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.
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Toughie No 3716 by Luxor
Hints and tips by Gazza
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BD Rating – Difficulty **** – Enjoyment ***
Luxor has upped his difficulty level a bit since his last Toughie and has given us an enjoyable challenge – thanks to him. I thought at one stage that we were heading for a pangram but it was not to be.
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Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31277
A full review by Rahmat Ali
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This puzzle was published on 27th June 2026
BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ****
Greetings from Kolkata. A truly interesting Saturday puzzle from NYDK that I enjoyed solving and thereafter writing a review of the same for your kind perusal and significant feedback. Continue reading “DT 31277 (Full Review)”
Toughie No 3715 by Dharma
Hints and tips by ALP
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BD Rating – Toughie difficulty **/*** – Enjoyment ****/*****
A rumbustious return from Dharma, full of his typical humour and honed surfaces, prompting a slow start but a quick finish. I found many of the downs marginally easier than the acrosses but that’s possibly because I had all the checkers by then – being pathetically English, I do like to doggedly work from top to bottom. Other methods are, of course, available. Hopefully, my 2.5 will find safer harbour than usual … the floor is yours to trumpet your agreement!
Continue reading “Toughie 3715”
EV1752
Double Crests by Luxor
Solution

Continue reading “EV 1752 (Solution)”
Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31281
Hints and Tips by Senf
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BD Rating – Difficulty 1.5*Â – Enjoyment 5*
A very good Thursday morning from Winnipeg where, oh dear, after several weeks of suggestions ‘floating around’ news media and the internet, it was confirmed yesterday that, starting next year, Canada will participate in the Eurovision Song Contest, oh dear again!
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. 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 5.25 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 31281”
Toughie No 3714 by Silvanus
Hints and Tips by crypticsue
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BD Rating – Toughie Difficulty **** – Enjoyment ***
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Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31280
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 crossword to be about the same level of difficulty as the previous two days’ puzzles, with plenty to admire and appreciate. I particularly liked 11a, 2d and 12d, but my clue of the day is 4d, as it mentions the lead singer in one of my favourite bands. I also enjoyed the Quickie pun, once the penny dropped. Many thanks to our setter.
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Sunday Toughie No 230 by Silvanus
Review by Sloop John Bee
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This puzzle was published on the 21st of June 2026
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Sunday Telegraph Cryptic No 3374
A full review by Rahmat Ali
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This puzzle was published on 21st June 2026
BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ****
Greetings from Kolkata. A truly superb puzzle from Dada this Sunday that I enjoyed solving and thereafter writing a full review of his puzzle for your kind perusal and valuable feedback. Continue reading “ST 3374 (Full Review)”