Not the Saturday Prize Puzzle – 098
A Puzzle by Radler
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Welcome to the latest in our series of weekly puzzles.
Unravel the theme to enjoy this week’s puzzle which is set by Radler.
DT 26744 (Hints)
Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 26744 (Hints)
The Christmas Eve Crossword Club
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Merry Christmas everyone.
I have added another new entry to The Mine.
The letters of the Hebrew Alphabet appear from time to time in crosswords, so now you now where to find them.
As is usual for the weekend prize crosswords, an assortment of clues, including some of the more difficult ones, have been selected and hints provided for them.
Toughie 690
Toughie No 690 by Osmosis
A Gentle Start to the Onslaught
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ****
Seasons Greetings from the Calder Valley. Osmosis is here today with his usual fiendish constructs, clever surface readings and off-the-wall ideas. I did find it a little easier than his normal puzzles, but it is still quite a stiff challenge.
I am off for a stay in a remote part of the Lake District for most of the next ten days so I’d like to wish you all a pleasant Christmas and the happiest of New Years. Thanks to all the setters for tormenting us during the year, to Phil McNeill and Daniella at the Telegraph for all their efforts in keeping things on the rails, to Big Dave (and Mrs BD) for looking after this wonderful site and finally to all my fellow bloggers who do a marvellous job “putting the words to lights”. I’ll see you next year!
DT 26743
Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 26743
Hints and tips by Gazza
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BD Rating – Difficulty **/*** – Enjoyment ***
I was expecting a themed puzzle today but it’s a straightforward offering from Giovanni, enjoyable as ever. The grid does contain some of the dreaded double unches which I know that some don’t like although I don’t see them as a problem. Let us know how you fared.
Since this is my last blog before the holiday may I take this opportunity to wish everyone (setters, fellow bloggers, commenters and lurkers) a Very Happy Christmas.
Toughie 689
Toughie No 689 by Firefly
Hints and tips by Bufo
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ***
I found this to be of average difficulty after expecting it to be harder. I enjoyed it though I did think that some of the definitions and anagram indicators were a bit iffy.
DT 26742
Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 26742
Hints and tips by Big Dave
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BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ****
This was unmistakably a Ray T puzzle, but certainly one of his easier creations. All the usual trademark clues are present – initial letters, hidden words, innuendo, misdirection, and so on. Oh! and I forget to mention the Queen.
Toughie 688
Toughie No 688 by Giovanni
Hints and tips by Gazza
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ***
In terms of difficulty I think that this is pretty much spot on for a Wednesday Toughie, i.e. it makes you think but it’s not mind-blowingly tricky. I enjoyed the tussle with it (and it’s also a pangram).
Let us know how you liked it and please take the time to click on one of the stars below to record your assessment of the puzzle.
DT 26741
Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 26741
Hints and tips by pommers
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ****
Hola from the Vega Baja. Phew, I think Jay must have missed the memo about being easy on us solvers this week! I found this to be a bit tricky in places! Perhaps it’s just me! Enjoyable tussle though.
I’ve gone for 3* but my time was getting very close to 4* again. As is often the case with a Jay puzzle I’d recommend starting on the downs. It’s abit light on anagrams so I know some of you will be disappointed.
Continue reading “DT 26741”
Toughie 687
Toughie No 687 by Warbler
A piece of 11 across!
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BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ****
Today Warbler presents us with a fairly easy Toughie, as has become the custom for the Tuesday slot. There is a tasty theme running through several of the across answers!
DT 26740
Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 26740
Hints and tips by Gazza
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BD Rating – Difficulty * – Enjoyment **
Perhaps the setters think that we’ll all be stressed out with preparing for the festivities this week and have decided to go easy on us with some not too strenuous fare. Certainly this one is not very stress-inducing, including as it does quite a lot of fairly simple anagrams. Your comments, as always, are very welcome.
If you need to see an answer just drag your cursor through the space between the brackets under the relevant clue.