Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30975
Hints and tips by Shabbo
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BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ****
Good morning, fellow puzzlers from a sundrenched Welwyn Garden City.… Continue reading
Author: Shabbo
DT 30969
Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30969
Hints and tips by Shabbo
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BD Rating – Difficulty * – Enjoyment ****
Good morning, fellow puzzlers.
RayT is in benign form today, or maybe I was just tuned in to his wavelength from the start. A concise and enjoyable puzzle, as ever, from the master of brevity. My gongs go to 10a, 11a, 18a, 8d, 18d and 20d. Which clues did you like?
In the blog below, the definition element of each clue has been underlined, anagrams are CAPITALISED and the crossword technique “indicator words” are in brackets. The answers are concealed under the “Click Here” buttons. Please leave a comment telling us how you got on and what you thought of the puzzle. Please also try to be positive – it’s only a bit of fun.
Many thanks to our setter and the DT Crossword Team.
DT 30963
Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30963
Hints and tips by Shabbo
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BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ****
Good morning, fellow puzzlers. Chris Lancaster has thrown a bit of a curve ball today, as it is definitely Thursday and this is definitely not RayT and nor does it feel like a Silvanus puzzle. I am going to have to check the small print of my blogging contract, as this has completely thrown me!
That is not to say that I didn’t enjoy it – I did. Two very impressive long hidden words, a very smooth anagram at 13d and a well-read footballer at 20d. My CoD however, goes to the lovely 21a with a nod to the Quickie Pun, which took me ages to see.
In the blog below, the definition element of each clue has been underlined, anagrams are CAPITALISED and the crossword technique “indicator words” are in brackets. The answers are concealed under the “Click Here” buttons. Please leave a comment telling us how you got on and what you thought of the puzzle. Please also try to be positive – it’s only a bit of fun.
Many thanks to our setter and the DT Crossword Team.
DT 30957
Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30957
Hints and tips by Shabbo
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ****
Good morning fellow cruciverbalists. Today’s offering is a classic RayT puzzle with single word answers, a sweetheart at 19a and a word count of exactly five words/clue. I found it perhaps a bit tougher than usual, but then I did solve it at midnight as my troublesome back kept me awake yet again last night.
Much to admire, including the horse’s tack at 24a, the ghost tube train at 7d and the clever person at 9d. Which were your favourites?
In the blog below, the definition element of each clue has been underlined, anagrams are CAPITALISED and the crossword technique “indicator words” are in brackets. The answers are concealed under the “Click Here” buttons. Please leave a comment telling us how you got on and what you thought of the puzzle. Please also try to be positive – it’s only a bit of fun.
Many thanks to RayT and the DT Crossword Team.
DT 30955
Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30955
Hints and tips by Shabbo
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BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ***
I am standing in for Huntsman today, who is chasing a small white ball around the links courses of North Norfolk this week. I hope the weather there is as good is it here today in Hertfordshire. It is a glorious morning.
Tuesdays are not my area of expertise, as you know, so I will not even have a stab at Guess the Setter. Over to you, dear reader. I found today’s puzzle an enjoyable mix of the very straightforward (23a) and the slightly more obscure (28a). What did you think?
In the blog below, the definition element of each clue has been underlined, anagrams are CAPITALISED and the crossword technique “indicator words” are in brackets. The answers are concealed under the “Click Here” buttons. Please leave a comment telling us how you got on and what you thought of the puzzle. Please also try to be positive – it’s only a bit of fun.
Many thanks to our setter and the DT Crossword Team.
DT 30951
Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30951
Hints and tips by Shabbo
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ****
Another excellent Thursday puzzle which was a joy to solve. I will not attempt to guess the setter, as that would spoil it for you, dear reader. Just one observation – it’s not RayT!
Ticks for me for 10a, 11a, 23a, 24a, 28a, 8d, 15d, 17d, 19d and 22d. Which ones did you like best?
In the blog below, the definition element of each clue has been underlined, anagrams are CAPITALISED and the crossword technique “indicator words” are in brackets. The answers are concealed under the “Click Here” buttons. Please leave a comment telling us how you got on and what you thought of the puzzle. Please also try to be positive – it’s only a bit of fun.
Many thanks to our setter and the DT Crossword Team.
DT 30945
Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30945
Hints and tips by Shabbo
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ****
Two sweethearts and the Queen suggest that this has to be a RayT puzzle, although at times it didn’t feel like one of his – maybe it’s just me. Other RayT indicators are single-word answers in the Cryptic and single-word answers and clues in the Quickie. At 5.4 words/clue, it is still very concisely clued, even if it doesn’t quite match the extraordinary brevity of his previous puzzle. No need to pop in to confirm ownership, Ray, but it would be lovely to hear from you, as ever. A first class puzzle, beautifully and succinctly worded. Thank you Ray.
I found it quite tricky in parts, but then I did solve it at midnight, so was probably not at my sharpest. Bizarrely, the puzzle was available on my phone at about 23.30 last night, but I gave up waiting for it to arrive on my laptop. All is well this morning, however, so let’s go…
In the blog below, the definition element of each clue has been underlined, anagrams are CAPITALISED and the crossword technique “indicator words” are in brackets. The answers are concealed under the “Click Here” buttons. Please leave a comment telling us how you got on and what you thought of the puzzle. Please also try to be positive – it’s only a bit of fun.
Many thanks to our setter and the DT Crossword Team.
DT 30943
Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30943
Hints and tips by Shabbo
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BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ***
Good morning, fellow cruciverbalists. For the next two Tuesdays, I am filling in for Huntsman, who has prior commitments elsewhere.
I found this fairly straightforward, as befits a Tuesday puzzle, but an enjoyable solve. I shall not hazard a guess as to who our setter is today as Tuesdays are not familiar territory for me. Those who enjoy a double definition are in for a treat, as there are no fewer than four in today’s puzzle. No particular favourite clue for me, but I did enjoy the Quickie Pun.
This is my 100th blog, having just been pipped at the post by Huntsman, who posted his 100th blog last week. I would like to thank Gazza for asking me to join the select band of bloggers a couple of years ago. I feel honoured to play a small part in this wonderful forum.
In the blog below, the definition element of each clue has been underlined, anagrams are CAPITALISED and the crossword technique “indicator words” are in brackets. The answers are concealed under the “Click Here” buttons. Please leave a comment telling us how you got on and what you thought of the puzzle. Please also try to be positive – it’s only a bit of fun.
Many thanks to our setter and the DT Crossword Team.
DT 30939
Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30939
Hints and tips by Shabbo
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment *****
Today’s puzzle was a steady solve for me with plenty of smiles along the way and wonderfully smooth surface reads throughout. My very crowded podium consists of 1a, 10a, 13a, 17a, 2d, 8d and 16d, but I could have listed many more. The Quickie Pun also has a big tick on my paper.
When I am blogging, I tend to concentrate on the parsing of each clue and it is very easy to miss how good the surface reads are. I have just re-read all of the clues and the surfaces are quite outstanding, so I have increased my enjoyment rating to 5*. Take a bow, clever setter.
In the blog below, the definition element of each clue has been underlined, anagrams are CAPITALISED and the crossword technique “indicator words” are in brackets. The answers are concealed under the “Click Here” buttons. Please leave a comment telling us how you got on and what you thought of the puzzle. Please also try to be positive – it’s only a bit of fun.
Many thanks to our setter and the DT Crossword Team.
DT 30933
Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30933
Hints and tips by Shabbo
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ***
We are back from our week in the Highlands and I would again like to thank Huntsman for standing in for me at short notice last Thursday. It was much appreciated.
There is no doubt that this is the work of RayT, as all of his usual hallmarks are there. He has excelled himself on brevity this week, averaging a fraction below 5. I think this is the first time on my watch that he has dipped below the 5 words/clue barrier. Quite remarkable.
My podium clues are 24a, 8d and 14d. I found the puzzle about right for a Thursday in terms of difficulty. What did you think?
In the blog below, the definition element of each clue has been underlined, anagrams are CAPITALISED and the crossword technique “indicator words” are in brackets. The answers are concealed under the “Click Here” buttons. Please leave a comment telling us how you got on and what you thought of the puzzle. Please also try to be positive – it’s only a bit of fun.
Many thanks to our setter and the DT Crossword Team.