CCCWC April competition voters’ comments

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A clue to SOLITAIRE.
26 comments were received for this competition (from 8 competitors, 0 others)
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Comments on the competition
1.
After the fine quality of clues for SEAWATER this was a rather mediocre crop, with only a dozen or so decent clues. Clues using "diamond" or "emerald" or "patience" as a definition scored nothing – it's the setting not the gemstone; "diamond ring" is fine, as is Patience capitalised.
2.
Among the non-scorers were a) clues using dull double defs (eg 32), b) clues with far-fetched surfaces (eg 21) and clues with unsound constructions (eg 1, using top mediocre for t). When they are all removed there are only half a dozen or so worth considering. That is not to say, with inexpert democratic voting, that a clue in one of these three categories may not appear beneath a tinted colour. Lackaday!

Comments on the clues

1. A diamond set by itself baffles mineralogist: Cut no good; top mediocre.

1.	Nice anagram find, but the final subtraction is a bit weak

4. American patience wears thin unfortunately, when missing Eastern oil supply

1.	Great surface but anag construction is too complex for me
2.	Clue indicates the two anags are consecutive, not mixed together

8. Bondswoman's triumphant seeing off the pack in singular game

1.	Bond girl or woman might have been OK.

10. Change ails Tories, who haven't succeeded… Patience required

1.	The cryptic reading requires 'that hasn't' in place of 'who haven't'. 'Required' is not required?

11. Concealing ball tampering, liar tries to get rid of sandpaper finally at a game

1.	'Finally' and 'at' are intrusive; 'in' for 'at' could have been better.

12. Confuse sailor and tie the only game in town

1.	Defintion has extraneous words

13. Diamond flogged to Israeli

1.	This and 15 the best of the diamonds

14. Diamond geezer's last partner and I have a dance after getting very drunk (9)

1.	"[R] [E] and [I] have [A] dance" is not English

15. Diamond ring I lost jogging by river

1.	Original wordplay idea

17. Emphatically incandescent with rage, holding a bird that's "ceased to be"?

1.	Nicely worked reference

20. Free love? Is it real or just a game one plays? (9)

1.	Very nice but the "just" doesn't serve the definition or wordplay
2.	Very good surface and def.

22. In due course settled to openly wear the French flashy silk necktie

1.	That last L is superfluous

24. Isolated Irish, lacking Davis's lead, lost patience.

1.	I’m less keen than Mrs Bradford on the anagram indicator

29. One in a cloister wandering about apart?

1.	Best of the few & lits.

34. Play this game alone? It's brilliant!

1.	I don't think it's accurate to describe brilliant as a synonym of solitaire.

36. Sexual allure and atmosphere in unique, solo rock

1.	etymological connection of solitaire/sole (and solo) weakens it

37. Sickly sailor it appears, reaching mid-ocean pegs out on board?

1.	Clever wordplay and def.

38. Single father embraces young temptress, losing head

1.	Good surface, but I don't see how the definition applies.

42. Very drunk atmosphere before European game

1.	Best of the SO LIT AIR E clues

43. Very drunk with a passion for a card game (9)

1.	Ire is anger in my book, not passion.

46. With one loser, it's a game

1.	No anagram indicator.
2.	Don't follow the "lit".