January 2016 – Page 2 – Big Dave's Crossword Blog

DT 28021

Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 28021

Hints and tips by 2Kiwis

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

 

As we are writing this, our guests to whom we said farewell a few hours ago, will be on the ferry crossing Cook Strait and threading their way through the labyrinthine passages of the Marlborough Sounds to the South Island. It has been wonderful having them with us and we are missing them already. But back to the matter in hand and today’s Jay puzzle.  We thought it was quite tricky with the NE corner the last to yield and, as we found it harder than average, have given it four stars for difficulty to match the enjoyment rating.

Continue reading “DT 28021”

Toughie 1540

Toughie No 1540 by Excalibur

Hints and tips by Toro

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

A surreal treat from Excalibur: no fewer than 16 definition clues (cryptic, straight-plus-cryptic, or double-straight), a playful parallelism, and a shapely trio. Plus the obligatory Yoda-isms (but only two, despite the Space Invaders motif  in the grid).  Continue reading “Toughie 1540”

DT 28019

Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 28019

Hints and tips by Miffypops

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BD Rating – Difficulty **Enjoyment ****

Good morning from a dreary Downtown LI. We have a typical Rufus puzzle here today and I don’t think my hints will be much needed.… Continue reading

DT 28018 (Hints)

Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 27018 (Hints)

Big Dave’s Saturday 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.

Continue reading “DT 28018 (Hints)”

Toughie 1539

Toughie No 1539 by Notabilis

Hints and tips by Dutch

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

Solid and fun puzzle from Notabilis – the top half went in reasonably well and a few spicy bits in the bottom half slowed me down, but it still yielded in normal toughie time.… Continue reading