Enigmatic Variations 1748 (Hints)
Martyrdom by Kcit
Hints and tips by Phibs
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Wondering just how many EV puzzles Kcit had set in his long career, I consulted Dave Hennings’ excellent xwdb.info site.
Author: Phibs
EV 1746 (Hints)
Enigmatic Variations 1746 (Hints)
In Part by Miles
Hints and tips by Phibs
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I was at school with Tony Miles, who went on to become the first UK-born over-the-board chess grandmaster, in the process winning the £5,000 prize put up by Jim Slater.
EV 1744 (Hints)
Enigmatic Variations 1744 (Hints)
Reassuring by Chalicea
Hints and tips by Phibs
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It’s probably fair to say that in my four years of doing EV hints a significant majority of the puzzles have been beyond an imaginary halfway line in terms of difficulty.
EV 1742 (Hints)
Enigmatic Variations 1742 (Hints)
Prime by Arcadia
Hints and tips by Phibs
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The name Arcadia immediately brings to my mind a shop in St. Michael’s Street, Oxford.
EV 1740 (Hints)
Enigmatic Variations 1740 (Hints)
Gentle Observations by Luxor
Hints and tips by Phibs
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Having got clearance through from the Pentagon, I asked Claude, “In a themed crossword puzzle, we are asked to identify a work and its creator (not ‘author’) and then position three words appropriately in the grid, each one representing a ‘gentle observation’. Have you any idea what the theme might be?”
EV 1738 (Hints)
Enigmatic Variations 1738 (Hints)
Cross Words by Robyn
Hints and tips by Phibs
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Telegraph regulars will recognize today’s setter as the deputy puzzles editor, using a pseudonym normally associated with his Toughies; he has set themed puzzles for several publications in years gone by under a different nom de guerre, including ten Listeners (three more than me), but as far as I can ascertain this is his first EV – if so, we extend a warm welcome to him.
EV 1736 (Hints)
Enigmatic Variations 1736 (Hints)
Crack Up by Shark
Hints and tips by Phibs
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With very little to offer Claude in terms of today’s puzzle, I asked, “Why would a setter of themed crossword puzzles choose to call themselves Shark?”
EV 1734 (Hints)
Enigmatic Variations 1734 (Hints)
Dynamo by Ifor
Hints and tips by Phibs
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This week, I asked Gemini, “I am about to tackle a themed crossword puzzle from a setter called Ifor. Do I have good reason for trepidation?”
EV 1732 (Hints)
Enigmatic Variations 1732 (Hints)
Protection by Check
Hints and tips by Phibs
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In July 2022, I stepped in for five weeks to give the Numpties an extremely well-deserved break. Little did I know that in February 2026 I would be doing my 100th EV blog…
EV 1730 (Hints)
Enigmatic Variations 1730 (Hints)
Popular by Skylark
Hints and tips by Phibs
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There was nothing in the title or preamble for the AI contingent to get their virtual teeth into, so I asked Claude, “Shelley wrote a poem ‘To a Skylark’; could you write a five-line verse along the same lines to a lady crossword setter called ‘Skylark’?”