Listener 4161 To Have and Have Not by Lavatch

[Eril]

Anyone else have a problem with too many extras of a certain letter?

Very enjoyable puzzle, though haven't entirely understood all of the thematic treatments. Thanks Lavatch (and if solvers enjoyed that one then Lavatch did a very difficult Spectator recently)

[Coalminers]

Congratulations x_word_fan. I assume that's you. I am envious of everyone who wins Listener prizes, but I am especially envious of those who get these new BRBs, which, if I don't win before Xmas, is going to have to go on my present wish list.

[AndrewG-S]

Philoctetes if it is any consolation I had a migraine on Friday and had a bit of a look and got nowhere. A few pills and a good nights sleep and all fell into place. Hope the headache goes soon.

[pushmi-pullyu]

Got there after careful re-reading of all the clues. Most enjoyable. Apprehensive about next week's though.

[perseverer]

contendo - re 16A - have you tried looking up the likely definition word in the BRB?

[silversolver]

Enjoyed this one very much. A late start and certainly more of a challenge than the last few weeks. Lovely construction, some excellent (and sometimes amusing) clueing and lots of thematic material. Awaiting next week with trepidation...

[contendo]

Thanks Perseverer. I had an alternative (equally valid) entry at 6D which explains my problem with 16A. Still lost in the SE corner though.

[Arcticpenguin]

Personally I didn't find this too hard (unlike most weeks). Had a good idea of the theme from an early stage which helped no doubt - once I'd discarded Marie Antoinette from the equation. Like some others I did make an error with the extra letters which caused some confusion at the very end. Good fun. Can't wait for next week........( a carte blanche again ?).

[Zabadak]

Dr B has a contender for the Zabadak Cup, but I wonder if having a migraine constitutes an unfair advantage? My best to Philocletes for rapid relief.

[cross_lover]

Enjoyed the puzzle v much and solved it all OK but I'm unsure which of the two words to put on which side of the top line. I've made what I think is an intelligent guess but I would have preferred a more definite pointer. Unless I'm missing something, of course (more than likely!).

[aldanna]

I probably don't really want to know this, as my life occasionally seems over-full of my crossword addiction already, but what is The Magpie?

[contendo]

Crawled over the line at last. Aldanna - I wouldn't go there if I were you, you do need to leave some time for eating and sleeping. Cross_lover - I presume the words at the top go where you would expect, given the nature of the theme, but there is nothing specific in the preamble to indicate this and I wonder if you would be marked wrong if you reversed them.

[Cruncher]

I presume that the ones who have to lose something go on the left side and those who have already lost something in the process of the grid entries go on the right side. That was my rationale anyhow. Did think that was a rather inelegant sentence in the preamble

[starwalker]

Serious contender for the Grumpy Cup this week, as I have only just been able to get at the puzzle after a weekend away "wedding planning" (not mine) - It's not until next August for goodness sake ! Enough.
So far I have about 10 answers - some in the grid, some not and some that were in the grid and then removed. Still not a clue what is going on.
Much more of a challenge than of late, which is a good thing, I think.

[Ruthrobin]

Aldanna, send me an email at [email protected] and I'll do my best to persuade you to sacrifice the rest of your eating and sleeping time to this crossword addiction. Magpie puzzles range from very easy to unimaginably ferocious and impossible for any rational mortal. 26 people solved them all correctly last month.

[Lewap]

Aldanna - and this month's Magpie numerical is an "e" grade (impossible unless your name is Midazolam or a few other elites). Needless to say having seen the grading, I didn't even bother with the preamble!

[abns]

I think there are at least two definite pointers and one vague pointer as to which top row word goes where. Can't say much more without giving too much away, but I think it would be marked wrong if you entered them the other way.

[fyellin]

So there are two seven-letter words. In alphabetic order, let's call them A and Z.

The title of the puzzle strongly hints that A should be on the left and Z on the right. The creators of the work think of themselves as part of one of these two groups, which would put Z on the left and A on the right. Also by "convention", Z goes on the left and A on the right. [I'm trying really hard to be vague.]

I honestly think the authors goofed. There are legitimate reasons to go either way with the two words.

[logophile]

Hello srepmac !! Quite enjoyed this, but not as challenging as other recent offerings. Perhaps it was a shame that 7a didn't conform to the 'pattern', and the title surely has to be considered in its own right fyellin rather than as an indication of anything else - great timing too Lavatch !

[contendo]

Talking of the title, anyone who hasn't seen Howard Hawks's film has missed a treat. It's worth seeing for Hoagy Carmichael's performance alone, let alone Bogart & Bacall. Fyellin - I don't think "the people whose work inspired the three thematic adjustments" would appreciate being on the A side.

[starwalker]

All done and dusted, with no worries about what goes where.
Now bring on Mash, though having said that, I seem to recall being suckered by his previous Listener.