EV Crosswords – Page 26 – Big Dave's Crossword Blog

EV 1611 Hints

Enigmatic Variations 1611 (Hints)

Footsteps by Skylark

Hints and tips by Phibs

+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +

Hoping to make my task a little easier, I asked Bard “What is the theme of a crossword puzzle called Footsteps likely to be?” The response was:

To narrow down the possible themes, it would be helpful to see the crossword puzzle itself. However, based on the name of the puzzle, the theme is likely to be something related to movement, travel, or exploration. Here are some examples of theme answers for a crossword puzzle called “Footsteps”:

  • Footprints in the sand
  • One small step for man
  • The road less travelled
  • A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step
  • Follow the footsteps of giants

We shall find out later how helpful this proved to be.

Continue reading “EV 1611 Hints”

EV 1609 Hints

Enigmatic Variations 1609 (Hints)

Sad Neighbours by Chalicea

Hints and tips by Phibs

+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +

Solvers who have previously encountered Chalicea will know that they can expect a fair and entertaining – but not too tough – challenge, and an endgame which will leave no room for doubt that it has been successfully negotiated.

Continue reading “EV 1609 Hints”

EV 1607 Hints

Enigmatic Variations 1607 (Hints)

Eightsomes by Gaston

Hints and tips by Phibs

+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +

This is my first encounter with Gaston, whom I initially thought might be so named because of a resemblance to the character in Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, one of the ’13 Reflections of Evil’. Slightly disturbed by that idea, I preferred to believe that the pseudonym might reflect a happy association with La Belle France, or a particular affection for Gigi (ah yes, I remember it well).

However, I learn from the Editor that Gaston has already revealed himself in the Setter’s Blog for EV 1458 – it turns out that he is not a setter, rather a cocker spaniel who (assisted by his ‘partner in crime’, Rémy) is apparently not averse to introducing a French theme to his puzzles. Let’s hope that il fait plus de bruit que de mal

Continue reading “EV 1607 Hints”

EV 1605 Hints

Enigmatic Variations 1605 (Hints)

Who, Where and When by Ifor

Hints and tips by Phibs

+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +

Rudyard Kipling kept ‘six honest serving-men’, three of whom appear in the title of this puzzle – we don’t have to worry about ‘What’ or ‘Why’, and ‘How’ is by solving it.

Continue reading “EV 1605 Hints”