Toughie No 1003 by Elkamere
Hints and tips by Gazza
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BD Rating – Difficulty **** – Enjoyment ***
This is a proper Toughie and an enjoyable one. It took me some time to get started and after that my progress was steady rather than spectacular. Elkamere has apparently put a message on Facebook which a) apologises for an obscure word which was the result of a late change and b) reveals that there is a gentle theme. Well, a) I don’t know which answer he’s referring to because none of them seem to be that obscure and b) I can’t spot a theme (I did notice that column 14 has two words for sheep if you read upwards, but that doesn’t seem enough for a theme) – so I’m hoping that someone will reveal all. [See comment from Anax/Elkamere].
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Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 27214
Hints and tips by scchua
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BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ***
An enjoyable solve from Jay. Some long answers to either get you going or slow down your progress. The SE corner was the last one in for me, because of which, I rate this a close-to-2* for difficulty, and 3* for enjoyment. Thanks Jay.
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Toughie No 1002 by Petitjean
Hints and tips by Big Dave
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BD Rating – Difficulty **/*** – Enjoyment **
A workmanlike puzzle from Petitjean that almost strayed into 3-star territory because of the time it took to solve 25 down. I thought that some of the definitions left a lot to be desired – 1a is only a fast time when it is the time taken for something to happen, 6 across/10 across is an American word for a central street in a town whether or not it is well-worn – and are communes in Northern France fair game?
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Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 27213
Hints and tips by Deep Threat
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BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ***
Good morning from South Staffs where the day has started bright and sunny: I doubt it will last.
I found the top half more difficult to get into than the bottom half, but once I had a foothold things fell into place, and I finished in ** time.
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Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 27212
Hints and tips by Libellule
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BD Rating – Difficulty * – Enjoyment ****
Normal service from the Monday morning maestro.
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Sunday Telegraph Cryptic No 2697 (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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NTSPP – 176
A Puzzle by Quaiteaux
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Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 27211 (Hints)
Big Dave’s Crossword Club
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As is usual for the weekend prize crosswords, an assortment of clues, including some of the more difficult ones, have been selected and hints provided for them.
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Toughie No 1001 by Elgar
Doctor, Strange Puzzle!
(Or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Just Let My Brain Hurt)
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BD Rating – Difficulty ***** – Enjoyment *****
Greetings from the Calder Valley. What better way to conclude this special toughie-fest with the king of the Evil Puzzles, and here he is doing his best impression of Mark Labbett, the Chaser on the TV quiz. Big, mean and unforgiving. Well, not so much of the big, more pocket battleship. But you get my drift?
The Toughie’s promise is to supply some of the hardest puzzles in Fleet Street and there won’t be anyone prosecuting this one under the Trades Description Act. That said, for me, it was a wonderful solve, as good as yesterday’s.
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Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 27210
Hints and tips by Libellule
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BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ***
An enjoyable crossword from Giovanni today that hits most of the spots.
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