Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 26699
Hints and tips by pommers
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Difficulty */** – Enjoyment ****
Hola from the Vega Baja where it feels as though Spring has returned this week – I had my shorts on yesterday (not a pretty sight)!
Today we have an excellent pangram from Jay which isn’t very difficult, apart from a couple of trickies. I’ve given 4* for entertainment simply because when I realized I had filled in the last clue I had a real sense of disappointment that it was all over.
Continue reading “DT 26699”
Toughie No 659 by Giovanni
After the Lord Mayor’s Show …
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment **
Last Friday’s outstanding Toughie from Notabilis was a hard act to follow. Today we have a puzzle that is only marginally more difficult than a typical back-page offering and my blue highlighter wasn’t required. On a positive note, it is better than the last Giovanni puzzle that I reviewed.
Continue reading “Toughie 659”
Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 26698
Hints and tips by Gazza
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment **
There are a few amusing clues in this puzzle but most of it is fairly straightforward and not too exciting. Your views, as always, are very welcome.
If you need to reveal an answer just highlight the space between the brackets under the relevant clue.
Continue reading “DT 26698”
Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 26697
Hints and tips by Libellule
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ***
What a difference the extra hour makes. I did the crossword in nice bright sunshine this morning. Nowhere near as good as last weeks, but still relatively enjoyable all the same. Favourite clue 28a.
Continue reading “DT 26697”
Toughie No 658 by Notabilis
“Three words, darling; A-may-zing!”
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Difficulty ***** – Enjoyment *****2
Greetings from the Calder Valley. Thanks for all the nice wishes and I am home from hospital, although feeling a little fragile, so our leader is going to assist with the Downs.
Today we simply have a thing of beauty. An absolutely stunning crossword from Notabilis, a ferociously tough struggle, but like the best meat when you dine, when you see the explanations for the clues, they fall apart beautifully in the brain. I know some of you will have probably given up but quite simply this is a puzzle by a setter at the top of his game, and I cannot praise Notabilis high enough for it. Thanks to Phil McNeill, the Telegraph Puzzles Editor, for publishing it.
Continue reading “Toughie 658”
Sunday Telegraph Cryptic No 2611
A full review by Gnomethang
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ***
Afternoon All!. We had a fairly standard (not to say that it wasn’t extremely high quality) puzzle from Virgilius this week – no frills or gimmicks but the usual solid cluing, a couple of &Lits and very solid surface readings.
Continue reading “ST 2611”
Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 26695
Hints and tips by Gazza
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ****
I thought that this Giovanni production was an excellent example of how a puzzle doesn’t have to be difficult to be very entertaining. Your views, as always, are welcome.
If you want to see an answer just slide your cursor through the space between the curly brackets under the clue that’s giving you problems.
Continue reading “DT 26695”
Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 26690
A full review by crypticsue
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating –Difficulty ** – Enjoyment */**
I thought I was going to be reviewing a Cephas puzzle as usual but this one was from a ‘new’ Saturday Mysteron, ie not the one I am expecting to review next week. I turned to the back page of the paper, keen to see what was in store, only to find …
Continue reading “DT 26690”
Toughie No 657 by Petitjean
Hints and tips by Bufo
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ***
I had no real problems with this one. I stalled briefly on the top half but soon got moving again.
Continue reading “Toughie 657”
Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 26694
Hints and tips by Big Dave
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ****
Two puzzles from Ray T in the same week – and I get to review both of them! This one has the usual double entendre and a trademark Queen clue.
Continue reading “DT 26694”