Sunday Toughie No 239
by proXimal
Hints and Tips by Sloop John Bee
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A delightful puzzle from proXimal, that I didn’t find too tricky last night. As usual, he starts with a Spoonerism and follows up with the first compound anagram.
The grid means we have a slightly unbalanced 14a and 16d clues and my half of the hints are equally unbalanced (6a and 9d)
I hope you find the checkers to cross the line, but will try and nudge you in the right direction if asked.
Here we go, Folks…
Continue reading “Sunday Toughie 239 (Hints)”
Enigmatic Variations 1761 (Hints)
HEROES by VAGANS
Hints and tips by Gabriel
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A very 2026 question to ask is when will my profession/skill be superseded by an AI?… Continue reading
Sunday Telegraph Cryptic No 3383 (Hints)
Hints and tips by Senf
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A very good Sunday morning from Winnipeg. So, the English Premier League is back for the 2026/27 season. Yesterday, I enjoyed watching Hull City getting off to a good start on their return to the top flight. No sign of Chelsea. Oh, I see that they are playing tomorrow evening. No doubt they will claim travel fatigue, after the long journey across SW6, if the result is not favourable for them 
For me, and I stress for me,© Dada quirky as usual but not quite so friendly as recently, with five anagrams (one partial), two lurkers, and one homophone, and, like last week, one that, at first look, you might think is a homophone but isn’t all in a not much value for the money symmetric 26 clues; with 13 hints ‘sprinkled’ throughout the grid, all BRB verified where necessary, you should/might be able to get some of the checkers to enable the solving of the unhinted clues. I hope you have your Crimson Tomes at hand! You might even need your favourite e-search ‘assistant’!
Remember that Reading the Hints before commenting can be beneficial!
If it is some time since you read, or if you have never read the instructions in RED below the hints then please consider doing so before commenting today as my electronic blue pencil is at the ready and the Naughty Step is OPEN!
Continue reading “ST 3383 (Hints)”
A Puzzle by Buddy
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Continue reading "NTSPP 863"
Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31325 (Hints)
The Saturday Crossword Club
(hosted by crypticsue)
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Continue reading “DT 31325 (Hints)”
Toughie No 3744 by Elgar
Hints and Tips by crypticsue
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BD Rating – Toughie Difficulty ****** – Enjoyment *****
Continue reading “Toughie 3744”
Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31319
A full review by Rahmat Ali
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This puzzle was published on 15th August 2026
BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ****
Greetings from Kolkata. A very gentle and entertaining Saturday puzzle from the setter that I enjoyed solving and thereafter writing a review of the same for your kind perusal and significant feedback. Continue reading “DT 31319 (Full Review)”
Long standing solvers will remember with affection Mr Wednesday, Jeremy Mutch (Jay), whose weekly crosswords were a joy to solve combining elegance and wit. Before becoming the regular Wednesday setter in 2010, he boxed and coxed with Ray T on Thursdays. … Continue reading
Toughie No 3743 by Dharma
Hints and tips by ALP
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BD Rating – Toughie difficulty ** (ish) – Enjoyment *****
Sluggish start, Speedy Gonzales finish … once I’d refound my Dharma legs. Often the way with him, I find. Yet another belter – smart and fresh with just the right amount of chew. A few gentle gimmes to get you going and then some real meat. I thoroughly enjoyed this. The floor, as always, is yours.
Continue reading “Toughie 3743”