Putting the words to lights – crossword clues explained in plain English
Hints and tips for completing Daily Telegraph Cryptic crosswords
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BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ***
I thought that this Toughie was somewhat easier than usual. Of course these views are totally subjective, and if you think differently please let us know via a comment.
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ****
A very enjoyable crossword today with a good variety of clues. By that I found that both the variety of types of clues and the complexity of clues was very well balanced.
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ****
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ****
This one is not overly difficult but has some cleverly-worded clues. I found it very enjoyable.
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BD Rating – Difficulty * – Enjoyment ***
Tilsit joins us for the first time today. As I mentioned on Saturday, he will already be known to avid followers of fifteensquared, and his credentials include answering questions on Crosswords, as his specialist subject, on Mastermind. The standard DT Cyptic should be very easy for someone like him, but he faces sterner stuff when he does battle with a Toughie later in the week. BD
Thanks to Big Dave for his introduction. I hope these blogs live up to the high standard that he and the rest of the gang have set. Because of my other activities within the crossword world, I often get requests from solvers about the best way to start solving cryptic puzzles and my answer is invariably the same. Start with Monday’s Telegraph and Guardian puzzles, you rarely go wrong. That’s because they are usually set by one of the doyens of the black and white squares – Roger Squires. Roger (aka Rufus in the Graun) provides some of the most accessible and solver-friendly puzzles and amongst his talents, he is a master of a type of clue known as the Cryptic Definition, of which there are a few in this puzzle.
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BD Rating – Difficulty **** – Enjoyment ****
For the weekend prize crosswords I will select a few of the better clues and provide hints for them. A full analysis of this puzzle will be available at 12.00 next Thursday, March 26th.
Some hints to get you started: Continue reading “ST Cryptic No 2476 – Hints”
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ***
We will get Peter Biddlecombe’s view on this puzzle, and on the “cornery” grid that has been used, in his full review – to be published at 12.00 on Thursday, 26th March.
Next Monday a new reviewer joins the team. Tilsit will already be known to avid followers of fifteensquared, and his credentials include answering questions on Crosswords, as his specialist subject, on Mastermind.
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BD Rating – Difficulty **** – Enjoyment ****
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ***
Another enjoyable Friday crossword, a good mix of clue types, and complexity along with one new word for me.
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ****
The Sunday puzzle has improved significantly over the last two or three weeks. This one was not as difficult as some of the earlier ones due, in part, to the noticeable lack of contentious clues.
