Toughie No 3654 by Django
Hints and Tips by crypticsue
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BD Rating – Toughie Difficulty ***/**** – Enjoyment ****
As usual, Django provides another very entertaining mid-week level Toughie. … Continue reading
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 31190
Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31190
Hints and Tips by Deansleigh
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BD Rating – Difficulty * Enjoyment ***/****
Good morning everyone, and welcome to the midweek back-pager blog. I found today’s puzzle relatively gentle for a Wednesday: I was heading for my quickest solve of the week, until the app inexplicably threw all my answers away and I had to start again. There are several culinary references today, which left me feeling quite peckish. There is also an excellent Quickie pun. Amongst my favourite clues were 4a, 16a, 24a and 14d, but my top spot goes to the topical 4d. Many thanks to today’s setter.
Toughie 3650
Toughie No 3650 by Weatherman
Hints and Tips by crypticsue
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BD Rating – Toughie Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ***
Even allowing for the two words most of us have probably never heard of (both fairly clued), I thought this was just right for a Wednesday Toughie. All I’ve got to do now is get rid of the ear worm!
DT 31184
Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31184
Hints and Tips by Deansleigh
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BD Rating – Difficulty **/*** Enjoyment ****
Good morning everyone, and welcome to the midweek back-pager blog. I found today’s puzzle suitably challenging for a Wednesday workout: there were a couple of (for me) obscure words that held me up, pushing me just into 3* time. I found it very hard to pick a favourite clue, as there was so much to enjoy and admire, with some great misdirection and several amusing cryptic definitions. I especially liked 10a, 14a, 3d, 7d and 9d, but today’s winner for me is 16d for its excellent surface reading and because it taught me a new word. Many thanks to today’s setter.
Toughie 3646
Toughie No 3646 by Prime
Hints and Tips by crypticsue
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BD Rating – Toughie Difficulty * – Enjoyment ***
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 ***