Putting the words to lights – crossword clues explained in plain English
BD Rating - Difficulty **** - Enjoyment ****
A warm welcome from all of us to Samuel on his first Telegraph Toughie appearance. I thought this was a decent if typically gentle Tuesday offering until I realised I had printed out and solved the back-pager by mistake! The real thing was much more in the Toughie vein and full of strong clues that I really enjoyed.
BD Rating - Difficulty *** - Enjoyment ***
A nice puzzle in the Excalibur style. Apologies for a hurried review.
BD Rating - Difficulty ***/**** - Enjoyment ***
In 5d, Dada has scrupulously obeyed one of the five principles of 'How to avoid upsetting solvers' laid down by Alan Connor in his superb 2013 book Two Girls, One on Each Knee (7). If you have a copy, please turn to p. 38. If you don't, go and buy one -- it really is a brilliant read.
BD Rating - Difficulty ** - Enjoyment ****
A quality puzzle (needless to say) that I could happily have given five stars for enjoyment if it had come up on my usual (Tuesday) watch. But Friday Toughie thrill-seekers will have been let down by the lack of difficulty.
BD Rating - Difficulty **/*** - Enjoyment **
Dada or no Dada, three or four smart clues did not stop me finding this dull as dishwater, I'm afraid.
If you haven't yet, you must try Rookie Corner No. 49 by Beet, an exuberant and beautifully worked puzzle from a very gifted new setter.
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BD Rating - Difficulty **** - Enjoyment ****
The more I get into crosswords, the more I realise what a fusspot I can be about strict cluing (at least as I see it). Why, then, do I make an exception for Excalibur? I found this puzzle unnerving and downright unfair in parts, often struggled to see the obvious as a result, and enjoyed every minute of it!
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BD Rating - Difficulty *** - Enjoyment ***
Shamus, in his occasional capacity as Mr Ron, gave us an excellent back-pager this time last week, and this week sees him back in the Toughie seat. This puzzle was perhaps not quite as polished, but it was nonetheless enjoyable, and like his last Toughie contained clues on a wide spectrum of difficulty.
Do let us know how you got on and what you thought. First-time commenters welcome!
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BD Rating - Difficulty */** - Enjoyment ***
An enjoyable Tuesday-level puzzle from Warbler, not taxing but with a few uncommon words and uses. I like her attention to surface readings.
Do let us know how you got on and what you thought. First-time commenters welcome!
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BD Rating - Difficulty *** - Enjoyment ***
Blue skies over Rutland and a note of springlike warmth in the air. I made altogether heavier weather of the top half of this nice Messinae puzzle that gets another Toughie week underway. There is something of a rustic thread running through some of the clues and solutions, possibly fortuitous.
Do let us know how you got on and what you thought. First-time commenters especially welcome!
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BD Rating - Difficulty * - Enjoyment ***
A quick, fun solve at the very gentlest end of the Toughie scale.