Quite Challenging today, I found.
Month: February 2023
Times 28534 – hope it wasn’t a 14
Time taken: 12:06. A little bit slower than my usual time, and a survey of early solvers suggests this is a tricky one. I liked that few clues fell immediately, there was something to think … Read more “Times 28534 – hope it wasn’t a 14”
Times 28533 – the bishop, the rabbit and the reverend.
I had a pleasant Wednesday trundle through this one, in 20 minutes, with only one word unknown to me, although it’s probably familiar to others.
Times Quick Cryptic No 2337 by Izetti
A medium-paced challenge from Izetti requiring a little extra thought in places.
Quick Cryptic 2336 by Mara
When does a great clue become a chestnut? For newer solvers, the first time they come across a great cryptic, they want to cry “Bravo, Setter”, but old hands dismiss it with “Chestnut”.
Times Cryptic 28532
Solving time: 28 minutes
Times Quick Cryptic 2335 by Orpheus
Hello all. Orpheus is back just a couple of puzzles after his last. That one was my fastest of the year so far, while today I was just relieved not to be reporting my first DNF of 2023! I had my fingers crossed that 12a meant what it needed to mean, but the gods were smiling and my faith in wordplay was rewarded. Lots of nice touches here, I thought – but what did you think?
Times 28531 – Nearly the Pines of Rome
This was mostly a Monday puzzle, but towards the end I ran into a little difficulty in the SW area. As it turned out, there was some UK-specific knowledge that I either had to recall, or did not know at all.
Mephisto 3259 – Robert Teuton
Greetings barred-grid fans. And welcome Robert Teuton to the setting team for the Mephisto! The Mephisto crossword was originally set by Richard Kilner, followed by Richard Whitelegg. I started doing the puzzle in 1996, when … Read more “Mephisto 3259 – Robert Teuton”
Sunday Times 5046 by Dean Mayer
17:23. A tricky one from Dean this week, with a smattering of slightly odd or obscure references that gave it a quirky feel and a few really first-class surface readings. Definitions are underlined, anagrams indicated … Read more “Sunday Times 5046 by Dean Mayer”