Toughie No 734 by Firefly
Confused? You Probably Will Be……
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ***
Greetings from the Calder Valley and it’s time for a Friday Firefly.
I found the puzzle to be of the usual standard from our setter with some good whimsical clues, and a theme (9 across) to some of the answers, although its use did feel a bit odd at times. At first I assumed that I was looking for synonyms for the expression, but this wasn’t the case. In most cases it was telling you to anagram the first half of the answer, using the second half as an indicator as such. One of the answers asked you to add the theme answer and then remove half of it, which struck me as a bit contrived. Quite a few of the clues today require you to take something (usually an abbreviation) away from a definition of a word.
Continue reading “Toughie 734”
Sunday Telegraph Cryptic No 2629
A full review by crypticsue
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ***
The usual excellent start to Sunday with 14a being the clue of the day for its lovely surface reading. Thanks once again to Virgilius for brightening up a very rainy, grumpy, Sunday morning.
Continue reading “ST 2629”
Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 26809
Hints and tips by Gazza
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Difficulty **** – Enjoyment ***
I was in a bit of a rush this morning so it may just be me, but I thought that this was trickier than the standard Friday Giovanni. I’d be interested in your thoughts.
To reveal an answer just highlight the gap between the curly brackets under the clue.
Continue reading “DT 26809”
Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 26804
A full review by Digby
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ***
Having been a regular solver – and submitter – of Saturday’s Prize Crossword for many moons (still no pen!) this is my first attempt at reviewing one. My impression is that they have become slightly more difficult over the past 2 years or so, and are now at about the level (3*) that they should be.
Continue reading “DT 26804”
Toughie No 733 by Messinae
Hints and tips by Bufo
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ***
This is only the second Messinae puzzle that I have blogged. I gave 4* for difficulty to the last one which was unusual because bloggers usually only give Messinae puzzles 2* for difficulty. This one was 2* at most and I might have been tempted to give it 1* had I not had to think a little about the last couple of answers. So once again we have a Toughie that is anything but tough.
Continue reading “Toughie 733”
Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 26808
Hints and tips by Big Dave
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ****
Innuendo, smut and topless ladies – Ray T is back!
Continue reading “DT 26808”
Toughie No 732 by Micawber
Short on Duration but Long on Enjoyment
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment *****
Superb stuff, as always, from Micawber. In terms of difficulty this was perhaps the easiest one I can remember from him but the enjoyment was as good as ever. What did you think?
Continue reading “Toughie 732”
Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 26807
Hints and tips by Falcon
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ***
Greetings from Ottawa where we are about to experience some very unseasonable weather – the outlook for Wednesday is sunny and +12 degrees (Celsius).
Today we have a typical puzzle from Jay, although it is missing the usual substitution (A for B) type clue that I have come to expect from him. I debated whether it deserved 2* or 3* for difficulty. While I solved the majority of the clues more rapidly than usual – I did find that the last few put up quite a fight.
Continue reading “DT 26807”
Toughie No 731 by Cephas
Hints and tips by Big Dave
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ***
A pleasant puzzle, albeit not at the difficult end of the Toughie spectrum.
Continue reading “Toughie 731”
Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 26806
Hints and tips by Gazza
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment **
Today’s puzzle is perfectly fair but not too exciting. Give us your take on it and tell us how you got on.
If you’re stuck and absolutely have to see an answer just highlight the space between the curly brackets under the troublesome clue.
Continue reading “DT 26806”