Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30888
Hints and tips by Smylers
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ***
Morning, and happy Smothering Monday to any Spoonerism fans celebrating. I found today’s crossword harder than any recent Monday backpagers I can remember, managing only 3 across clues on my first pass (though I did better on the downs). However, a lot of my hold-ups were being unable to work out anagrams; those are often the clue type I find hardest but are many solvers’ first answers in, so I’m guessing many of you will find it easier than I did. If you’re also one of the anagram-averse, maybe add another difficulty star.
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Rookie Corner
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Sunday Toughie No 166
by proXimal
Hints and Tips by Sloop John Bee
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It appears that getting a midweek toughie slot precedes an appearance here, instead of an X’less pangram proXimal is using Sunday Toughies to demonstrate a Spoonerism to start and compound anagrams. It took me right to the LOI to find the compound.
The topicality of the wordplay for 23d should get an award, but for childhood holidays, the 24a island gets my prize.
14a and 14d clues today, and I have hinted half. A bonus nudge or two may be available if Mother’s Day trips for Mama Bee allow.
Here we go, Folks…
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Enigmatic Variations 1688 (Hints)
Spies by Luxor
Hints and tips by Phibs
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I thought I’d give Claude another chance to impress this week, so I asked, “A crossword’s theme involves three spies and the focus of their attention. To whom and what might this refer?”
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Sunday Telegraph Cryptic No 3310 (Hints)
Hints and tips by Senf
A very good Sunday morning from Winnipeg from where I hope that in the UK, at zero dark thirty, you all woke briefly to advance your clocks by one hour to mark the start of British Summer Time! … Continue reading
A Puzzle by Chalicea
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Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30887(Hints)
The Saturday Crossword Club (hosted by crypticsue)
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Toughie No 3452 by Karla
Hints and tips by Gazza
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ****
Karla has given us a very enjoyable puzzle – many thanks to him. I forgot to look for a Nina in his last Toughie so I spent some time searching for one today, all to no avail – if you’ve had more success than I did do let me know!
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Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30881
A full review by Rahmat Ali
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This puzzle was published on 22nd March 2025
BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ***
Greetings from Kolkata. A nice entertaining Saturday puzzle from the setter that I enjoyed solving and thereafter writing a review of the same for your kind perusal and valuable feedback.
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