Sunday Telegraph Cryptic No 2570
A full review by Crypticsue
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BD Rating – Difficulty **/*** – Enjoyment ***
It’s been an interesting process reviewing this crossword some 5 days after solving it – not least because Mr CS had recycled the paper! A bit of a rummage through a heap of papers led me to rediscover that this didn’t take me long to solve; what took the time was working out the wordplay – what Prolixic referred to as a ‘thinking’ crossword – hence the 2.5* for difficulty. Thanks to Virgilius – I did enjoy both the solving and the revisiting for the review writing.
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Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 26427
A full review by Crypticsue
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BD Rating – Difficulty **/*** – Enjoyment ****
I was really glad that it was my turn to do the review this week as this very enjoyable crossword was the perfect example of what a prize puzzle should be. My average difficulty rating of 2.5* reflects the fact that it wasn’t a difficult solve for the very experienced solver but with very entertaining clues throughout to keep us amused, so 2*. Slightly more difficult for the less experienced but achievable through cogitation and Mary’s hints, hence the 3*. Thanks to the Saturday Mysteron for a great crossword.
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Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 26435
Hints and tips by Crypticsue
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BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ***
There is something about having to write a review that can make the little grey solving cells freeze up a bit, but no such problems this morning. Thanks to Jay for a very enjoyable puzzle, with a nice mix of clues, many of which needed you to say something out loud in order to get the correct sense of the word required to obtain the solution, 10a being one example of this.
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Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 26415
A full review by Crypticsue
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BD Rating – Difficulty **/*** – Enjoyment ***
This Saturday’s Prize Puzzle was the work of a mystery setter and to start with I was a little mystified as to what I thought about it. I completed it in really quick time without really paying close attention to the wordplay and so it has taken the writing of this review for me to realise that it was a very good Saturday puzzle, by which I mean that it wasn’t too difficult, with a nice mix of clues and providing something for all levels of solving ability. So thank you Mysteron, whoever you are.
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Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 26412
Hints and tips by Crypticsue
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BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ****
An excellent Wednesday crossword from Jay today. I enjoyed the solving process and am even more of a fan having written the review. A very nice mix of clues, some nice misleads and some lovely double definitions. I can already see the comments regarding my difficulty rating but that’s how I found it. I just hope you all found it as entertaining as I did. Thanks Jay.
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Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 26403
A full review by Crypticsue
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ****
This Saturday’s offering was one with which I initially struggled but found that going from the bottom upwards made everything soon fall into place. Typing this review has confirmed my thoughts on finishing – that the mystery setter should be thanked for providing a most enjoyable crossword, a nice mix of excellent clues and very good entertainment. (Cephas posted on Sunday afternoon that he wasn’t responsible for this one as after just over 200 consecutive Saturdays, he had this week off) The only shame is that it’s a Saturday puzzle as were it one of Gazza’s days to review, he would have had a field day inserting ‘suitable’ pictures throughout, but sadly the technological complications of so doing are beyond my computer skills!
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Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 26391
A full review by Crypticsue
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BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ***
Once again, Cephas provided us with a most enjoyable crossword for a fine Saturday morning – a very nice mix of clues – a couple of which caused confusion for some on the day – but I thoroughly enjoyed both the solving and the subsequent analysis for this review.
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Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 26379
A full review by Crypticsue
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ***
Many thanks are due to Cephas for another very enjoyable Saturday puzzle. I have given it 3* for difficulty as my solving time was fairly quick – the only real problem I had was with my senior moment at 15d – my handwriting for all the other clues is extremely neat so I obviously didn’t have to struggle much with anything else. Other solvers didn’t agree but luckily the blog lived up to Big Dave’s introduction – “the wordplay will be explained by fellow solvers in simple, easy to understand, terms”. Today Mary was the fellow solver who did more than any of us to give explanations, although she has declined BD’s offer to produce next week’s hints!
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Sunday Telegraph Cryptic No 2558
A full review by Crypticsue
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BD Rating – Difficulty ***/**** – Enjoyment ***
Although I have been solving the daily cryptics for many years, I am a late convert to the Sunday Prize Puzzle, enjoy them greatly and can’t think why I didn’t do them before. As Peter Biddlecombe is on holiday, I have the pleasure of reviewing this week’s offering from Virgilius. I have given this crossword 3.5* for difficulty because of the struggle I had with a few of the clues and the fact that my total solving time was two-thirds longer than usual, which I don’t think was entirely due to blogger’s nerves or my attempts to overcomplicate the clues and thus be unable to see the solution! Thanks to Virgilius for the Sunday brain stretching. Peter will be back on duty next week and I can return to my usual routine – solving the Sunday puzzle while cooking the lunch!
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Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 26376
Hints and tips by Crypticsue
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ***
Like Gazza yesterday, I wasn’t sure I enjoyed this much while I was solving it, particularly as I had quite a struggle with some clues, but having typed the review, I find it has grown on me. Thanks to Jay for a good Wednesday morning brain workout.
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