Easier than last week’s puzzle from the same heat, in my view, with similar scope for biffing and guessing correctly if you’re on the clock. 19a and 4d probably gave some trouble, unless you were … Read more “Times 27579 – Second TCC heat, #2 I assume.”
Month: February 2020
Times Quick Cryptic No 1542 by Joker
Introduction I spent a long time thinking about 1 Down. Of course, with a really hard one, it’s not unusual for me to struggle. After trying in vain for several minutes to get a good … Read more “Times Quick Cryptic No 1542 by Joker”
Times Cryptic 27578
Solving time: 37 minutes. I found this reasonably straightforward but some of the clues took a bit of untangling for the blog. As usual definitions are underlined in bold italics, {deletions and substitutions are in … Read more “Times Cryptic 27578”
Times Quick Cryptic 1541 by Hurley
The long anagram at 1ac didn’t click so the top section took some time at the end. Still finished in 9:38 so at the easier end for me (and the old stagers, I’d imagine). All … Read more “Times Quick Cryptic 1541 by Hurley”
Times 27577 – Harmony and Prosperity?
Despite a smattering of tricky vocab, the congruous nature of the literals made this a pretty straightforward Monday offering. Special thanks to the setter on two counts: evoking images of horryd at 1d and referencing … Read more “Times 27577 – Harmony and Prosperity?”
Times Quick Cryptic 1540 by Izetti
I just noticed I blogged only one Izetti puzzle in the whole of 2019 but this is my second consecutive in 2020 and it’s only 3rd February! Also he has set 143 QCs of which … Read more “Times Quick Cryptic 1540 by Izetti”
Mephisto 3100 – by Don Manley
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. 6D … Read more “Mephisto 3100 – by Don Manley”
Sunday Times Cryptic No 4887, 26 I 2020, by Robert Price — Quoit the puzzle!
A very enjoyable, solid effort, in which the definitions (except those for CDs and &lits) are consistently epitomes of succinctness. The Arab bazaar may be a new word to someone out there, but the Americans … Read more “Sunday Times Cryptic No 4887, 26 I 2020, by Robert Price — Quoit the puzzle!”
Times Cryptic No 27570 – Saturday, 25 January 2020. O, I’ll take the low road …
A meaty puzzle, this one. Many nice surfaces, and lots to mull over. The only answers that were beyond my general knowledge was helpfully clued. My clue of the day was 25ac – lucky lass, … Read more “Times Cryptic No 27570 – Saturday, 25 January 2020. O, I’ll take the low road …”
Times Cryptic Jumbo 1421 – The Vacillations of Reedy Corkscrew
These things seem to come around very quickly when you’ve had a couple of holiday specials but I’m not complaining. I thought this was a fantastic puzzle, with some absolute gems among the clues. Thanks … Read more “Times Cryptic Jumbo 1421 – The Vacillations of Reedy Corkscrew”