Toughie No 220 by Warbler
Four Play
+ – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ***
Not a particularly difficult Toughie today and generally enjoyable, in fact the kind of Toughie that all solvers of the normal daily Telegraph cryptic crossword should try. There are (for me) a couple of new words. However I did find the grid a little strange with what seemed like a large number of four letter answers spread all around the edge, but then maybe that’s just me.
As ever please feel free to leave a comment.
.
Continue reading “Toughie 220”
Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 26040
Hints and tips by Gazza
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ***
Today’s puzzle is fairly straightforward, but with not a great deal to get the pulses racing or bring a smile to the lips. It contains two place names, a girl’s name and a surname, but for all of them the wordplay is pretty undemanding.
As always we’d be delighted to get your comments, whether from experienced solvers or those dipping their toe in the water for the first time.
Continue reading “DT 26040”
Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 26039
Hints and tips by Big Dave
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ***
Yet another relatively easy puzzle from Rufus to get the week off to a good start.
Big Dave Towers seems strangely empty today as the 3-litre Capri Ghia that we have owned for the last 23 years, 15 of which it spent motionless in the carport, went off to a new home yesterday.
Leave a comment telling us what you thought. You can also add your assessment by selecting from one to five stars at the bottom of the post.
Continue reading “DT 26039”
Sunday Telegraph Cryptic No 2502 – Hints
Selected hints by Big Dave
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Difficulty **** – Enjoyment ****
I was surprised that Peter Biddlecombe thought that last Sunday’s puzzle was quite easy, but then he is a former Times Crossword Champion. I found this one moderately difficult but very enjoyable. I have added a few hints, but I rather expect that some of you may be struggling with a number of these clues.
Don’t forget that you can give your assessment of the puzzle. Five stars if you thought it was great, one if you hated it, four, three or two if it was somewhere in between.
As is usual for the weekend prize crosswords, I will select a few of the better clues and provide hints for them.
Peter Biddlecombe’s full review of this puzzle will be published at 12.00 on Friday, 25th September.
Continue reading “ST 2502 – Hints”
Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 26038 – Hints
Big Dave’s Saturday Crossword Class!
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment: ***
Once again the Saturday prize puzzle just about creeps into 3-star difficulty. The handful of proper nouns are all well known and there is no need this week for an atlas. One minor quibble concerns the long down answer – this is a saying with which not everyone will be familiar, so the combination of a cryptic definition and two double unches (two consecutive squares without a checked letter) will make it a struggle for some.
Don’t forget that you can give your assessment of the puzzle. Five stars if you thought it was great, one if you hated it, four, three or two if it was somewhere in between.
As is usual for the weekend prize crosswords, I will select a few of the better clues and provide hints for them. A full review of this puzzle by Tilsit will be published at 12.00 on Thursday, 24th September.
Continue reading “DT 26038 – Hints”
Sunday Telegraph Cryptic No 2501
After the Lord Mayor’s show?
A full analysis by Peter Biddlecombe
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ***
(This is written without looking at the Sunday hints message to see what’s been said so far.) We couldn’t really expect this puzzle to match the anniversary one last week, and we’re back to everyday fare here. There are some fairly easy clues, especially for old hands, but there’s lots of crossword-setting craft – in particular, consistently solid surface meanings. 3D is a particular favourite of mine, being a former distance runner, conjuring up images of someone like Emil Zatopek, whose laboured style can be seen in this film about his rivalry with Alan Mimoun. Meanwhile, back to the clues ….
Continue reading “ST 2501”
Toughie No 219 by Osmosis
The Robots of Dawn
+ – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Difficulty **** – Enjoyment ***
I found this puzzle to be a bit too mechanical. The clues are all technically correct (although you might question some of the indicators) but somehow lacking in that Wow! factor.
I will be interested to know what you think, so leave a comment to say whether you agree or disagree.
Continue reading “Toughie 219”
Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 26037
Hints and tips by Gazza
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Difficulty **** – Enjoyment ****
Friday’s puzzle is more often than not both the most difficult and the most entertaining one of the week, and this one is no exception. I have reservations about a couple of the clues, but overall it was very enjoyable.
As usual the answers are hidden inside the curly brackets – if you’re stuck you can highlight the white space inside to reveal them.
As always we welcome comments. If you’re a regular visitor and have never left a comment, now is the time to introduce yourself and let us know what you like, or don’t like, about the blog!
Continue reading “DT 26037”
WordPress Software Upgrade
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
Yesterday morning I upgraded the software used for the blog from version 1.1 to 1.6.1 (the intervening versions were not officially released). … Continue reading
Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 26032
A full analysis by Tilsit
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment: ***
My first bite at the Saturday Puzzle, and until this week it has tended to be the last of the weekend puzzles that I solve, simply because the others usually have themes or gimmicks that I love to solve. In most papers the Saturday puzzle is usually the most difficult of the week, but I don’t think this applies to the DT. However, it will now be the top of the list each week. I hope my reviews are as helpful as Peter’s were and if not, I’m sure you’ll let me know.
This was an interesting puzzle and is a curious mix of clues with some fine ones, plus one or two duds. The Telegraph is spoilt for cryptic definition clue writers, as Monday’s Maestro is probably one of the finest exponents of this genre around, and I sometimes think that even he overeggs the pudding occasionally. As a result, other attempts at cryptic definitions often hit the target, but not the bull, to use an expression from archery.
Anyway, let’s have a look at last Saturday’s challenge. One of the first things I notice is the brevity of clue writing in most cases. On first inspection that suggests to me a preponderance of cryptic definitions. Let’s see if I’m right.
Continue reading “DT 26032”
