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.
Continue reading “DT 30963”
Toughie No 3499 by Django
Hints and tips by ALP
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BD Rating – Difficulty * – Enjoyment *****
A Django’s always a treat and this was no exception.… Continue reading
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.
Continue reading “DT 30957”
Toughie No 3495 by Light
Hints and tips by ALP
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BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment *****
Yet more impossible boots to fail to fill.… Continue reading
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.
Continue reading “DT 30951”
Toughie No 3491 by Silvanus
Hints and tips by Gazza
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BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ****
This is my last Thursday Toughie blog (at least for the time being); ALP will be moving to this seat from next week and we have a brand new blogger taking over the Tuesday Toughie blog.
Continue reading “Toughie 3491”
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.
Continue reading “DT 30945”
Toughie No 3487 by Beam
Hints and tips by Gazza
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BD Rating – Difficulty * – Enjoyment ***
Beam is being extremely gentle with us today and I doubt whether my hints will be required. Thanks to him for the puzzle.
Continue reading “Toughie 3487”
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.
Continue reading “DT 30939”
Toughie No 3483 by Hudson
Hints and tips by Gazza
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ****
It’s a real pleasure to get a visit from Hudson on a Thursday and he’s brought with him a very entertaining puzzle with lots of humour. Many thanks to him.
Continue reading “Toughie 3483”