Welcome to Big Dave’s Crossword Blog
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
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 3708 by Sparks
Hints and tips by Gazza
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ***
There are a couple of unusual words here and some synonyms requiring a bit of thought but all were very fairly clued. Thanks to Sparks for the pangram.
Continue reading “Toughie 3708”
Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31265
A full review by Rahmat Ali
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
This puzzle was published on 13th June 2026
BD Rating – Difficulty * – Enjoyment ****
Greetings from Kolkata. A nice and straightforward Saturday puzzle from Twmbarlwm that I enjoyed solving and thereafter writing a review of the same for your kind perusal and significant feedback. Continue reading “DT 31265 (Full Review)”
Toughie No 3707 by Kcit
Hints and tips by ALP
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Toughie difficulty * – Enjoyment ***
Another pretty gentle Toughie from Kcit. There is, I suppose, a spot of vocab (13a, 7d) but it’s very generously clued. I briefly flirted with adding an extra half on for difficulty but almost immediately recanted – it is, after all, Thursday. The floor is, as ever, yours to say I was right wrong!
Continue reading “Toughie 3707”
Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31269
Hints and Tips by Senf
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Difficulty **Â – Enjoyment *****
A very good Thursday morning from Winnipeg where yesterday, I enjoyed watching England’s first game in the World Cup although it seemed to a be, as the saying goes, a game of two halves. Canada play Qatar at 5 o’clock this afternoon.
For me, and I stress for me© (I have to say that for Terence), there is no doubt that this is the work of a very benevolent Master of Brevity with some lateral thinking required. The usual one word clues and answers in the Quickie, and an appearance from the Queen, Ray T’s swEetheart, but not the plain sweetheart, in the back pager with an average of 5.09 words per clue. Also, like Dada, Ray T still seems to be making occasional use of a personal thesaurus. I hope you have your Crimson Tomes at hand!
Remember that Reading the Hints before commenting can be beneficial!
Continue reading “DT 31269”
Toughie No 3706 by Prime
Hints and Tips by crypticsue
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Toughie Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ***
Prime has set us a Toughie which I thought was just right for a Wednesday apart from the age it took me to parse 1d which added an extra star to the difficulty rating
Continue reading “Toughie 3706”
Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31268
Hints and Tips by Deansleigh
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Difficulty **  Enjoyment ****
Good morning everyone, and welcome to the midweek back-pager blog. I found today’s crossword to be a step up in difficulty from the last two days. I thought it was a cracking puzzle, with plenty of wit and misdirection. Amongst my favourite clues today were 11a, 26a and 9d, but first place goes to 19d, for making me laugh out loud when the penny dropped. Many thanks to our setter.
Continue reading “DT 31268”
Sunday Toughie No 228 by Light
Review by Sloop John Bee
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
This puzzle was published on 7th June 2026 Continue reading “Sunday Toughie 228 (Review)”
Sunday Telegraph Cryptic No 3372
A full review by Rahmat Ali
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
This puzzle was published on 7th June 2026
BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment *****
Greetings from Kolkata. Dada has given us a very delightful 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 3372 (Full Review)”