Crosswords – Page 1262 – Big Dave's Crossword Blog

Toughie No 111

Toughie No 111 by Citrus

Harder than yesterday, but then they all are!

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BD Rating – Difficulty ** Enjoyment ****

This one is not all that tough as long as your copy of Chambers is not far away!  I enjoyed the puzzle,  and I learned a few new words, and a poem by Wordsworth. Continue reading “Toughie No 111”

ST Cryptic No 2474 – Review

Sunday Telegraph Cryptic No 2474 – Review

A full analysis by Big Dave

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

As regular followers of my reviews are aware by now, I have not been a great fan of the Sunday crosswords.  Well, thing are looking up a bit and, for the second week running,  I actually enjoyed this one.  A few weak clues, too many double definitions, and a grid which isolated the top right and bottom left corners means that there is still room for improvement, but a definite step in the right direction. Continue reading “ST Cryptic No 2474 – Review”

DT Cryptic No 25870 – Review

Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 25870 – Review

A full analysis by Peter Biddlecombe

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BD Rating – Difficulty *** Enjoyment ***


A bit of a geography tour, this one. An easyish puzzle, though one or two words held me up a bit – finding the right “word – A = other word” at 17 in particular. * indicates an anagram in the notes below.

Continue reading “DT Cryptic No 25870 – Review”

Toughie No 110

Toughie No 110 by Jed

A very easy Toughie – have a go at this one!

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BD Rating – Difficulty * Enjoyment **

I look forward four days a week to battling with the Toughie.  This one was a pale impersonation of a Toughie, and was easier than the standard daily cryptic. Continue reading “Toughie No 110”

DT Cryptic No 25874

Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 25874

Today’s hints and tips by Gazza

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BD Rating – Difficulty ** Enjoyment ***

A good, honest puzzle with some clever clues. As usual, if you cannot get the answer even with the hint, select the white space inside the curly brackets to reveal it.

Continue reading “DT Cryptic No 25874”

Toughie No 109

Toughie No 109 by Warbler

Hints and tips by Gazza

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BD Rating – Difficulty *** Enjoyment ***

This one is not as difficult as yesterday’s. I was held up on 19d because I initially read the last word of the clue as TURN rather than TUM. It’s an easy mistake to make with lower-case letters, but I’ll have to get new glasses!

Continue reading “Toughie No 109”

DT Cryptic No 25873

Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 25873

Hints and tips by Big Dave

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BD Rating – Difficulty *** Enjoyment ***

Not too easy, not too hard, but then it is the middle of the week.

Don’t forget – just highlight the space between the curly brackets to reveal the answer.

Continue reading “DT Cryptic No 25873”

Toughie No 108

Toughie No 108 by Excalibur

A difficult Toughie with some tenuous clues

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

I found this a difficult Toughie and, for me, it was spoilt by the tenuous nature of some of the clues.  It’s always difficult when 1 across, often the key to open the whole puzzle, is as awkward as it has been today.

Continue reading “Toughie No 108”

DT Cryptic No 25872

Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 25872

Today’s hints and tips by Gazza

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

An interesting and varied collection of clues, slightly more difficult than yesterday’s but worth the effort to tease out. As usual, the answers are hidden inside the curly brackets – select the white space inside if you’re totally stumped.

Continue reading “DT Cryptic No 25872”