Welcome to Big Dave’s Crossword Blog
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You have reached the world’s biggest and best crossword blog. If you are looking for help with the Daily and Sunday Telegraph cryptic crosswords or the Enigmatic Variations advanced cryptic, a total of 13 puzzles a week, then you have come to the right place.
If this is your first time, or for more information about this site, please click on Continue reading “Welcome”
Toughie No 3728 by Elgar
Hints and Tips by crypticsue
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BD Rating – Toughie Difficulty ***** – Enjoyment *****
Continue reading “Toughie 3728”
Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31295
A full review by Rahmat Ali
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This puzzle was published on 18th July 2026
BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ****
Greetings from Kolkata. A lovely Saturday puzzle from the setter that I enjoyed solving and thereafter writing a review of the same for your kind perusal and significant feedback. Continue reading “DT 31295 (Full Review)”
Toughie No 3727 by Kcit
Hints and tips by ALP
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BD Rating – Toughie difficulty */** – Enjoyment ***/****
Fairly breezy for a Thursday Toughie. 26a was unknown to me but the wordplay’s pretty clear. Having said that, 1a was the last to fall. Not because it’s tricky – it’s not – but because the definition is anathema to me. I have long tried – and failed miserably – to ban them. What on earth is their point? They just get in the bloomin’ way when you’re making the bed! The floor, as ever, is yours.
Continue reading “Toughie 3727”
EV1755
Advertising Ploy By The Moonlighters
Solution

Continue reading “EV 1755(Solution)”
Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31299
Hints and Tips by Gazza
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BD Rating – Difficulty **** Enjoyment *****
This is a proper end-of-week puzzle with a reasonable amount of GK and a number of cleverly misleading definitions. I loved it.
Continue reading “DT 31299”
Toughie No 3726 by Potoroo
Hints and Tips by crypticsue
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BD Rating – Toughie Difficulty ***** – Enjoyment ***
Potoroos second Toughie was definitely a proper Toughie with lots to think about and quite a bit of brow-furrowing parsing to sort out so it was a good job I got up extremely early this morning as I had to solve the crossword, prepare and schedule the blog and feed Tim the Tortoise, before having to dash out for an eye screening appointment.
Continue reading “Toughie 3726”
Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31298
Hints and Tips by Deansleigh
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BD Rating – Difficulty */** Enjoyment ****
Good morning everyone, and welcome to the midweek back-pager blog. I found today’s puzzle to be between yesterday’s and Monday’s in terms of difficulty, with a couple of words that were new to me, and one or two clues that took a while to parse. My favourites today were 13a, 17a, 7d and the brilliant reverse lurker in 16d. I also enjoyed the Quickie pun. Many thanks to our setter.
Continue reading “DT 31298”
Sunday Toughie No 233 by Zandio
Review by
Sloop John Bee
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This puzzle was published on the 12th of July 2026
Continue reading “Sunday Toughie 233 (Review)”
Sunday Telegraph Cryptic No 3377
A full review by Rahmat Ali
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This puzzle was published on 12th July 2026
BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ****
Greetings from Kolkata. Dada has given us a very friendly puzzle to solve this Sunday and now I present to you a full review of his puzzle. Hope to have your valuable feedback and comments.
Continue reading “ST 3377 (Full Review)”