Wednesday – Page 2 – Big Dave's Crossword Blog

DT 31334

Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31334
Hints and Tips by Deansleigh

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BD Rating – Difficulty **/***  Enjoyment ****

Good morning everyone, and welcome to the midweek back-pager blog.  I found today’s puzzle quite challenging – an excellent Wednesday workout.  My favourite from a plethora of fine clues is the naked president in 22a.  I also enjoyed the Quickie pun.  Many thanks to our setter.

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Toughie 3746

Toughie No 3746 by Zenas

Hints and Tips by crypticsue

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BD Rating – Toughie Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ***

The first actual Toughie of this week has been set for us by Zenas

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DT 31328

Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31328
Hints and Tips by Deansleigh

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BD Rating – Difficulty **  Enjoyment ***

Good morning everyone, and welcome to the midweek back-pager blog.  I found today’s puzzle to be a step up in difficulty from the previous two days, with one or two more obscure words and a reasonable amount of general knowledge required.  Amongst my favourite clues were 1a, 10a, 12a and 2d, but the one I liked best was 14a, which made me laugh once the penny dropped.  Many thanks to our setter.

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Toughie 3742

Toughie No 3742 by Weatherman

Hints and Tips by crypticsue

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BD Rating – Toughie Difficulty * – Enjoyment ***

Weatherman set us an enjoyable, not very difficult, Toughie, where  the unknowns were fairly clued

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DT 31322

Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31322
Hints and Tips by Deansleigh

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BD Rating – Difficulty **/***  Enjoyment ****

Good morning everyone, and welcome to the midweek back-pager blog.  I found today’s puzzle to be the hardest of the week so far, but everything is fairly clued.  I didn’t know the definition in 1a, or the little ‘un in 22a, which has put me off certain dairy products for life!  My favourites were 13a, 28a and 11d.  I also liked the Quickie pun.  Many thanks to our setter.

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Toughie 3738

Toughie No 3738 by Donnybrook

Hints and Tips by crypticsue

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BD Rating – Toughie Difficulty ***** – Enjoyment ****

I thought this was a properly  tough Toughie, for both a Wednesday and a Donnybrook

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DT 31316

Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31316
Hints and Tips by Deansleigh

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BD Rating – Difficulty */**  Enjoyment ****

Good morning everyone, and welcome to the midweek back-pager blog.  I got off to a flying start with today’s crossword, aided by the linked solutions in the first and last rows, but paused over the grass in 6d and Tracey’s coupling in 12d, although both answers are fairly gettable from the wordplay alone.  My favourite clues today are 8a, the aforementioned 12d, and 16d.  Many thanks to our setter.

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DT 31310

Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31310
Hints and Tips by Deansleigh

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BD Rating – Difficulty **  Enjoyment ****

Good morning everyone, and welcome to the midweek back-pager blog.   I found today’s crossword fairly challenging for a Wednesday.  A reasonable amount of general knowledge is needed: there are several artistic and literary references, and some familiarity with Indian nobility is useful.  My favourite clues today are the Spoonerism in 1d and the hapless prince in 26a.  Many thanks to our setter.

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Toughie 3730

Toughie No 3730 by Zenas

Hints and Tips by crypticsue

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BD Rating – Toughie Difficulty **** – Enjoyment ***

A proper Toughie, which is what we have come to expect from Zenas

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