Sunday Telegraph Cryptic No 3388 (Hints)
Hints and tips by Senf
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A very good Sunday morning from Winnipeg where Mother Nature has been giving us some welcome gentle rain.
For me, and I stress for me,© Dada very friendly once I had cracked two or three clues. Six anagrams (two partials), one lurker (not hinted, you are on your own), and one homophone, all in a symmetric 32 clues; with 16 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!
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A Puzzle by Radler
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Continue reading "NTSPP 868"
Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31355 (Hints)
The Saturday Crossword Club
(hosted by crypticsue)
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Toughie No 3764 by Luxor
Hints and tips by Gazza
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ***
This came as a blessed relief after yesterday’s Toughie – no obscurities (well, Planet Normal was new to me but I didn’t need to know it to solve the clue). This is fairly gentle for a Friday Toughie – thanks to Luxor.
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Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31349
A full review by Rahmat Ali
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This puzzle was published on 19th September 2026
BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ****
Greetings from Kolkata. A magnificent Saturday puzzle from NYDK that I enjoyed solving and thereafter writing a review of the same for your kind perusal and significant feedback. Continue reading “DT 31349 (Full Review)”
Toughie No 3763 by Potoroo
Hints and tips by ALP
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BD Rating – Toughie difficulty **/*** – Enjoyment ****/*****
A most welcome return by Potoroo – cunning misdirection, sophisticated wordplay and some smart surfaces. Oh, and a pangram to boot. All yours.
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Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31353
Hints and Tips by Senf
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BD Rating – Difficulty 2* – Enjoyment 4.5*
A very good Thursday morning from Winnipeg where, with the start of Autumn, we are being told that a powerful ‘super’ El Niño is underway in the Pacific Ocean developing faster than any previous El Niño on record. So, in Manitoba, and the other Western Provinces, we can expect a milder, warmer Autumn and Winter with less snow and drier conditions both of which do not bode well for next year’s wildfire season.
For me, and I stress for me© (I have to say that for Terence), not a Dream Team Thursday, Potoroo is on Toughie duty. But, there is no doubt that this is the very entertaining work of the Master of Brevity. The usual one word clues and answers in the Quickie, and two appearance from the Queen, Ray T’s swEetheart, but not a plain sweetheart in the back pager. Nothing to excite the latent third formers among us. Also, like Dada, Ray T still seems to be making occasional use of a personal thesaurus. I hope you have your Crimson Tomes at hand!
Remember that Reading the Hints before commenting can be beneficial!
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Toughie No 3762 by Dada
Hints and Tips by crypticsue
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BD Rating – Toughie Difficulty * – Enjoyment ***
The SE corner of this Dada crossword turned it from being one of his Sunday puzzles to a 1* Toughie
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Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31352
Hints and Tips by Deansleigh
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** Enjoyment ****
Good morning everyone, and welcome to the midweek back-pager blog. Today’s puzzle was one of the hardest Wednesday puzzles that I can remember. I had a very sparse-looking grid after my first pass at the across clues, but fortunately the down clues came a bit more easily. There are some very smooth surfaces and a couple of well-disguised lurkers. It’s almost impossible to pick a favourite from so many fine clues, but the one that I enjoyed most was the plucky naturist in 17a. Many thanks to our setter.
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