Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 27101
Hints and tips by pommers
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BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ****
Hola from the Vega Baja! Well, thanks to the local hospital, I’m still alive and kicking and am now fit enough to bring my usual incompetence back to the blogger’s chair – so it looks like you’re stuck with me for a while longer.
I’d just like to repeat my heartfelt thanks to all of you. I was rather overcome by the outpouring of concern and good wishes that followed BD’s post about my illness. As Mary said the other day “who’d have thought a crossword blog could bring so much comfort?”
Anyway, on to the crossword. Check the date before you start this one as there are a few topical allusions, starting with 1a! It’s an odd puzzle to rate as most of it was 1* difficulty but there two or three clues that up the ante a bit, mostly in the bottom half. I’ve gone for 2* overall.
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Sunday Telegraph Cryptic No 2677
A full review by crypticsue
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BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ****
Virgilius brought this fine crossword to start the morning of Sunday 3 February – there were quite a few anagrams in this puzzle but not a single trademark hidden word at all.
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Toughie No 927 by Firefly
Jordan’s Outstanding Feature
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BD Rating – Difficulty ***/**** – Enjoyment **
If you like long anagrams with odd bits removed from the fodder you’ll probably love this puzzle. It has a theme based on Jordan’s premier tourist attraction. Let us know how you got on.
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Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 27100
Hints and tips by scchua
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BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ***
Another enjoyable puzzle, with only the last handful to slow down the solving pace, though after getting them, I can’t see why it was so. Thanks to setter (Jay?). Therefore a 2.5* difficulty/3* enjoyment for me. My CODs were 13 down, followed by 21 down.
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Toughie No 926 by Excalibur
Same old, same old
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BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment *
Precisely what you expect from a puzzle by this setter.
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Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 27099
Hints and tips by Deep Threat
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BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ***
Good morning from South Staffs where it’s cold and grey, with a light dusting of snow.
I found that the bottom half of this puzzle went in quickly, then I had to think a little to complete the top – and wondered why it hadn’t been evident the first time around. Those who don’t like general knowledge type clues in a cryptic crossword may have cause to complain, with a film title, a play, a composer and a dramatist among the answers, although only the play does not have a reasonable word-play.
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Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 27098
Hints and tips by Libellule
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BD Rating – Difficulty * – Enjoyment ***
After a day of rain yesterday, the sun has come out, which put me in just the right mood to enjoy this crossword from the Monday maestro.
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A message from Guardian setter Boatman
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I’m thinking of running Masterclasses for aspiring setters, starting in London or Brighton and then looking further afield. I’ll happily arrange a course at the other end of the country if enough people are interested in it.
The idea is that the classes will provide a route into the world of professional setting, combining essential information about compiling techniques, requirements for publication and the use of software with discussion of issues such as quality and fairness, developing a style and managing the creative process.
Continue reading “Pushing the boat out!”
Sunday Telegraph Cryptic No 2678 (Hints)
Hints and tips by Big Dave
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As is usual for the weekend prize crosswords, I will select a few of the more difficult clues and provide hints for them.
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Not the Saturday Prize Puzzle – 157
A Puzzle by Prolixic
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