Toughie No 628 by Notabilis
Articulate Rambo
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BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ****
I’ve stopped trying to submit puzzles on the website except when I’m blogging (because I’m fed up with getting “Error 0”), but it’s just as well I did this morning because my answer to 25d was rejected – see below.
Apart from that we have a not too taxing but entertaining puzzle from Notabilis. It seems to be the rule now that when setters like Micawber and Notabilis appear mid-week their puzzles are quite a bit gentler than when they turn up on Fridays.
Notabilis usually manages to smuggle something extra into his puzzles just to keep us on our toes and today there are four sets of linked answers (13/14a, 22/23a, 3/15d and 16/26d). If there’s anything else, I’ve failed to spot it.
Give us a comment letting us know how you got on and please take the time to click on one of the stars below to register your level of enjoyment.
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Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 26651
Hints and tips by Falcon
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BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ***
Fortunately, this puzzle is not overly difficult as I was working “without a net” today. Problems with the DT web site caused major headaches (and no doubt loss of sleep) for Big Dave who was able to ship the puzzle across the Atlantic but not the completed grid. I find this to be a typical Jay puzzle, one that leans a bit toward the easier end of the scale.
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Toughie No 627 by Dada
Fe fe fi fi fo fo fum
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment *****
This was my first opportunity to review a puzzle from Dada, and what a great pleasure it has been. As Paul in the Guardian this setter has a fearsome reputation, but he is somewhat kinder to us over here at the Telegraph!
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Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 26650
Hints and tips by Gazza
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ***
What with the horrible weather outside and the ongoing frustrations of CluedUp inside it’s not been a very happy morning. However I was cheered up by this enjoyable puzzle (when I eventually got it). Let us know your thoughts in a comment.
If you’re still baffled after reading a hint, try highlighting the space between the brackets under the clue to reveal the answer.
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Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 26649
Hints and tips by Libellule
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BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ***
Many thanks to the maestro for my usual Monday mormimg entertainment.
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Sunday Telegraph Cryptic No 2604 (Hints)
Hints and tips by Big Dave
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As is usual for the weekend prize crosswords, I will select a few of the better clues and provide hints for them.
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Not the Saturday Prize Puzzle – 082
Box by Radler
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Radler has given us a highly enjoyable crossword today that was not too tricky and contains a lot of sex and a highly desirable form of confection. I have highlighted my favourite clues in blue.
Apologies for the late posting of the review. Every time I wanted to sit down and type it up, my wife got to the computer first and found me another job to do!
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Not the Saturday Prize Puzzle – 082
Box by Radler
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Welcome to the latest in our series of weekly puzzles.
After last week’s easier offering, this one from Radler is considerably harder. You need to get 6d as early as possible to help with the theme.
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Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 26648 (Hints)
Big Dave’s Saturday Crossword Club
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As is usual for the weekend prize crosswords, I will select an assortment of clues, including some of the more difficult ones, and provide hints for them.
Feel free to let off steam about the continuing, non-lightning-strike related, problems on the site and the lack of recompense or honest explanations.
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Toughie No 626 by Elgar
Good Things Come in Threes
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BD Rating – Difficulty **** – Enjoyment *****
Greetings from the Calder Valley. Thanks to Big Dave for covering while I had a wonderful week’s holiday in the Lake District last week. Three days after coming home and unpacking, I had to repack and spend a couple of days back in Calderdale Hospital. Luckily I managed to escape last night and am now under the care of the District Nursing team for a few days.
We have the return of Elgar today with a fine puzzle that contains lots of things to make you smile, think and bang your head against the wall in equal measure. Although it’s my least favourite grid in the crossword world (each corner only has one way in, so if you get stuck you are really stuck!). However there are some great clues that will have you scratching your head and appreciate Elgar’s magical craft.
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