Square Pursuit: "What'll It Be?" -- April 28, 2021

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ChrisKochmanski
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Joined: Tue Apr 09, 2019 9:51 pm
Location: Saline, Michigan

Square Pursuit: "What'll It Be?" -- April 28, 2021

#1

Post by ChrisKochmanski »

Here's a new not-too-hard variety cryptic from Steve Mossberg: https://squarepursuit.com/2021/04/28/sq ... omment-148

Steve characterized its difficulty as 1.5 out of 5, so I dared to try it online. That's not my usual variety cryptic practice, which involves lots of erasing. But I found this one to be very enjoyably do-able online; what the required alterations involved became apparent fairly quickly.
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Richard B.
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Location: upper west side, NYC

#2

Post by Richard B. »

I actually found this harder than the typical C&R offering. The clueing was not as easy for me.
Also, there’s a lot going on, IMO. You have to solve the clue, and then see if it fits with the crosses or has to be anagrammed before entry. Lots of work!
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RPardoe
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Location: Houston, TX

#3

Post by RPardoe »

I always find it takes a puzzle or two for me to get used to a new setter (and their cryptic style).
Certainly felt a younger and regional vibe to some of the clues here.

As for the puzzle itself, I got lucky in that my first entries were all entered as normal before I hit the first word to be adjusted per the instructions.
Sussing that out quickly led me to the gimmick as well as the missing word at 17A.
Naptown Kid
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Joined: Mon Oct 12, 2020 1:08 pm

#4

Post by Naptown Kid »

Thanks to Chris for posting this one. I agree with both Richard— this one was not easy for me, either — and RPardoe — in cryptics especially, all setters have a style that takes some getting used to. I was def not used to Steve’s. Cluing 2D as a “power ballad,” I thought, was a stretch, but fortunately the wordplay was fairly straightforward. I also found 26D problematic. Maybe I’m shoo my age. Again, thanks to Chris. If you keep posting Mossberg, I’ll keep solving. Or attempting to.
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