Big Dave's Beta Retreat – Page 10 – Where new ideas are tried out – only the brave enter into this domain

Toughie 1758

Toughie No 1758 by Shamus

Hints and tips by Bufo

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BD Rating – Difficulty ***Enjoyment ***/****

A slow start after which the top half fell quickly. The bottom half took slightly longer but it was finished in average time. I didn’t like all the double unchecked letters but they didn’t cause any problems

Please leave a comment telling us what you thought.… Continue reading

DT 28346

Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 28346

Hints and tips by Kath

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BD Rating — Difficulty **Enjoyment ***/****

Hello everyone. This is definitely a Ray T Thursday – a few of his trademarks are missing but I’m sure that it’s one of his crosswords. Cheer up to those of you who find them tricky because it’s very much at the easier end of his range of difficulty.… Continue reading

ST 2884

Sunday Telegraph Cryptic No 2884

A full review by crypticsue

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This puzzle was published on Sunday 29th January

BD Rating – Difficulty **Enjoyment ****

Another super Sunday puzzle – my top of the podium clue has to be the splendid 15d

Continue reading “ST 2884”

Toughie 1757

Toughie No 1757 by Micawber

Hints and tips by Gazza

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BD Rating – Difficulty ***Enjoyment ****/*****

Thanks to Micawber for another great puzzle – he never disappoints.

There is a note in the paper saying: ‘There Once was a Man With Six Wives: Our Kings and Queens in Limericks by Mick Twister, aka Micawber, is published tomorrow, available at books.telegraph.co.uk… Continue reading

DT 28345

Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 28345

Hints and tips by 2Kiwis

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BD Rating – Difficulty ***Enjoyment ****

 

Kia ora from Aotearoa.
We have just had a holiday long-weekend here for Waitangi Day. February 6th 1840 was the date of the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi which is recognised as the founding document of our nation. Special events are held at the site of the signing and at several other venues throughout the country.… Continue reading

Toughie 1756

Toughie 1756 by Kcit

Hints and tips by Kitty

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BD Rating – Difficulty *Enjoyment ***/****

 

Hello and welcome.  Kcit eases us gently into the Toughie week with a puzzle which I would recommend to anyone who feels like they have a little more crosswording in them today.

I’ve been slow and sluggish lately, like a slow slug, so I was immensely surprised to find this puzzle putting up little resistance. … Continue reading

DT 28344

Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 28344

Hints and tips by Mr Kitty

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BD Rating – Difficulty ** Enjoyment ***

Hello everyone. Today we have another solid Tuesday puzzle: nothing too obscure, a modest number of anagrams, and several clever surfaces masking straightforward wordplay. It was a fun solve, and I even had a few laugh out loud moments.

To compensate for the lack of obscurities in today’s puzzle I’m going to address the recent blog thread asking about the most obscure answers seen on the back-page.… Continue reading

DT 28343

Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 28343

Hints and tips by Miffypops

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BD Rating – Difficulty **Enjoyment ****

Yesterday I went Hacking in a party of twelve at The Derbyshire Trekking Centre. By a bizarre co-incidence my horse was named Rufus. (Quickly renamed Fireblade The Destroyer) and here we are on the left third from right of the picture.

Rufus the crossword setter (not the horse) has set another nice puzzle to ease us gently into the crosswording week.… Continue reading