WSJ Cryptic—-LOOPHOLES

[oldjudge]

A wonderful challenge by Patrick Berry. I guess this means we will have a variety of constructors for this monthly puzzle. Lots of fun—if anyone needs help with any word play let me know.

[ChrisKochmanski]

A wonderful challenge by Patrick Berry. I guess this means we will have a variety of constructors for this monthly puzzke. Lots of fun—if anyone needs help with any word play let me know.

Agree. That was fun!

[Jace54]

Great puzzle and clever as always! I kept plugging away from bottom to top and eventually finished.

[Barney]

Why couldn’t he have given lengths for the row answers?

[ChrisKochmanski]

Why couldn’t he have given lengths for the row answers?

So we'd feel more accomplished when we solved!

Though I sympathize. This one turned out harder than I expected when I set out.

[ChrisKochmanski]

Why couldn’t he have given lengths for the row answers?

So we'd feel more accomplished when we solved!

Though I sympathize. This one turned out harder than I expected when I set out.

I suppose that if this puzzle were through a subscription service -- like Matt Gaffney's WCC or Joon Pahk's weekly Rows Garden -- PB could have offered both an easier version, with word lengths for the rows, and a harder version without.

[SewYoung]

I have made some progress on the rows, but still a long way to go. Haven't place any loops, yet,although I have solved SOME of those clues. Will keep plugging away at it as I have a few minutes here and there. Except when I say I'm only going to take a quick look; the next thing I know an hour has passed and I'm still lookinig.

[DCBilly]

Finally made it to the end. For me anyway, it seemed like the ratio of tough clues to easier ones was pretty high.

[Barney]

Why couldn’t he have given lengths for the row answers?

So we'd feel more accomplished when we solved!

Though I sympathize. This one turned out harder than I expected when I set out.

I prefer possible without the “im” prefix. Definitely keeps the crowds down.

[iggystan]

PB has put out another fun puzzle. I'm going to have to get used to his and the other constructors' cryptic cluing; it's funny how you get used to a certain style like HEX's and then have to recalibrate to someone else's. I really liked this one; I figured out the alternate title before completing the puzzle, which helped.
As far as putting the lengths on the row answers, that's not usually done in other puzzles and it adds an extra layer difficulty to the puzzle, IMO.

[Meg]

That only took several hours! But I finished and that’s a very satisfying feeling. Thanks Patrick.

[Jeanrosz]

Loved it too…nice way to spend a whole Saturday afternoon!

[KayW]

Finally had a chance to finish this one. I found it pretty tough - in the past I solved mostly HEX cryptics and I’ll have a learning curve for new constructors’ clueing. But as expected, I really enjoyed this PB treat.

[Annabelle]

Berry strikes again! Still working on this one...

[dudeski]

Took a while, but worth it.

[Joepickett]

I give. I have two words.

[DavyGravy]

I haven’t solved yet but it looks really daunting without the numerations for the across answers. Can someone who’s solved be kind enough to give me those? I would be much obliged!