Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 26189
Hints and tips by Gazza
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ****
Ray T’s puzzles normally have one or two hidden answers but there are none at all in this one. Is this a new policy, or did he just forget? I thought that there were some cracking clues today and I really enjoyed the challenge.
We’d love to get your views of the puzzle, the review or the site generally. You can do this very easily by using the comment facility at the bottom.
If you’re new to the blog you may not realise that the answers are present in the review but hidden between the curly brackets under the relevant clue (so that you can’t see them accidentally). Drag your cursor across from the left to the right bracket if you want to reveal one.
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Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 26188
Hints and tips by Rishi
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ***
Today I finished the bottom right quadrant first and then the other three in an anticlockwise direction from there.You can guess how it happened. The eye landed on the last Ac. clue which is an anagram. Reading the Dn. clues for each of which a crossing letter had been obtained got more. And so the whirlijig went.
Usually some reservations are expressed by commenters on this blog about four-letter words but in this crossword most of them should pose no difficulties.
To see any answer, please highlight the white space between the curly brackets under the clue .
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.
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Sunday Telegraph Cryptic No 2526
A full analysis by Peter Biddlecombe
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ****
Three Brian Greer trade-mark clues in this puzzle – the long hidden word at 23A, and the two all-in-ones at 3D and 6D. Moderate difficulty and the usual elegant clues – away we go …
A few minutes late with the blog as I couldn’t get onto CluedUp this morning – clues below courtesy of a copy wisely kept by Dave. I’d already decided not to give every last shred of wordplay any more – let me know if I’ve left something out that needs explaining.
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Toughie No 318 by Notabilis
This is what they want
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment *****
This blog often contains comments about whether or not the Toughie does what it says on the tin, but getting the balance exactly right – a tough puzzle, but solvable and enjoyable – is difficult to achieve. The three stars I’ve given for difficulty here are solely a reflection of the fact that I managed to get on the setter’s wavelength very quickly, but I suspect others may have found it hard going in places. What I can be fairly sure of, though, is that those who got through it will have thoroughly enjoyed the experience. No doubt the crossword editor receives many comments along the lines of “I think the Telegraph Toughie should be…”; the only thing I can say is that an increase in the number of puzzles by Notabilis would be welcomed by all. He really is a superb setter; imaginative, witty, concise and solidly Ximenean in technique.
This puzzle is no exception, an absolute delight. The clues are completely fair, smooth, and littered with just the right number of “Aha!” moments, and also a few genuine “Bravo!” moments.
My favourites are in blue but I’ve tried to highlight the very best out of a really fine set of clues.
Your comments on the puzzle are most welcome. You can also add your assessment by selecting from one to five stars at the bottom of the post.
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Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 26186
Hints and tips by Gazza
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ****
It’s Friday, it’s Giovanni, it’s good – what more can I say?
We normally have lots of comments on Friday, so please don’t let this week be an exception. If you’ve been lurking here for a while and have yet to introduce yourself, now would be an excellent time to take your courage in both hands and write something in that comment box at the bottom!
For new readers, the answers are hidden so that you don’t see them by accident. If you do need to reveal one, drag your cursor through the space between the curly brackets under the relevant clue.
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Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 26181
A full analysis by Big Dave
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BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ***
A bit harder than last week – heading in the right direction!
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Toughie No 317 by Excalibur
No Comment!
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BD Rating – Difficulty **** – Enjoyment *
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Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 26185
Hints and tips by Libellule
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BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment **
A straight forward crossword today that should not cause many problems. Some of you will love it, some of you will dislike it. Personally I am just underwhelmed. Already looking forward to tomorrow.
If you can’t work out the answer from the hint, just highlight the space in the curly brackets.
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Toughie No 316 by Giovanni
Teaching Ray and Me to Sing
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BD Rating – Difficulty **** – Enjoyment ****
Giovanni has given us a really good workout today. I found it enjoyable but tricky, being held up for some time in the top left-hand corner. There are a number of homophones, at least one of which (18a) is a bit dodgy but very amusing.
Your comments, on the puzzle, the review or anything else, are very welcome.
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Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 26184
Hints and tips by Big Dave
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ***
A very straightforward puzzle today. With a little persistence this one should be achievable by the average solver.
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.
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