I wouldn’t call this easy – there are some chewy bits of parsing and a modicum of General Knowledge required, and some of the clues are deliberately misleading. However, I finished it in 11 minutes, … Read more “Times Quick Cryptic No 1553 by Mara”
Month: February 2020
Times 27592 – Putin on the 15
Time taken: 10:32. A deliberate solve – very few fell into place immediately, but I wasn’t really slowed down as I solved, it was just a little bit of thinking was required to piece together … Read more “Times 27592 – Putin on the 15”
Times 27591 – nothing too fishy.
Thanks Mr Editor for persuading the powers that be to add the info that this was one of the three TCC semi final puzzles from last December 7th.I finished this in 19 minutes, surprised it … Read more “Times 27591 – nothing too fishy.”
Times Quick Cryptic No 1552 by Tracy
Introduction A nice puzzle, finished in around 11 minutes. I raced through most of the puzzle, but ground to a bit of a halt with 2 or 3 clues left. Took my time, and finished … Read more “Times Quick Cryptic No 1552 by Tracy”
Times Cryptic 27590
Solving time: 39 minutes. Mostly straightforward, but I look forward to reading what others made of it. The definition at 2dn alone was worth the price of admission. As usual definitions are underlined in bold … Read more “Times Cryptic 27590”
Times Quick Cryptic 1551 by Izetti – he’s back!
Some class stuff in here which I found really entertaining. Maybe a stretch for newer solvers (it was for me!).Solving crosswords is often down to your general knowledge and whether yours is lucky enough to … Read more “Times Quick Cryptic 1551 by Izetti – he’s back!”
Times 27589 – Wot’s that thingummy?
Definitely a cut above your average Monday in terms of difficulty, with one or two cunning definitions and a soupcon of tricky clueing. I staggered home in 34 minutes, just above my NITCH (for all … Read more “Times 27589 – Wot’s that thingummy?”
Times Quick Cryptic 1550 by Oink
Solving time: 9 minutes . Quite straightforward I think, but we shall see what others made of it… As usual definitions are underlined in bold italics, {deletions and substitutions are in curly brackets} and [anagrinds, … Read more “Times Quick Cryptic 1550 by Oink”
Mephisto 3102 – Paul McKenna
Unless you’re very experienced you are unlikely to solve a Mephisto without using Chambers. The idea is that you use the precise wordplay to derive an answer that you then verify in the dictionary. 10A … Read more “Mephisto 3102 – Paul McKenna”
Sunday Times Cryptic 4889, 9 II 2020, by Dean Mayer — Do I have to spell it out?
Well, it never fails. My biographical note has been posted with this blog now for only a matter of some weeks, and it will soon be out of date, and in a most distressing way. … Read more “Sunday Times Cryptic 4889, 9 II 2020, by Dean Mayer — Do I have to spell it out?”