Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 26109
Hints and tips by Gazza
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ****
We have another fine puzzle for Giovanni, probably not as tricky as last Friday’s but nevertheless a good workout.
Following the discussion on Wednesday’s blog about the style of the hints I have tried today not to reveal directly any part of the answers (except for the hidden contents of the curly brackets of course!). The result is, I think, more like the hints for the weekend prize puzzles than my usual reviews. I really need some feedback as to how you like it and which style you prefer – should I persevere with this method or revert to the old one? Note that if you click on any of the links you will still see (bits of) the answer.
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Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 26103
Hints and tips by Gazza
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BD Rating – Difficulty **** – Enjoyment ****
It’s Friday, so it’s Giovanni day and we have another excellent puzzle from many people’s favourite setter. As is often the case it was a couple of the short, four-letter, words which gave me most trouble – being a bit of a philistine in matters operatic, I had never heard of 1d, and I was held up for a while by 23d.
One of the main reasons for the vitality of this site is the contribution made by your comments, so please keep up the good work and let us know your views. We’re particularly keen to hear from regular readers who have yet to introduce themselves – now would be a good time to break your duck (sorry!, another cricket term).
As usual the answers are hidden so that you do not see them by accident. If you do want to see an answer, highlight the white space inside the curly brackets under the relevant clue.
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Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 26097
Hints and tips by Gazza
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BD Rating – Difficulty **** – Enjoyment ****
The Friday Cryptic is often the highlight of the week and, once again, Giovanni does not disappoint. It’s full of entertaining clues, but I did find it quite tricky – let us know whether you agree or not!
As usual the answers are hidden inside the curly brackets so that you cannot see them accidentally – just highlight the white space inside the brackets and say “abracadabra” to reveal one.
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Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 26091
Hints and tips by Gazza
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ***
We have another entertaining puzzle from our usual Friday setter. With most puzzles you find at least one or two surface readings which are a bit “iffy”, but Giovanni always produces beautifully smooth clues. I think that today he has a given us a puzzle which treads a fine line by being within the reach of novice solvers whilst posing enough of a challenge for the more experienced.
We always appreciate getting feedback from you, so if you’ve never left us a comment before, now is the time to introduce yourself!
As usual the answers are hidden inside the curly brackets – if you want to reveal one, just select the white space inside.
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Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 26085
Hints and tips by Gazza
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BD Rating – Difficulty **** – Enjoyment ***
We have a fairly difficult puzzle today with a couple of words new to me, but it’s very fair and entertaining in the usual Giovanni style. If you found this one tricky then I hope the hints help; if you found it a piece of cake, then try today’s Toughie – I guarantee that you won’t find that so easy!
As usual the answers are hidden so that you don’t see them by mistake. To reveal one, select the white space inside the curly brackets beneath the clue.
I think that this is the sort of puzzle that should generate lots of discussion – so let’s go for a good crop of comments!
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Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 26079
Hints and tips by Gazza
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ****
Giovanni is on form today and has given us an excellent puzzle with many entertaining clues. For those who normally have problems on a Friday, it is worth persevering with – there are a number of easier clues, such as 18a, 7d and 22d which should give you toeholds to get into it.
As usual the answers are inside the curly brackets for those who need them – just highlight the space inside the brackets.
We are, as always, reliant on your comments to keep the blog lively and entertaining – so please don’t disappoint.
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Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 26073
Hints and tips by Gazza
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BD Rating – Difficulty **** – Enjoyment ***
Friday’s puzzles seem to divide the solving community into two polarised camps, and I suspect that today’s will be no exception. I enjoyed it, although I have a couple of queries. I’ve given it four * for difficulty largely because those completing it on Clued Up seemed to take longer than usual.
Leave us a comment with your views. We’re especially keen to hear from our many readers who have not yet left a comment – now is the time to introduce yourselves – we’re a friendly lot and we don’t bite!
If you leave a comment please don’t just say “love it” or “hate it” – try to give reasons or examples, so that we can get a debate going (sorry if I sound like an examiner!).
As usual the answers are hidden inside the curly brackets under the clue. They are hidden so that you don’t see them accidentally, but if you want to see one, just highlight the white space inside the brackets.
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Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 26067
Hints and tips by Gazza
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment **
I look forward to the Friday puzzle, but I must admit to feeling a bit disappointed with this one. There’s one amusing clue at 7d, but otherwise I thought that it was fairly mundane stuff, compared to the usual Friday fare. Do you agree or do you think I’m being excessively curmudgeonly? – let me know via a comment.
As usual, if you want to see an answer you’ll find it hidden between the curly brackets – just highlight the white space to reveal it.
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Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 26061
Hints and tips by Gazza
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BD Rating – Difficulty **** – Enjoyment ****
I was guilty today of breaking rule #1 in the I-SPY Crossword Solvers’ Handbook, “Read the Clue Carefully”. On 17a I decided that the answer must be the name of a plant hidden in the clue, quickly scanned the letters until I found “ERICA”, wrote it in and moved on. Only later, when I couldn’t shoehorn the answer to 15d in, did I scratch my head and revisit 17a, to find that the clue specifies “plants” and not “plant”.
We have another delightful puzzle from Giovanni, full of amusing clues, but it’s no easier than last Friday’s (sorry, Barrie!).
The answers are hidden, as always, inside the curly brackets – highlight the white space if you need to reveal one.
We’d be delighted to get your comments on the puzzle or the review.
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Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 26055
Hints and tips by Gazza
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ****
It was all a bit like groundhog day. There was I, relaxing over a late breakfast and wrestling with today’s Toughie, when I got a message from Libellule saying that his communication problems have resurfaced so that he could not do the review. So I’m afraid that you’re stuck with me again.
Not that reviewing a Giovanni puzzle is ever a chore – it’s well up to his usual standard, so that means some excellent surface readings with a number of smiles, not to say guffaws.
We’d be delighted to get your comments as usual.
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