CCCWC October competition voters’ comments

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A clue to OPAL (Printer’s Devilry).
38 comments were received for this competition (from 5 competitors, 2 others)
Move your mouse pointer over any bold clue number to see the clue.

Here is the text

Comments on the competition
1.
The printer's devilry clues ought to be judged on following aspect. 1. Quality of both Surfaces (SQ): Generally surface of one of the versions reads unnatural. Best clues are those having both surfaces (devilled as well undevilled) that are not only natural/smooth but more importantly also interesting. 2. Contrast between the Surfaces (SC): Contrast is a must. Devilry should be devilish in its impact. Best clues hit like a punch line. 3. Camouflage Quality (CQ): The omitted word location should not be easily spotted. Very few clues meet all the above parameters. Most clues suffer from one or more of SQ, SC or CQ weaknesses.
2.
I feel strongly that the undevilled version should make complete sense and read naturally. For the devilled version, it should read grammatically, and should have at least some meaning, although it might sound a bit weird. So for instance, in 17 "I shot at coop to get chicken and eggs" is a perfectly acceptable devilled version, although logically one wouldn't shoot at a coop to get chickens and eggs. There were some quite ingenious clues, as well as some unexciting ones. My preference is for clues where the two versions are distinctly different in meaning. Clue 3 stood out for me as achieving this in a completely natural way.
3.
Some crackers this month! I gave marks to several. Worth noting that all the ones I favoured had a significant difference in meaning between the devilled and undevilled versions.

Comments on the clues

1. A foreign body entered intestine, causing a hostile reaction.

1.	Nice idea for hiding OPAL but flawed as devilled version reads better than undevilled.

2. A son e-hating them all is hot online

1.	The devilled version is a bit too garbled.

3. American tourists shot in Harrods

1.	Nice surface reading for both versions. By far my favourite clue.

4. Apply a layer of pastry to steak in the pie

1.	Flawed as devilled version reads better than undevilled (also missing "to" in explanation).

6. Big sidespin arsenal, right? Back Stan Smith for Wimbledon victory.

1.	Both versions too convoluted for my liking.

7. By beating to vine list A, Kramnik became undisputed World Chess Champion

1.	Am I alone in not understanding the devilled version?

10. Charlie Parker would make a cool bum.

1.	The devilled version would need to be ‘cool b-bum’

11. Dramatist celebrity has died

1.	The original is less fluent than the devilled version.

12. EU backs tight Irish border control until UK trade deal reached

1.	Topical, but a bit of a mouthful and really needs to have "is" in the undevilled version (which of course would mean OPAL wouldn't work)
2.	Nice topical ref.

13. Gallon: G

1.	Nice idea but needs some context – e.g. "Many horses gallop along behind the truck"
2.	Deserves a share of the points for originality and bravery.
3.	The undevilled reading should be more of a sentence I think.

17. I shot at coop to get chicken and eggs

1.	Nicely misleading, but with a good hint of where the break is – by far the best clue
2.	This is at the top of my pile because of the neat change in meaning and mild humour.
3.	Good change of meaning.

18. "I sup port" – glowing Kavanaugh in the High Court

1.	Nicely topical, with a bonus pun in the devilled version. And surely 'port' doesn't need to be capitalised.

19. In the corner she's good value, especially if you buy a crate

1.	The devilled version has a slightly bizarre ring to it, which is OK.

21. In the witch's shack of ginger-bread is unforgivable.

1.	The devilled version can be offbeat, but should at least be grammatical.
2.	The devilled version needs to make sense grammatically

23. It's unseemly to rubbish lover in massage parlour

1.	The bishop in the original is a bit arbitrary

24. Just one cone in the street to stop people parking there.

1.	Interesting
2.	Good, but beaten to the points by 25

25. Many will curse a motorway idiot, but a traffic cone can stop him

1.	Interesting

26. Many women shone despite being married

1.	I like the slightly sexist sound of the devilled version

28. Novel switch could charge hand-held in mid-air (4)

1.	Neither version makes much sense, but the undevilled version is particularly unbelievable

33. Rode in drome

1.	I don't understand what the undevilled version is supposed to mean

36. Stateroom reservation celebrating an October anniversary (4)

1.	Despite having a definition (of sorts), the undevilled version doesn't really make sense.

37. Steak with lots of dripping? It sounds really awful.

1.	Slightly better than the other 'leak' clue.
2.	Very good change of meaning

39. That faded Matisse, it is almost colourless

1.	This clue stands out as both the devilled and undefiled versions read so well

40. The book's harm was scarcely perceptible.

1.	I liked this clue. It would have been my next choice.

45. Toxic gas released – intestine creates biohazard zone

1.	This needs a bit more to justify ‘Palestine’ in the original

48. Women shone happily for their husbands

1.	Nice image, just beating 26 due to the amusing wording
2.	Just beats 26 for humour