Toughie No 3646 by Prime
Hints and Tips by crypticsue
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BD Rating – Toughie Difficulty * – Enjoyment ***
Category: Wednesday
Since the beginning of 2010, Wednesday’s regular setter is Jeremy Mutch who has visited the blog as Jay. During 2009, Jay set almost all the Thursday puzzles.
DT 31178
Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31178
Hints and Tips by Deansleigh
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BD Rating – Difficulty ** Enjoyment ****
Good morning from a sunny and springlike South Hampshire. Once again we have an excellent midweek puzzle, with some cracking clues. This was the hardest of the week for me so far, mainly because it took me a while to identify the Russian spymaster in 3d. The clues that made it to my (somewhat overcrowded) podium today were 4a, 9a, 2d, 14d and 19d, with 9a the winner by a whisker. Many thanks to today’s setter.
DT 31172
Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31172
Hints and Tips by Deansleigh
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BD Rating – Difficulty ** Enjoyment ***
Good morning everyone, and welcome to the Wednesday back-pager blog. I found this slightly easier than last week’s Wednesday cryptic, with much to enjoy and appreciate, including a fair smattering of musical references. I especially liked the risqué surfaces in 10a and 29a, but my favourite today was 23d. Many thanks to today’s setter.
Toughie 3638
Toughie No 3638 by Bandit
Hints and Tips by crypticsue
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BD Rating – Toughie Difficulty ***** – Enjoyment *****
DT 31166
Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31166
Hints and Tips by Deansleigh
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BD Rating – Difficulty **/*** Enjoyment ****
Good morning everyone, and welcome to the Wednesday back-pager blog. I found today’s crossword to be a notch or two more difficult than yesterday’s, with the NW corner being the last to fall. There was much to enjoy and admire, with my favourites being 2d, 8d and 24a. There is also an excellent six-word pun in the Quick crossword. Many thanks to today’s setter.
Toughie 3634
Toughie No 3634 by Weatherman
Hints and Tips by crypticsue
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BD Rating – Toughie Difficulty ***/**** – Enjoyment ***
DT 31160
Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31160
Hints and Tips by Deansleigh
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** Enjoyment ****
Good morning everyone, and welcome to the Wednesday blog. I found today’s puzzle to be quite tricky, but that may have been because I was still half asleep when I started solving it! A couple of the answers were new to me, and several clues took me a while to parse, pushing my solving time into 3* territory. There were plenty of concise and elegant clues and I found it difficult to pick a winner. I particularly liked the podgy husband in 27a, the binge session in 1d and the tipsy Democrat in 16d, but my favourite today is the naked Beatle in 13a. Many thanks to today’s setter. Continue reading “DT 31160”
Toughie 3630
Toughie No 3630 by Donnybrook
Hints and Tips by crypticsue
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BD Rating – Toughie Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ****
DT 31154
Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31154
Hints and Tips by Deansleigh
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BD Rating – Difficulty ** Enjoyment *****
Good morning from a chilly but sunny south Hampshire. Today we have another excellent back-pager, with so many fine clues it was hard to choose a favourite. I especially liked 1a, 9a, 19a, 2d and 3d, but topping the podium for me today is the tipsy clergyman in 8d. Many thanks to today’s setter. Continue reading “DT 31154”
Toughie 3626
Toughie No 3626 by Prime
Hints and Tips by crypticsue
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BD Rating – Toughie Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ***