December 2021 – Big Dave's Crossword Blog

Toughie 2776

End-of-Year Toughie No 2776 by Micawber

Hints and tips by Dutch

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

Welcome to the prized toughie end-of-year puzzle, a unique look at some of this year’s events in Micawber’s inimitable style.… Continue reading

Toughie 2775

Toughie No 2775 by Elgar

Hints and tips by Gazza

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

Elgar makes a rare excursion outside his Friday stamping ground to accommodate Micawber’s famous year-end puzzle tomorrow so I have the rare privilege of reviewing one of his puzzles.… Continue reading

DT 29870

Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 29870

Hints and tips by 2Kiwis

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

Kia ora from Aotearoa.

We’re back home again after being with family in Wellington for Christmas. A special time. Our New Year will be much quieter as there will just be the two of us here at home.… Continue reading

ST 3139

Sunday Telegraph Cryptic No 3139

A full review by Rahmat Ali

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This puzzle was published on 19th Dec 2021

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

Greetings from Kolkata. I have the pleasure of presenting to you once again a full review of yet another Sunday puzzle for your kind perusal and important feedback. Dada has given us this time a bit tougher than his usual puzzles, though it was overall an enjoyable one. Continue reading “ST 3139”

Toughie 2773

Toughie No 2773 by Robyn

Hints and tips by Miffypops

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Chris M Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment *****

Today’s Toughie from Robyn is so cleverly clued with hardly any gimmies. Each answer requiring a bit of thought. When the checkers made an answer obvious I still had to question the wordplay. I like these new kids on the block. Continue reading “Toughie 2773”

DT 29869

Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 29869

Hints and tips by Mr K

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BD Rating  -  Difficulty *** Enjoyment ****

Hello, everyone, and welcome to the final Tuesday puzzle of 2021. It's a good one. It's got amusing cryptic definitions, a couple of clues where sorting out the vocabulary might require a visit to the dictionary, and some wordplay that needed a scratch of the head to hint. That sounds like X-Type to me. Thanks to him and the other setters who have brightened our Tuesdays throughout the year. And Happy New Year to all members of the BD community and everyone involved in creating our daily crosswording entertainment. Continue reading "DT 29869"