Toughie No 1045 by Osmosis
Pointing the way
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ****
Cleo is helping me with today’s typical Osmosis puzzle. A few bits of tricky wordplay, but enjoyable nonetheless.
Month: September 2013
DT 27276
Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 27276
Hints and tips by Gazza
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ***
No religious references at all (Brian will be pleased) but a good solid puzzle from Giovanni. Let us know how you got on.
Continue reading “DT 27276”
DT 27271
Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 27271
A full review by crypticsue
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BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ***/****
I found this Saturday’s Mysteron puzzle more enjoyable than usual – perhaps it was nostalgia taking me back to the 1950s when I was both a Brownie and a watcher of 9a. Not content with making grown men cry, I now appear to be causing our Canadian friend to despair about my assessments of difficulty, and so although I took one star time, I have awarded it 2* for difficulty based on an average view of the comments made on the day.
Toughie 1044
Toughie No 1044 by Warbler
Watch out for 15 March!
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BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ***
Good afternoon from South Staffs. I’m doing an extra shift this week to help cover for Bufo.
The top half of the puzzle went in very quickly, and though I had a little more difficulty with the bottom, it was still ** for difficulty as far as I was concerned. 20a was the last one in.
DT 27275
Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 27275
Hints and tips by Big Dave
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BD Rating – Difficulty * – Enjoyment **
Apart from trying to fit Britain into 5 across, this was one of those puzzles where I looked at a clues and then wrote in the answers.
ST 2706
Sunday Telegraph Cryptic No 2706
A full review by crypticsue
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BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ****
I solve a considerable number of cryptic crosswords every week and I have to say that the highlight of the week remains the ability to both solve and review a Virgilius Sunday puzzle.
Toughie 1043
Toughie No 1043 by Beam
Say No More
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ****
This is a typical puzzle from Mr Beam, complete with reference to Queen and plenty of nudge, nudge clues. I really enjoyed it, but if I have one minor criticism it is that some of the surface readings (e.g. 22d) don’t really mean a lot.
Continue reading “Toughie 1043”
DT 27274
Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 27274
Hints and tips by Big Dave
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BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ***
I’m standing in for Scchua again, but watch out for a surprise next Wednesday!
Toughie 1042
Toughie No 1042 by Petitjean
Double meanings?
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BD Rating – Difficulty **** – Enjoyment ***
This was a tad more difficult than most of the recent Tuesday Toughies, but that’s not a bad thing. The resolution of the wordplay for 1 across added a difficulty star.
DT 27273
Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 27273
Hints and tips by Deep Threat
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BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ***
Good morning from South Staffs, on an overcast morning with the promise of some warmth to come. We’re trying to cope with the autumn glut of fruit at the moment: there’s a huge crop of plums this year, as well as vast quantities of blackberries.
I found this a straightforward ** solve. There is some repetition of wordplay elements – 10a and 20d, and 2d and 3d, which I found disappointing.