and then struggled a bit with the bottom half. But overall it was certainly no more than average difficulty.
Continue reading “Toughie 445”
Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 26373
A Full Review by Gnomethang
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ***
Afternoon All! This was the usual Cephas puzzle that should not cause too many complaints although it was maybe harder than last week’s. A couple of easy cryptic definitions and some good clues along the way.
Continue reading “DT 26373”
Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 26377
Hints and tips by Big Dave
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ***
What should be an easy puzzle, even for non-experts! A couple of what I consider to be poor constructs kept the enjoyment factor down to three stars.
Continue reading “DT 26377”
Toughie No 444 by Notabilis
Hints and tips by Gazza
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Difficulty **** – Enjoyment ****
We don’t often get Notabilis on a Wednesday and I don’t think that this one is quite as fiendish as he can sometimes be, but it’s a good workout with some very enjoyable clues. Please give us your views in a comment and remember to click on one of the stars below to indicate your enjoyment of the puzzle.
Continue reading “Toughie 444”
Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 26376
Hints and tips by Crypticsue
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ***
Like Gazza yesterday, I wasn’t sure I enjoyed this much while I was solving it, particularly as I had quite a struggle with some clues, but having typed the review, I find it has grown on me. Thanks to Jay for a good Wednesday morning brain workout.
Continue reading “DT 26376”
Toughie No 443 by Messinae
An easy start to the Toughie week
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ***
I started this half an hour before the start of the CluedUp maintenance with thoughts of what would happen if I didn’t finish in time – I didn’t need to worry!
Continue reading “Toughie 443”
Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 26375
Hints and tips by Gazza
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ***
I wasn’t overly enamoured with this puzzle when I solved it, but it grew on me as I wrote the hints and I ended up quite liking it. It’s very fairly clued and perhaps just a bit more difficult than yesterday’s but not so difficult that it’s beyond the capabilities of most would-be solvers.
What we don’t know (at least what I don’t know) is the identity of the setter, so if he or she would like to identify themselves in a comment that would be great. Comments from all others are, of course, welcome as well.
To see an answer just highlight the space between the curly brackets under the clue.
Continue reading “DT 26375”
Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 26374
Hints and tips by Libellule
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ***
Normal service seems to have been resumed. After last weeks very straightforward crossword, we return to about the standard I expect on a Monday. Some lovely clues and surface readings, just what we expect from Rufus. My favourite clues – 25a and 11d.
If you want to see the answer, highlight the space between the curly brackets.
Continue reading “DT 26374”