Toughie No 3426 by Django
Hints and tips by ALP
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BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ***/****
Yes, I’m afraid you’ve got me again, pulling a double.… Continue reading
Author: ALP
Toughie 3425
Toughie No 3425 by Dharma
Hints and tips by ALP
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BD Rating – Difficulty **/*** – Enjoyment ****
I’d have known this was Dharma even without his Toughie byline: garlicky wordplay, clever definitions and sneaky misdirects.… Continue reading
Toughie 3421
Toughie No 3421 by Chalicea
Hints and tips by ALP
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BD Rating – Difficulty * – Enjoyment **/***
Chalicea’s back with her magic (South African, Scandi and Scots today) dictionary, a couple of semicolons and even a bonus Quickie clue (19d).… Continue reading
Toughie 3417
Toughie No 3417 by Dada
Hints and tips by ALP
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BD Rating – Difficulty */** – Enjoyment ***
A tad quirky, I thought, but crammed with Dada’s usual trademarks – a bombardment of double definitions and anagrams, plus a wee smidgeon of cheek and GK, hence the extra half-star.… Continue reading
Toughie 3413
Toughie No 3413 by Musaeus
Hints and tips by ALP
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BD Rating – Difficulty */** – Enjoyment ***
Not too taxing today despite the double unches (Musaeus seems to like ‘em) some quirky definitions and a handful of peculiar surfaces – 14a, etc.… Continue reading
Toughie 3409
Toughie No 3409 by Donnybrook
Hints and tips by ALP
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment *****
Well, I thought this was quite tricky for a Tuesday.… Continue reading
Toughie 3405
Toughie No 3405 by Dada
Hints and tips by ALP
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BD Rating – Difficulty * – Enjoyment ***/****
Dada’s certainly putting in a shift this week, with two on Sunday and another today.… Continue reading
Toughie 3401
Toughie No 3401 by Dharma
Hints and tips by ALP
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BD Rating – Difficulty */** – Enjoyment ****/*****
An utterly charming puzzle from Dharma to see out the year in style: cunning misdirection, masked definitions and typically smart surfaces. Nowt outlandish here. My difficulty rating will, I’m sure, meet with snorts of derision as per usual, but Dharma’s style has always suited me down to the ground. Hopefully, I won’t be entirely alone! All yours.
Toughie 3397
Toughie No 3397 by Donnybrook
Hints and tips by ALP
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BD Rating – Difficulty */** – Enjoyment ****
A fun Christmas Eve jaunt, this. Not terribly tricky, despite 14a (hence the extra half) which was certainly new to me and some typically cunning synonyms.… Continue reading
Toughie 3393
Toughie No 3393 by Chalicea
Hints and tips by ALP
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BD Rating – Difficulty * – Enjoyment ***/****
Huzzah! I predict total agreement for once. That must be a first.… Continue reading